The Health Federation of Philadelphia’s (HFP) Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) earned full recognition from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2020. HFP’s DPP is an evidence-based program aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes in the Philadelphia community.
HFP Senior Training Director Marcy Witherspoon conducted HFP's first DPP cohort beginning in September 2018 at the Stephen Klein Wellness Center in partnership with Project HOME. Throughout the duration of the class, which concluded in September 2019, nearly ten individuals regularly participated and reached certain health milestones and weight management goals which enabled HFP to go from our pending status with the CDC to being fully recognized.
"I am thrilled that HFP has received full recognition from the Centers for Disease Control in support of the delivery of our DPP program,” shared Witherspoon. “Being a part of an evidence-based curriculum to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes, a huge public health issue, is an important contribution to the public's health. The curriculum, which is neither restrictive nor prescriptive, recognizes the challenges of making and sustaining healthy lifestyle choices, and supports patients through their transformational journeys. Being a part of this change and having the opportunity to support patients while making these lifestyle modifications has been remarkably rewarding,” she continued.
Currently, Witherspoon and the Health Federation are running a program with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s (PDPH) Health Center #5, and the plan is plan is to expand to the rest of the PDPH network of health centers as Witherspoon's Master Trainer status enables her to train individuals to become lifestyle coaches.
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