Evaluating our success

Steps to a Healthier Cleveland measures its success by employing several evaluation strategies:

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
This is the world’s largest ongoing telephone health survey system, tracking health conditions and risk behaviors in the United States yearly since 1984.  Steps to a Healthier Cleveland works with the Case Center for Health Promotion Research to conduct and analyze results from the annual Cleveland BRFSS.

Learn more about what the 2005-2006 BRFSS tells us about the health of Clevelanders:
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)
This survey monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults, including behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. In addition, the YRBSS monitors general health status and the prevalence of overweight and asthma.

Steps to a Healthier Cleveland works with the Case Center for Adolescent Health to conduct and analyze results from the annual Cleveland YRBSS.

Read the 2007 Report: Cleveland Youth Risk Behavior Survey

SPERS (Steps Performance Evaluation Reporting System)
Through this online system, Steps staff and funded partners report monthly on the implementation of programs and interventions.  This way, Steps to a Healthier Cleveland can monitor monthly progress towards meeting the goals of the program’s Community Action Plan.

Steps to a HealthierUS Core Performance Measures
Steps to a Healthier Cleveland is accountable for 10 core performance measures and reports on them twice a year to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The Steps Core Performance Measures are:

    1. Increased knowledge and awareness about healthy behaviors such as physical activity, healthful eating and avoiding tobacco use.
    2. Increased knowledge about getting appropriate preventive screenings.
    3. Increased physical activity and healthful eating for children and adults.
    4. Improved access to and quality of clinical services for diabetes, asthma and tobacco cessation.
    5. Increased identification of persons with pre-diabetes and diabetes.
    6. Improved self-management of diabetes and asthma.
    7. Measurable improvements in physical activity, healthful eating and tobacco use.
    8. Slow the upward trend of overweight and obesity in Steps communities.
    9. Reduced hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbation and diabetes complications.
    10. Improved health-related quality of life.