Community Outreach

Outreach Intermediary
The goal of the outreach intermediary program is to foster stronger relationships among community members through implementation of healthy living activities. As New Orleans rebuilds, community-based activities will help to unite residents around a central theme of health and well-being.

Steps partners with faith-based organizations, social service organizations, schools, small businesses, neighborhood planning organizations and food vendors to deliver Steps’ original messages of “Eating Better” and “Walking More”.

These organizations have the ability to make a positive impact in the lives of community members by bringing Steps messages to life.

The messages delivered through the Outreach Intermediary Program are complimented by messages delivered through its Steps Mass Media Campaign.

Trailer Outreach
Steps initiated an outreach project in February 2006 to reach displaced Orleans Parish residents affected by Hurricane Katrina. Outreach workers provided over 3,000 residents in FEMA trailer parks in Orleans, St. Tammany, East Baton Rouge and Plaquemines parishes with educational materials focused on physical activity, nutrition and tobacco cessation and prevention.

Additionally, Steps partnered with numerous organizations to establish links to primary care, behavioral health services and physical activity opportunities. These include Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Second Harvest Food Bank, Louisiana Spirit, Capital Area Human Services District, Louisiana Family Recovery Corps, Harmony House, YMCA and EXCELth.

Health Recovery Week
Health Recovery Week in February 2007, was an initiative of the City of New Orleans Health Department to provide much needed services to the residents of New Orleans. Staff from the Steps Program participated in the Greater New Orleans Medical Recovery Week at the Operation Blessing free medical clinic in New Orleans East.

Partnering for Recovery Week, were the City of New Orleans Health Department, Remote Area Medical, Operation Blessing, International Medical Alliance and LA State Department of Health and Hospitals.

Free medical services were offered to those who were uninsured or underinsured and those who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. The services included dental (cleanings, fillings, and extractions), optical (eye exams and free eye glasses), medical, OBGYN, mental health, and more. Over 300 medical providers from across the United States participated with 39 medical providers from The Mayo Clinic.

Over the course of the week, over 10,900 services were delivered to residents.

In addition, Steps disseminated physical activity, nutrition and smoking cessation materials to participants.