Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log | June 30, 2016

Making it Better, Your Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log logo

June 30, 2016

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!

  • Webinar | Addressing Tobacco Use in Residential Care Settings: Policies & Priorities | June 30

    Time:     12:30 p.m.
    Date:     June 30

    This Consortium webinar will discuss the public health rationale for reducing tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure in assisted living and long-term care settings, where many vulnerable and tobacco-addicted people live. Presenters will describe the current tobacco control landscape in these environments and several regulatory options to address tobacco use in this population. 

    Presenters: Pat McKone, American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest; Jessica Kulak, College of Brockport (SUNY); and Jenn Beideman, Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency.

    Moderator/Presenter: Kerry Cork, Tobacco Control Legal Consortium at the Public Health Law Center.

    Register here.

Gems

Efforts to Reduce Childhood Obesity Rates in St. Cloud Recognized

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has highlighted successful efforts to reduce childhood obesity rates in the St. Cloud area.

St. Cloud was recognized as one community across the nation that is showing signs of progress on reducing childhood obesity. CentraCare Health System reported a 24 percent relative decline in obesity in 12 year olds between 2008 and 2015, due in part to the work of Better Living: Exercise and Nutrition Daily (BLEND), a coalition of medical professionals, policy makers, educators, local public health, health care advocates and parents.

Stearns County Public Health, through the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP), has been a funder, supporter and a partner with BLEND since SHIP funds became available in 2009. SHIP funds have supported several initiatives that are highlighted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Read more about the efforts here.



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:

 
 

Register | NACCHO Annual | July 19-21

Every year, local health department professionals gather at the NACCHO Annual conference to share opportunities and challenges, learn how to adopt best practices, engage with federal and local partners and gain insights from public health experts.

In today’s economic climate, finding resources to participate in any professional development event can be a challenge. Validate the investment in your professional career and the future of public health by attending the largest gathering of local health department leaders in the United States. Your colleagues will share their professional experiences and you can take that new knowledge and myriad of ideas home with you and put them into practice at your organization.

  • NACCHO Annual is the largest gathering of local health department leaders and other public health professionals in the United States.
  • NACCHO Annual is the premier opportunity to connect with and learn from thought leaders in public health and peers from all over the country.
  • NACCHO Annual is the best forum for learning about research breakthroughs and new technologies in local public health.
  • NACCHO Annual offers hands-on experience and innovative solutions to the challenges that local health departments face.

For more information or to register, click here.

 
 

Farm to School/Childcare Grants

Minnesota Department of Health logo

AGRI Farm to School Grant

The Minnesota AGRI Farm to School Grant Program anticipates awarding up to $500,000 in competitive grants to increase sales of locally grown and raised foods to K-12 institutions and childcare centers. The grant program supports Minnesota school districts and child care providers in using more Minnesota grown and raised foods in food service programs. The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has committed up to $125,000 to help schools and child care providers meet the requirement for matching funds for equipment or physical improvement projects.

Grants are intended to:

  1. Purchase equipment that allows schools and child care centers to purchase, prepare and serve more Minnesota grown and raised food. Up to 50 percent of the total project cost may be covered by the grant, with a maximum grant award of $50,000 and a minimum grant award of $1,000. Recipients must contribute the remaining 50 percent of the project cost as a cash match. Blue Cross funds may be used for this type of funding.
  2. Create plans that identify specific equipment, tools, training or policies that are needed by school districts and child care centers. Up to 75 percent of the total project cost may be covered by the grant, with a maximum grant award of $30,000 and a minimum grant award of $1,000. Recipients must contribute the remaining 25 percent of the project cost as a cash match. Blue Cross funds may not be used for this option.

Proposals must be received no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. The complete request for proposals and instructions for sumissions is located online at www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/mnfarmtoschool.aspx. For questions, please contact Ashley Bress at 651-201-6648 or Ashley.Bress@state.mn.us.


Minnesota Food Charter Update | Commissioner of Health Dr. Ehlinger on the Triple Aim

Minnesota Department of Health logo

Disparities have emerged for numerous and complex reasons, but there is reliable evidence that some of the most important factors are the structural barriers in economics, education, transportation and healthcare. These factors stem from the discrimination that is typically faced in rural communities, tribal nations, and communities of color.

When it comes to good health in our state, not everyone has an equal opportunity to be healthy. Disadvantaged Minnesotans face the most-dire consequences, but there is a growing awareness that health disparities make it harder for everyone in a community to achieve full health.

At one time, Minnesota was the healthiest state in the nation. In recent years, however, our ranking has eroded due in large part to increasing disparities in health risks and health outcomes that exist across all of the state’s racial, economic and geographic groups. These disparities have emerged for numerous and complex reasons, but there is reliable evidence that some of the most important factors are the structural barriers in economics, education, transportation and healthcare, stemming from discrimination that is faced in rural communities, tribal nations, and communities of color.

Learn more.


Worksites Webinar | Breastfeeding and Your Responsibilities Under the Law | July 21

Time:     Noon – 1 p.m.
Date:     July 21
Presented by:  The Public Health Law Center at Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Federal and state laws require employers to provide nursing moms time and a private space to express breast milk while at work. This webinar will address how the laws apply to Minnesota businesses, including accommodations employers are required to make for nursing moms to ensure compliance. Additionally, the webinar will address how local businesses are supporting nursing moms and making the laws work at their worksites.

Register here.


SNAP-Education Community Partnership Funding

Minnesota Department of Health logo

Extension's SNAP-Education Community Partnership Funding supports 15 local, regional and statewide agencies through grant money for 2016. The partner agencies work to improve the health of Minnesotans with limited resources by implementing changes in the policies, systems and the environment in their communities. In the first three months alone, these partnerships reached over 16,000 Minnesotans! Find out more here: Community Partnership Funding Quarter 1 Results (330 K PDF)

SNAP-Ed Community Partners

The organizations listed below are collaborating with SNAP-Ed staff to improve the health of Minnesotans with limited financial resources. Learning together, the partnerships are identifying ways to implement policy, system and environmental changes within organizations and communities to promote healthy eating and active living. Click on “More information +” to see the scale of the project, primary grant location, population served and project description.

About the Funding

Extension’s SNAP-Education Community Partnership Funding granted funds to 15 local, regional and statewide agencies in 2016. Partners were chosen to work collaboratively with SNAP-Ed to help bring about policy, system and environment change by using practical strategies that helped break down barriers to healthy eating and active living.

The Community Partnership grantees are diverse in size and scope, representing a mix of programs offered in rural urban, and suburban settings throughout Minnesota. They include: large public health and school programs; health care providers; faith-based and philanthropic organizations; and community groups. Our partners serve populations eligible for SNAP-Ed through both traditional and innovative programming. Their grants are designed to help organizations build capacity and sustainability. 

Through the grants, we seek to improve the health of Minnesotans with limited financial resources. As we collaborate with our partners, the lessons we learn from one another will help guide our future SNAP-Ed work. As part of this initiative, tools will be developed to document the assessment process and to measure the success of projects.

 
 

What Carrying a Pack Says About Young Smokers

Young tobacco users who carry a pack of cigarettes or other tobacco products are less likely to see tobacco as a significant danger to themselves or society, according to new findings from Truth Initiative researchers published in Health Education & Behavior.   

Read more.


Need to Pick Up the Pace on Tobacco Control in the States

Passage of state-wide, comprehensive smoke-free laws and increases in cigarette taxes have stalled in recent years, according to recent data released by the CDC. We need to encourage policymakers to get busy on these policies and help promote their enforcement throughout the country.    

Read more.


New OSH Infographics

CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) released three new infographics for you to share with partners, states, grantees and tobacco control colleagues.

Also available are:

 
 

New Funding Opportunity | The Center for Prevention’s Healthy Eating Success Stories

The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota delivers on Blue Cross' long-term commitment to improve the health of all Minnesotans by tackling the leading root causes of preventable disease: tobacco use, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating. Funded through proceeds from Blue Cross' historic lawsuit against the tobacco industry, they collaborate with organizations statewide to increase health equity, transform communities and create a healthier state.

The Center is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity for their Healthy Eating Success Stories funding initiative. They are seeking to fund six to eight organizations at $10,000 each, to showcase innovative, successful healthy eating work. 

Many successful and innovative projects and initiatives have been implemented that address barriers to eating healthy throughout Minnesota. However, due to various constraints such as organizational size or staff capacity, there are often fewer resources available to promote such successes. 

This funding aims to highlight the outcomes and lessons of current or completed healthy eating programs, and to promote them within communities that may be inspired to duplicate the successes. 

They seek to fund organizations that tell success stories about their healthy eating project in unique and innovative ways that also align with the foundational work laid out in the Minnesota Food Charter. The Success Stories project will use persuasive, tailored communications and powerful personal narratives to execute campaign(s) that will deliver positive community-based healthy eating messages. 

The application deadline is 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8 (central time).

To apply for this funding opportunity and review the required materials, visit the Available Funding page.


Mini-Grant Funding | Asthma Friendly Schools

Minnesota Department of Health logo

The Minnesota Department of Health’s Asthma Program, in partnership with the American Lung Association in Minnesota, is offering mini-grant funding to support schools that work to create asthma friendly schools. Grant money up to $1,500 is available to implement a variety of school-based projects in elementary, middle or high schools from June 8, 2016, through Aug. 31, 2017.

Schools will establish their own timeline to complete their projects by Aug. 31, 2017.The funds, which are available to public schools, charter schools and private schools, can be applied to individual schools or across districts. Applications are being accepted for the current grant cycle. 

For more information, go to the Minnesota Asthma Program – Asthma Friendly Schools Mini-Grant Program to learn how to submit your application.

 
 
SHIP GRANTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Plans for SHIP Meeting in Final Stages

Working Together for Better Health logo
Minnesota Department of Health logo

The Annual Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Meeting, which will be June 26-27 at Eagan Community Center, is quickly approaching, and OSHII staff is in the final stages of planning and organizing the meeting.

Registration for the meeting is now closed.

In terms of next steps, OSHII staff will be reaching out to grantees who said they would moderate a session or volunteer at the meeting. For more information, please contact your community specialist. An updated agenda, with schedule presentations and presenters, is available on the meeting web page.


Reminder | SHIP POS

Minnesota Department of Health logo

Reminder: SHIP grantees who have been approved to work on POS strategies should have the tobacco ordinances collected from each of the city and county licensing authorities in their grant region and submitted to Public Health Law Center for review by Aug. 1.This deadline will ensure that you have the needed information as Year 2 POS strategy planning begins. 

For more information, contact Scott Kelly, Public Health Law Center Scott.kelly@mitchellhamline.edu.


Health Equity Data Analysis (HEDA) Requirements for SHIP 4

Minnesota Department of Health logo

As you know, completing a Health Equity Data Analysis is a requirement of SHIP 4. Originally, this was due Oct. 31, 2016. Under the updated timeline, all grantees must complete a health equity data analysis by Oct. 31, 2017, the end of year 2 of the SHIP 4 grant.

  • The 10 grantees piloting the Data Guide will complete a HEDA by November, 2016.
  • Grantees who are not part of the pilot can either:

1. Begin the HEDA process now or soon, before the Guide is refined and the roll out more fully developed during the pilot period; or

    2. Begin the HEDA process in November, 2016, once the Guide is refined and the roll out is developed. There will not be a formal Community of Practice for the launch of the refined Guide. But you will be able to seek guidance from the grantees who piloted the process, from SHIP staff, and from the Minnesota Center for Health Statistics.

      If you decide to move forward now, you are not on your own! Please reach out to Ann Kinney from the Minnesota Center for Health Statistics and your Community Specialist. We want to emphasize that you can ask for and receive the same level of support from MCHS and SHIP that has always been available to you.  

      The Data Guide is available on the Minnesota Center for Health Statistics website, along with numerous resources. The final product for the Health Equity Data Analysis is still being determined as part of the pilot, but we will want to see some documentation of how you worked through the five steps in the Guide.

       
       
      tribal grantee announcements

      No announcements this week.

       
       
       

      Request for Proposals | Tobacco-Free Communities Grant Program

      Minnesota Department of Health logo

      MDH seeks proposals to implement the Tobacco-Free Communities (TFC) Grant Program, aiming to reduce and prevent youth tobacco use and address tobacco-related disparities in Minnesota by promoting community-driven tobacco prevention and control activities and strategies.

      This Request for Proposals (RFP) reinforces MDH's overall goal of advancing health equity and achieving population-level health improvements. This RFP also reflects the statewide goals identified in Minnesota's Comprehensive Tobacco Control Framework, 2016-2021, and input from stakeholders who participated in MDH's 2015 Community Voices input process. This RFP provides funding, training, and other resources that strengthens the capacity of communities to influence their own healthy future and works collaboratively to reduce tobacco-related health disparities and the negative influence of commercial tobacco use in Minnesota.

      View the RFP at http://www.health.mn.gov/tfc.