Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log | 5-14-2015

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Making It Better - Minnesota Department of Health - Minnesota’s Health Improvement Log

May 14, 2015

Current and archived issues available at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/oshii/log

 

To be added to the distribution list please email Health.MakingitBetter@state.mn.us.

In This Week's Issue

 
 

Don't forget!

Gems

Kudos to the City of Wendell in Grant County and Horizon TFC for working with them to update their Tobacco Ordinance! The City of Wendell have not updated their ordinance in more than 16 years, but now their ordinance contains current language and definitions in regards to the sale of tobacco and electronic cigarettes.

Congratulations to Jefferson Apartments located in Alexandria for adopting a smoke-free policy for all of its 24 units. This is a big success because these complexes are adjacent to the Alexandria Technical and Community College and mainly provide housing for young adults. 

Do you have a resource or success story (“gem”) to share for a future issue?  Submissions for each week’s Thursday publication are due by noon every Tuesday to Health.MakingitBetter@state.mn.us or community specialists for:

 
 

No resources

 
 
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Factsheets ~ Walking & Bicyling in Rural Communities ~ Safe Routes to School National Partnership

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership recently released three new factsheets to help overcome obstacles and get rural dwellers the health benefits of walking and bicycling. 

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Webinar ~ Innovative Ways to Fund Your School Garden Program ~ May 19, 3pm

There is no one way to fund a garden program - there are hundreds! In this webinar, Life Lab’s John Fisher and Gardens to Grow In’s Kevin Hesser will share a wide variety of ideas to finance your school garden program. From finding grants and supportive policy, to school garden micro-enterprise and farm-raisers, their discussion will provide funding ideas for all aspects of your school garden, including garden supplies and staffing school garden instructors. John and Kevin’s presentation will share examples of how they have funded the school garden programs that they run, along with insight from other successful garden programs. Topics will include:

  • Tools for creating a garden budget
  • Telling your story
  • Garnering school or district support
  • Cultivating donors
  • Farm and garden based fundraisers
  • Tips for finding grants
  • Policy that supports school garden programs
  • Innovative ways to fund a garden program

Join this live, interactive session to learn new ways to fund your new or existing school garden program. John and Kevin will field questions from attendees after their presentation.Click here for more information.

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Workshops ~ Lose the Sodium, Add the Flavor ~ University of Minnesota Extension

Are you looking for ideas on how to decrease the sodium school meals? Attend this FREE workshop by the University of Minnesota Extension to learn ideas and techniques to reduce sodium and increase the flavor.  This is a hands-on class that will keep you involved as you learn. Class size is limited to 25 people so register early.

Participants of this informative training will:

  • Understand the health implications of consuming a high-sodium diet.
  • Practice identifying the amount of sodium in food.
  • Learn how simple scratch cooking can reduce sodium in school meals.
  • Explore and practice culinary skills to reduce the sodium content of meals.
  • Learn a variety of techniques for adding flavor to food.

Training Details:

  • Tuesday, June 2nd- 9 AM- Noon- Deer River, MN- Click here to register
  • Friday, June 12th- 9 AM- Noon- Mankato, MN- Click here to register
  • Thursday, June 18th- 9 AM- Noon- Marshall, MN- Click here to register
  • Tuesday, June 29th- TBD afternoon- Wadena, MN- Click here to register             

If you have any questions about these regional workshop offerings please contact Terri Swartout, School Health Coordinator, MN Department of Education at 651-582-8377.

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Funding Opportunity ~ Farmers' Markets SNAP Support Grants ~ USDA

Funding announcement from USDA FNS regarding funds to increase SNAP accessibility and participation at farmers’ markets. Per the grant announcement, eligible grant uses include, but are not limited to:

  • Salaries and benefits for time spent on SNAP activities, including:
  •       Operating SNAP-EBT machines at market(s);
  •       Completing SNAP accounting and reporting tasks for market(s);
  •       Creating/operating systems (such as scrip, accounting, record-keeping)     necessary to make SNAP operational at market(s); and
  •      Training and technical assistance to farmers’ market volunteers, vendors, and employees on SNAP.
  • Creating SNAP outreach and educational materials and performing outreach to current SNAP participants to inform them they may use their SNAP benefits at farmers’ markets; outreach must be conducted in accordance with the Farm Bill prohibitions on recruiting, advertising, and collaboration with foreign governments.
  • Miscellaneous equipment, other than SNAP-EBT equipment -- such as scrip, wifi hotspots, accounting software, etc. – necessary for SNAP-EBT equipment to operate at farmers’ markets. 

Read the press release here. 

Research Review ~ Impact of Safe Routes to School Programs on Walking and Biking

Research studies indicate that SRTS has increased rates of walking and biking and improved safety. Studies also show the program is an economically sound investment that can decrease health costs and school transport costs.

The research review shows that:

  • Actively commuting to and from school could improve mental and physical health.
  • SRTS has increased the number of students who walk or bike to and from school.
  • Unsafe routes make it harder for students to walk or bike to and from school. SRTS has made it safer for students to walk or bike to or from school.
  • SRTS can lower health care and transportation costs for school districts and families.
  • Communities can take action on SRTS through subdivision regulations that require sidewalks, education facility plans that ensure access to school by foot and bicycle, school wellness policies that include Safe Routs to School, and capital improvement plans that prioritize engineering improvements near schools.

Conference ~ Food as Economic Development in Minnesota Native Communities ~ July 8-10

First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) will host the “Food as Economic Development in Minnesota Native Communities” convening July 8-10, 2015, at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake. At this free event, attendees will coalesce around recognition of the power of household and tribal spending on food that contributes to the strengthening of local Native economies.

Priority registration will be given to Minnesota-based tribal community representatives. Registration will be capped at 60 attendees, so act quickly! For complete information and registration, visit this link: http://www.firstnations.org/fednc

Funding Opportunity ~ KIDS In The GAME ~ Due June 1

KIDS In The GAME is a nonprofit organization focused on inspiring kids to thrive in life through sports. The organization is inviting public and charter schools enrolled or willing to enroll in the Let’s Move! Active Schools program, and with no current physical education program, to apply for a GO! grant. The $1,000—$5,000 grants support physical activity in before, during, and after-school programs serving children ages 5—12 years. The programs can be new or an expansion of a current project. Applications must be received by June 1. 

For more information, click here.

Promotional Materials ~ Market Bucks Initiative

Interested in promoting farmers markets and helping individuals and families using SNAP to meet their nutritional needs?

The 2015 EBT & Market Bucks Initiative season has arrived!

Once again, the Initiative is offering free promotional materials to get the word out about EBT at farmers markets and the Market Bucks healthy eating incentive. These free materials can be ordered by following this link and completing the form. 

Since 2010 the EBT & Market Bucks Initiative has provided Market Bucks—a healthy eating incentive—and support to create and sustain a network of farmers markets that accept EBT so that SNAP participants can use their benefits to purchase fresh, local produce at farmers markets across the state. The incentive provides a dollar-for-dollar match, up to five dollars' worth of coupons per day, to customers who use SNAP benefits to purchase SNAP-eligible foods at participating farmers markets.  For more information on how you, or a farmers market near you can get involved, please contact farmersmarkets@state.mn.us

 
 

In the News ~ FDA Denies Citizen Petition to Change a Smokeless Tobacco Warning Statement

FDA has denied a Citizen Petition from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and American Snuff Company, LLC.  The petition asked FDA to initiate a rulemaking to change one of the four smokeless tobacco warning statements currently required by the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act, as amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009.

The Citizen Petition was received on July 29, 2011, asking FDA to change the current statement, “WARNING: This product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes.” to “WARNING: No tobacco product is safe, but this product presents substantially lower risks to health than cigarettes.” 

Webinar ~ A Team Approach: Integrating Tobacco Dependence Treatment into Routine Clinical Practice ~ May 27, 11am

The Smoking Leadership Center, in collaboration with the Health Resources and Service Administration, will host a webinar titled, A Team Approach: Integrating Tobacco Dependence Treatment into Routine Clinical Practice.  The program will take place May 27. Click here to register. 

Resource ~ Stories from the Field ~ CounterTobacco

CounterTobacco has a new webpage titled Stories from the Field, which provides examples of how to develop, pass, and implement effective policies, run successful media campaigns, and fight tobacco sales in stores. To read these stories and learn more about the “War in the Store,” click HERE.

Resource ~ Trinkets & Trash ~ Rutgers

Trinkets & Trash is a surveillance project and archive at the Rutgers School of Public Health that monitors tobacco industry marketing in magazines, direct mail, email, websites, and other channels. Click HERE for a recent monthly update.

Public Comment ~ Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults and Pregnant Women: Behavioral and Pharmacotherapy Interventions

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force posted a new Recommendation Statement to its website which is now available for review and public comment. It relates to behavioral and pharmacotherapy interventions for tobacco cessation in adults and pregnant women. To review the draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review and to submit comments, click HERE.

 
 
Community-Clinical Linkages Resources

No resources

 
 

Articles ~ Exploring Stories of Innovation ~ Growing Food Connections

Growing Food Connections is excited to announce Exploring Stories of Innovation, a series of short articles that explore how local governments from across the United States are strengthening their community’s food system through planning and policy.

Beginning in 2012, Growing Food Connections (GFC) conducted exploratory telephone interviews with 20 local governments across the United States that are developing and implementing a range of innovative plans, public programs, regulations, laws, financial investments and other policies to strengthen the food system. This series will highlight some of the unique planning and policy strategies used by these urban and rural local governments to enhance community food security while ensuring sustainable and economically viable agriculture and food production. The first four articles in the series feature Seattle, WA; Baltimore, MD; Cabarrus County, NC; and Lancaster County, PA.

For more information and to download these free articles here

Funding Opportunity ~ Neighborhood Health Connection Healthy Activity Grants ~ Allina

Neighborhood Health Connection Healthy Activity Grants fund activities that promote social connections through healthy eating and physical activity opportunities for groups of adults, older adults and families in local communities. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Offering a series of free yoga classes to neighbors and families at a local park
  • Starting a walking club for residents of an assisted living home that uses pedometers to track steps
  • Expanding a community garden to provide opportunities for community members to grow their own food
  • Hosting a series of healthy cooking classes for a diabetes management group.

Visit neighborhoodhealthconnection.org to find out more and to view examples of previously funded projects.

Call for Commentary ~ Race and Ethnicity in Food Systems Work ~ Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development

JAFSCD seeks commentaries (which will be editor reviewed) from people of color, activists, leaders, consultants, white advocates and project partners, nonprofit organization staff and board members, public agency staff, and academics (scholars, students, and program staff). Examples of topics for commentaries include but are not limited to:

  • Moving away from a “diversity” model of engagement to an “empowerment” model.
  • Addressing the lack of racial equity and diversity in food systems work.
  • Acknowledging white privilege and embracing cultural humility.
  • Using privilege to shift paradigms.
  • Sharing techniques for conducting “power analyses.”
  • How to approach people from communities of color regarding food systems work.
  • How to initiate joint projects and programs in diverse localities.
  • How food systems research in communities of color or with people of color should be conducted.
  • How to organize fair and appropriate arrangements for new farmer training, marketing of produce, and access to resources, such as in the leasing and purchasing of farmland.
  • Resources and support from those in privileged categories that would be helpful for addressing issues of justice.

Click here for more details.

 
 
SHIP GRANTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS

No announcements

 
 
Community Wellness Grant Grantee Announcements

No announcements

 
 
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Reminder ~ Conference Proposals

REMINDER: If TFC grantees are planning to submit any conference proposals related to TFC-funded work, please send a copy of the conference proposal you plan to submit to Pa Khang.