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Training and Capacity Building

The Training and Capacity Building Department offers in-person and virtual trainings, technical assistance, curriculum development, referral pathways, and other services that strengthen organizations’ and communities’ ability to address existing and emerging public health concerns.

Make A Choice for a Healthier Life - Text TODAY

About the Make a Choice for a Healthier Life Campaign 
The Make a Choice for a Healthier Life campaign informs Pennsylvanian's of the risks of prediabetes and connects them to critical, free Diabetes Prevention Programs. Anyone 18 years and older can determine their risk for developing prediabetes by texting the word TODAY (or HOY for Spanish language prompts) to 600400. By texting the keyword of TODAY or HOY to 600400, Pennsylvanian's can take the free prediabetes risk test; 6 questions used to determine the risk of developing prediabetes. Anyone completing the risk test will get entered into the Health Referral Hub and will receive more information about predibates and how to enroll in a Diabetes Prevention Program or Diabetes Self Management program.

Who can Make a Choice for a Healthier Life? 
Anyone aged 18 or older is encouraged to text the word TODAY or HOY to 600400. Depending on your risk level, you will receive information on free health programs in your area.

What is the Health Referral Hub 
The Health Referral Hub provides connections to free health programs through our bilingual Health Referral Specialists. Anyone with questions about free health programs are encouraged to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 215-608-1477 to get more information about free health programs in your area.

What is prediabetes? 
Prediabetes is a condition where a person’s blood sugar is high, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. Prediabetes can lead directly to serious health complications like heart attack, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. Approximately one in three American adults have prediabetes, but more than 80% don’t know that they have it.

Knowing if you have prediabetes now is important because it means you still have time to reverse it. Small changes to a person’s diet and exercise can greatly reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes and other serious health complications.

By texting the word “TODAY” or “HOY” to 600400, Pennsylvanians can find out if they are one of the 96 millions American adults at risk for prediabetes.

What is a National Diabetes Prevention Program? 
The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) is a no cost program for people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Attendees learn how to decrease their risk of developing diabetes through healthy eating, getting more physical activity, managing stress, and creating action plans that work for them. A trained coach leads the group over the course of one year with individualized support in making healthy changes.

Who are the partners involved in this program? 
This is a collaborative effort to prevent and control prediabetes and diabetes in Pennsylvania, the Health Promotion Council, in partnership with National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), Welltok - A Virgin Pulse Company, and Public Health Management Corporation Research and Evaluation created “Make a Choice” to reach Pennsylvanians to inform them about the risk of prediabetes and enroll them in a National Diabetes Prevention Program.