Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log | 8-27-2015

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

August 27, 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

The City of Red Lake Falls in Red Lake County adopted a Tobacco-Free Outdoor policy on July 13, which included prohibiting the use of electronic cigarettes at city parks, the arena, and pool. The policy was implemented on August 7 and 20 signs were put up to help with enforcement. The Quin TFC staff worked closely with the City of Red Lake to provide education about tobacco-free outdoors space policies.

August 10, the Bingham Lake City Council unanimously passed a Tobacco-free Park Policy, which includes prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes, for their City Park System, recreational areas, and community gathering areas. Congratulations to Bingham Lake city council for being proactive community leaders and preventing secondhand smoke exposure among vulnerable populations. The policy will be effective on September 1, 2015. Kudos to Des Moines Valley Public Health TFC for assisting Storden in the policy development process and working with city officials to communicate the new tobacco policy.


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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Conference ~ Food Access Summit ~ Duluth, Nov 8-10

Registration is open for the 2015 Food Access Summit, Networking for Change!

More information at: www.foodaccesssummit.com or 651-214-2498

Toolkit ~ Improve Your School Arrival and Departure Procedures ~ Feet First

From cars, buses, to kids on foot and bikes, there is quite a bit of chaos before and after school. The recently released Feet First "Improve Your School Arrival and Departure Procedures Toolkit for School Safety Committees" provides tips to make the often most unsafe area (outside the school entrance) a safer place for everyone.

Resource ~ Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs ~ USDA

Just in time for the new school year, a revised guide, Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs, is now available and can help you decide how to buy local for your partners' programs.

The guide covers procurement basics, defining local, where to find local products, and the variety of ways schools can purchase locally in accordance with regulations. This revision incorporates information about micro-purchases, buying local foods for child care and summer meal programs and more real-world examples. Check out the new guide for sample solicitation language, detailed geographic preference examples and helpful resources. 

Infographic ~ Youth & Cycling ~ PeopleForBikes

PeopleForBikes released new data on youth and cycling August 2015.

Funding Opportunities ~ School-Based Garden

Looking for a grant to support your school-based gardens? Jeffers Foundation has compiled a list with some current opportunities to consider, check it out.

Resource ~ Culturally Relevant Tools & Services ~ The Food Group

As part of The Food Group’s mission to increase food access in Minnesota, they work to promote culturally appropriate foods and practices for our partner agencies. The resources below are tools and strategies to help organizations evaluate their cultural competencies and what strategies exist to accommodate to the changing communities they serve. Click here for more information. 

Resource ~ 2015 State Bicycle Map ~ MnDOT

The 2015 state bicycle map is now available. Bicyclists can get the new map at the Minnesota State Fair Aug. 27 to Sept. 7 at the Kick Gas exhibit inside the Eco Experience building on Randall Avenue.

The map is also available at MnDOT's Central Office Building, 395 John Ireland Blvd, St. Paul. You may request a paper version of the map by emailing bicyclemap.dot@state.mn.us.

The free map shows road conditions, traffic volumes and existing paved, bikeable shoulders, gravel roadways, all factors that make planning long-distance bicycle trips easier.

 
 
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Feedback Requested ~ Nicotine Toolkit ~ Minnesota Department of Health

We invite you to briefly provide feedback on our nicotine toolkit, released 6/10/2015, in conjunction with our Health Advisory on the nicotine health risks for youth.

To take this short survey, go to https://survey.vovici.com/se/56206EE31A93F2A2

The nicotine toolkit was made available to help you educate stakeholders in your community about the harms of nicotine. It includes talking points, question and answers, data highlights, infographics and social media tools. You can access the toolkit on Basecamp here

Feedback will be used to improve future toolkits. 

Newsletter ~ Go Tobacco-Free

Go Tobacco-free provides technical assistance to colleges and
universities using an evidence-based policy advocacy and implementation approach
with a focus on evaluation. Check out their latest newsletter here. 

 
 

HIA Funding, Job Opening & Conference

CDC HIA Funding Opportunity for Local Public Health deadline 9/10/15. For more information interested LHDs can find the full Request for Proposals here.

MDH HIA Climate Program Job Opening –deadline 9/11/15. The Minnesota Department of Health is hiring for a new staff position with the HIA and climate program. Applications will be accepted through Friday, September 11, 2015. For more details and to apply, please visit the State of Minnesota Job Postings.  

State HIA conference Registration Open: This two-day conference will be held at the Commons Hotel in Minneapolis, November 16-17. Day 1 will include in-depth training for all levels of experience. Day 2 will feature speakers and sessions on both the challenges of HIA and the lessons learned from experienced practitioners in Minnesota and across the US. To learn more, visit www.mnhia.com for information on schedule, sessions, and registration. Be sure to register by September 1st to receive an early-bird discount!

 
 
SHIP GRANTEE ANNOUNCEMENTSMDH Logo

Making it Better Regional Learning Meeting: Healthy Eating and Active Living ~ Bemidji, Sept 23

North West and North East Regions:

  • 8-11:30am | Sanford Center, 111 Event Center Drive NE, Bemidji

This portion of the meeting is a pre-conference session to the American Planning Association Minnesota Chapter annual conference being held September 23-25 at the Sanford Center. Registration is free, but required for the morning session. Registration is now open.

Registration is free but desired for the afternoon portion.

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Save the Date ~ Regional Learning Meetings ~ October

Save the Date for the October Making it Better Regional Learning Meetings. 

Topics: Community Engagement, Health Care, Call it Quits Referral Program (for tobacco quitline referrals) & Workplace Wellness

October 6 | Detroit Lakes

October 13 | Duluth

October 15 | Marshall

October 20 | Metro

October 27 | Rochester

 
 
Tribal SHIP Grantee Announcements

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community wellness grant grantee announcements heading

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