Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log | 2-19-2015

Making it Better, Your Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

View on the Web

MDH Making It Better

February 19, 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

 
 
General Information

Don't forget!

Gems

Kudos to Tobacco-Free Communities grantee, Quin Community Health Services, for working with Marshall County Commissioners to adopt a new ordinance for Clean Indoor Air in Public Places and Places of Work. The Marshall County Board voted unanimously on February 3, 2015 to prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes in all public indoor places where tobacco is prohibited within Marshall County.

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 grant managers for:

 
 
Foundational Skills Resources

No resources

 
 
Obesity, Physical Activity and Nutrition ResourcesMDH Logo

Training ~ Smarter Lunchroom ~ Minnesota Department of Education ~ Roseville, March 11, 2pm

Training Opportunity for private and charter schools:

Last fall the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) hosted trainings on the Smarter Lunchroom Movement. The training was such a success that MDE is planning to offer one more Smarter Lunchroom training in a condensed format specifically for private and charter schools. The registration link is below.

Description: The mission of the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement is to equip school lunchrooms with evidence-based tools that improve child eating behaviors and thus improve the health of children. The Smarter Lunchrooms Movement was started in 2009 with the goal of creating sustainable research-based lunchrooms that guide smarter choices. Smarter Lunchrooms demonstrate core values including:

  • Low cost/no-cost solutions
  • Lunchroom environment focus
  • Promotion of healthful eating behaviors
  • Sustainability

Who should attend the training: Staff that work with School Nutrition Programs from private or charter schools.

Register here! 

Report ~ The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2014 ~ National Complete Streets Coalition

The National Complete Streets Coalition examines and scores Complete Streets policies each year, comparing adopted policy language to the ideal. Ideal policies refine a community’s vision for transportation, provide for many types of users, complement community needs, and establish a flexible project delivery approach necessary for an effective Complete Streets process and outcome. Different types of policy statements are included in this examination, including legislation, resolutions, executive orders, departmental policies, and policies adopted by an elected board. Download the full report, including the list of top 10 Complete Streets policies from 2014 as well as a full explanation of our policy evaluation. Click here to view the report

Webinar ~ Lessons from the Experts: 10 First Steps Toward Walkability ~ America Walks ~ March 9, 12pm

Join celebrated speaker and walkability expert Mark Fenton for a rapid-fire review of best practices for those beginning to build more walkable communities. Many communities are overwhelmed by the apparent technical challenges and cost of making themselves more walkable. But there are compelling, cost efficient, often simple approaches that are ideal first steps. Based on a series of interviews with some of the most experienced and successful walkable community advocates and implementers in the United States, this free webinar reveals starter-strategies that have been shown to work, and why!

This webinar is a companion to the Every Body Walk! Collaborative practice guides series. Register here. 

 
 
Tobacco ResourcesMDH Logo

Educational Materials ~ Minnesota Department of Health

The Minnesota Department of Health has a limited number of educational materials available for use throughout your community! These materials could be distributed to local partners, such as schools, clinics, or community organizations or given away at local events.

To request items, please complete our online form here. 

Due to the limited amount of materials available, we cannot guarantee you will receive the quantity you request or that requested items will arrive in one shipment.

Resources ~ Through with Chew Week (Feb 16-22)

Through with Chew Week (Feb 16-22) calls attention to the dangers of smokeless tobacco, which includes chewing tobacco and snuff. While most awareness campaigns focus on cigarettes and smoking, this week is designed to educate people who use smokeless tobacco and promote cessation. 

Tobacco Free Colorado has information available here about Through with Chew Week:

The CDC developed a Swiss cheese press release for Through with Chew Week – click here

And remember My Last Dip, a website to help people quit smokeless tobacco use. 

 
 
Community-Clinical Linkages Resources

No resources

 
 
Related Events Around Minnesota and Beyond

Resource ~ Building Healthy Schools ~ Public Health Law Center

Building Healthy Schools: HIA on Planning School Construction Projects in Minnesota

Public Health Law Center recently released a final report and recommendations for Building Healthy Schools, Health Impact Assessment on Planning School Construction Projects in Minnesota, the final report and recommendations on the HIA conducted Minnesota’s school construction and siting guidelines.

The report addresses and has recommendations for the following:

  • Food environment: for example, school kitchen equipment and set up; along with cafeteria set up
  •  Location efficiency: for example, considering SRTS, and maximizing opportunities for joint use agreements
  • Physical Activity: for example, classroom configurations that maximize active classroom and appropriate space allocation for quality physical education

The report can be found here. 

 
 
Ship Grantee AnnouncementsMDH Logo

Save the Date ~ Regional Learning Meetings ~ Community Engagement & Health Care ~ Feb, 9am

 
 
Tobacco-Free Communities Grantee AnnounecementsMDH Logo

Save the Date ~ Regional Learning Meetings ~ Community Engagement ~ Feb, 9am