Step Into Cuba

Description

To promote increased physical activity in rural Cuba, New Mexico, the Step Into Cuba program improves the community's walkability and hiking trails and creates social support for walking.

The Step Into Cuba Alliance is a community partnership with representation from the Village of Cuba, Sandoval County, University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center (UNMPRC), New Mexico Department of Transportation, Santa Fe National Forest, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Cuba Independent School District, Mid-Region Council of Governments, and Continental Divide Trail Coalition. The alliance is managed by the nonprofit Nacimiento Community Foundation.

The Step Into Cuba Alliance worked with the UNMPRC to design, implement, and study the program over a ten-year period. The Alliance has adapted evidence-based strategies taken from the Guide to Community Preventive Services to develop its various interventions.

This video, from the Step Into Cuba video series, shares more information about Step Into Cuba:

Services offered

Program partners develop, improve, and maintain trails and public places to walk as well as sponsor community campaigns, walking events, informational materials, and other outreach.

Program coordinators also encouraged healthcare providers to counsel patients on introducing regular walking and other exercise in community settings.

A regional recreation guide and map with accompanying materials were developed and widely disseminated in print and electronically. Informational kiosks and signage were developed and installed in key locations.

Results

Step Into Cuba has led to new or improved trails, sidewalks and crosswalks, lighting on streets, walking groups, a shared-use agreement allowing community members to use trails on school property, wellness programs in schools, and published walking and hiking maps and guides.

The program has measured use of its park trail and documented a threefold or more increase in use following asphalt surfacing in 2018. On land donated by the Nacimiento Community Foundation for public open space, community volunteers and youth workers constructed a trail connecting Cuba to the nearest National Forest boundary. A Health Impact Assessment was conducted to complete a 12-mile gap in the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail through Cuba; the northbound limb of the new segment has been completed.

Many walkers who were interviewed by the UNMPRC report increased social connection. As one interviewee described it, "It is a double whammy. You feel better from walking, and you have some social interaction in a positive way."

Program coordinators disseminated lessons learned as part of consultation to a network of 30 other rural New Mexico communities. A video series and fact sheets were shared with many attempting to replicate successful approaches. Following the initial 10-year study, further adaptation of Step Into Cuba strategies was implemented by 10 eastern Navajo Nation Chapters through the UNMPRC-coordinated Healthy Places Healthy People program.

For more information about this program:

Davis, S.M., Cruz, T.H., Hess, J.M., Kozoll, R., & Page-Reeves, J. (2017). Implementing Physical Activity Recommendations in a Tri-Ethnic Rural Community through a Community-University Partnership. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 11(2), 149-159.

Davis, S.M., Cruz, T.H., & Kozoll, R.L. (2014). Health Impact Assessment, Physical Activity and Federal Lands Trail Policy. Health Behavior and Policy Review, 1(1), 82-95.

Kozoll, R., & Davis, S.M. (2012). Physical Activity Promotion in Rural America. In R.A. Crosby, M.L. Wendel, R.C. Vanderpool, & B.R. Casey (Eds.), Rural Populations and Health: Determinants, Disparities, and Solutions (pp. 287-301). Jossey-Bass.

Challenges

Leadership turnover in partnering organizations makes recruiting and engaging new leaders an ongoing challenge. Maintaining trails and trail enhancements requires ongoing prompting and recruitment of volunteer groups. The program required external funding to retain employed leadership, and when that funding was not available, it was a challenge relying on volunteer leadership.

Replication

Community mapping, walkability workshops, and local and external partnerships were often used to plan community trails and programs.

Program partners relied heavily on community volunteers.

Contact Information

Sally M. Davis, PhD, Director
University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center
Step Into Cuba
505.249.4321
sdavis@salud.unm.edu