Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log | 3-19-2015

Making it Better, Your Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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MDH Making It Better

March 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!

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:

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Job Posting ~ Active Transportation Coordinator ~ OSHII

This position exists to execute department-wide planning and implementation efforts on active transportation and related active living strategies that are designed to increase physical activity. Active transportation encompasses land use planning and active modes of transportation such as walking, biking, and transit. Applications will be accepted through March 27. 

 
 
Foundational Skills Resources

No resources 

 
 
Obesity, Physical Activity and Nutrition ResourcesMDH Logo

Funding Opportunity ~ Farm to School Grant Program ~ USDA

This week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, announced the release of the RFA for the USDA Farm to School grants.  Please share this announcement to anyone who may be interested!

The USDA Farm to School team has done a fabulous job providing support to potential applicants.  If you or someone you know may be interested in applying, I highly encourage you to check out the grant awards page.  On this page you will find:

  • Sample applications
  • A list of past and current awardees (Consider reaching out to a successful applicant from MN!)
  • Frequently asked questions
  • and of course, the FY2016 Request for Applications
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Resource ~ Healthier Food Retail: An Action Guide for Public Health Practitioners ~ CDC

CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) just released a new resource, Healthier Food Retail: An Action Guide for Public Health Practitioners. It provides guidance on how to develop, implement, and partner on initiatives in food retail settings. This resource will help you in your work to improve access, availability, and affordability of healthier foods and beverages in your state.   

This Action Guide is unique in that it is organized around public health roles, particularly at the state level.

The document covers the following topics:

  • How  to support healthier food retail in your state, region, or community through partnership-building, assessment, and evaluation.
  • How to implement strategies in the following retail settings:  grocery stores; small stores; farmers markets; and mobile food retail. Four strategy chapters provide a general overview, helpful resources, and specific actions you can take in these settings.
  • How to address two cross-cutting strategies - transportation and distribution - that are important to the success of healthier food retail efforts. 
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Resource ~ Healthier Food Retail: Beginning the Assessment Process in Your State or Community ~ CDC

DNPAO also just released an updated version of Healthier Food Retail: Beginning the Assessment Process in Your State or Community. This resource provides an overview of how to develop a state or community assessment in food retail settings.  This version contains more details and ‘how-to’ information for practitioners to use. These assessments can help identify disparities in peoples’ ability to access affordable, nutritious foods. The document takes practitioners through a step-by-step process for conducting assessments, including focusing, planning, implementing, and communicating assessment findings.

Webinar ~ The Fine Art of Messaging ~ America Walks ~ April 13, 12pm

Based on research commissioned by the Every Body Walk! Collaborative, this webinar will help you understand which messages about walking and walkability work, and which ones don't.  Karen Saverino and colleagues at Metropolitan Group will present the results of surveys, key informant interviews, and focus groups conducted across the country, that will help us effectively frame the issue of walkable communities.  Your "call to action" will be to build these messages into your next communications initiative. Click here to register.

Webinar ~ Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper--and Healthier ~ America Walks ~ April 23, 12pm

Transforming the built environment to improve health outcomes can take years, if not decades. This webinar will focus on short term, low cost, yet high impact strategies for improving streets, public spaces, and buildings across the country that can lead to longer term change. Kate Rube and her team at Project for Public Spaces will present health-promoting ‘Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper’ approaches, including active recreation amenities, street redesigns that prioritize pedestrians, and farmers’ market stands.  After the webinar, participants will be ready to create great public places that attract people and provide many ways to get healthy. Click here to register.

 
 
Tobacco ResourcesMDH Logo

Report ~ Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products ~ Institute of Medicine

Last week the Institute of Medicine released its report Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products, which considers public health outcomes of raising the minimum legal age for tobacco products to 19 years, 21 years, and 25 years.

Among the key findings, it was found that raising the minimum age to 21 may result in a 25% decrease in tobacco use among adolescents ages 15-17 years.

For more information and access to the full report visit their website.

 
 
Community-Clinical Linkages ResourcesMDH Logo

Diabetes Alert Day ~ Minnesota Department of Health ~ March 24

On Diabetes Alert Day - Tuesday, March 24 – and for the following weeks, the Minnesota Department of Health is urging people to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

The Diabetes Risk Test asks simple questions about your weight, age, family history and other potential risk factors for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. The Test will also give you tips on preventing diabetes and what to ask your doctor about your risk for the disease. Take the Diabetes Risk Test at here.

To find out more information about prediabetes and diabetes visit MDH Diabetes Program here. Email questions to health.diabetes@state.mn.us

Included in this package are ready to use posts for use on Facebook and Twitter or in, staff or client newsletter or email along with a guide for hosting a diabetes screening event in your community or organization. 

 
 
Related Events Around Minnesota and BeyondMDH Logo

Training ~ Tipping the Scales: Promoting Nutrition and Physical Activity in Early Childhood Settings ~ March 23 & 30

If you are already approved as a trainer by the Minnesota Center for Professional Development (MNCPD), here is an opportunity for you to add to your repertoire of trainings. 

Tipping the Scales: Promoting Nutrition and Physical Activity in Early Childhood Settings offers very basic information about nutrition and physical activity and so is most appropriate for new child care providers and those with limited English proficiency.

The Tipping the Scales TOT will take place online, with mandatory chat sessions on March 23 & 30, and additional assignments. Successful completion of this TOT will equip you to deliver 6 hours of Tipping the Scales training to child care providers. More information and application instructions are now posted here.

Deadlines for application have been extended; if you are interested, apply IMMEDIATELY. Questions? Contact Joyce O’Meara.

 
 
Ship Grantee AnnouncementsMDH Logo

Conference Call ~ Restaurant Menu Labeling ~ March 26, 1pm

Are you currently working on the Restaurant Menu Labeling sub strategy or are you thinking of pursuing this work in the future?  MDH would like to provide local public health SHIP partners a platform to come and share ideas and concerns with each other on how to work with these businesses to improve the food environment. Come ready to share and learn.

Join us on  March 26 from 1-2 pm by calling 1-888-742-5095; pass code 9821141691.        

 
 
Tobacco-Free Communities Grantee Announecements

No announcements