Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log | April 6, 2017

Making it Better, Your Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log logo

April 6, 2017

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 | Tobacco Use Among the Homeless Population | April 12

An Overlooked Addiction: Tobacco Use Among the Homeless Population

Time:  1:30 p.m.
Date:  April 12

Tobacco use is at an epidemic rate among the U.S. homeless population. Although homeless individuals often wrestle with a host of physical, behavioral and substance use issues, tobacco-related chronic disease remains a leading cause of death among this marginalized population.

This Consortium webinar explores the many challenges in addressing nicotine addiction in homeless individuals, describes a range of tobacco control and dependency treatment approaches for state and local governments and homeless shelter providers and discusses smoke-free public housing issues that could affect many formerly homeless individuals.

Presenters: Dr. Maya Vijayaraghavan, University of California San Francisco;  Kerry Cork, J.D., Tobacco Control Legal Consortium at the Public Health Law Center; Darlene Huang, J.D., MPH, Tobacco Control Legal Consortium at the Public Health Law Center.

Register here.


Gems

Anoka County SHIP photo

Anoka County SHIP

Youth First Community of Promise (Youth First) is a free, neighborhood-based after school program in the city of Ramsey providing a safe place for students.

Through the SHIP partnership, Youth First workers were trained by a SNAP-Ed educator on healthy eating, nutrition, promotion of healthy food and food safety. These workers now provide cooking classes to the kids! Using fresh vegetables they grew, they learned how to make dishes that are tasty and nutritious. They also learn how to plant, grow, harvest and cook vegetables, something that many of them had never experienced before.

This new partnership with SNAP-Ed and Youth First will continue, allowing for additional training through a train the trainer model. Anoka County SHIP facilitated the relationship between SNAP-Ed and Youth First along with providing some of the equipment needed to increase youth involvement in cooking, healthy eating and the learning process.

Students who attend Youth First find themselves surrounded by positive role models and the program supports “Healthy Start” which emphasizes healthy minds and habits. Many who attend this program qualify for free or reduced lunch.



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:

 
 

Data Portal Reference Chart Available

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The MN Public Health Data Access portal informs the action of Minnesota communities, policymakers and health professionals with data about environmental hazards and public health.

The handy desk reference is a good reminder about the topics and type of data available. Get the reference here.


Foundational Skills | Community Leadership Team

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Every other month, MDH hosts a call to support SHIP grantees to build strong leadership for health through Community Leadership Teams.

A recording and materials from the February Community Leadership Team Call are posted on Basecamp. The call focused on a review and interpretation of data collected about CLTs through December 2016 REDCap reporting, and on orientation of new CLT members. Please share additional materials that are used to orient new CLT members on Basecamp.

See below the dates for the remaining 2017 CLT calls. Each call will be held from 3-4 p.m.

  • June 5
  • Aug. 14
  • Oct. 9
  • Dec. 4

If you would like meeting invitations forwarded to you, please contact Jeannette.raymond@state.mn.us.

 
 

Grants Available to Help Grocery Stores and Others Improve Access to Healthy and Affordable Foods

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Minnesota Department of Agriculture Makes Grants Available to Help Grocery Stores and Others Improve Access to Healthy and Affordable Foods

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is requesting proposals for grants to increase access to healthy and affordable foods for Minnesotans. The grants are being made available under the Good Food Access Program, which the Minnesota Legislature created last year due, in part, to a lack of access many Minnesotans have to such foods. The grants are designed to stimulate sales of foods – including fruits and vegetables – by assisting grocery stores and small food retailers in making physical improvements or purchasing equipment. 

Grant funds may be used to purchase retail display coolers and freezers, storage coolers and freezers, shelving, mobile food trucks, permanent infrastructure at farmers markets, architectural work, and costs associated with the installation of equipment for physical improvements. For-profit and not-for-profit small food retailers and grocery stores (including farmers markets) are eligible recipients. 

Apply here. 

Proposals must be received no later than 4 p.m.  Wednesday, April 19.


School Grant Opportunities

Fuel Up to Play 60 School Nutrition Equipment Grant (up to $5,000 per school) is available until April 28. For more information, visit the Fuel Up to Play 60 website.

Action For Healthy Kids has two different grant opportunities available – School Breakfast Grants ($2,500 per year) and Game On Grants ($500-$2,500 per year). The deadline for both Action for Healthy Kids grants is April 7. For more information, visit Action for Healthy Kid’s website.


Food Hub Grants

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Funds available to develop community-based food systems.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Food Hub Grant Program. Grants are intended to stimulate purchases of locally grown and raised foods by developing or expanding food hubs and other alternative community-based food distribution systems. The MDA will only offer Food Hub Grants once.

“There’s a lot of interest in using food hubs as a way to help aggregate and distribute locally produced foods,” said Paul Hugunin, Interim Director of the MDA’s Agricultural Marketing and Development Division. “In the last few years, Minnesota has seen lots of innovative, community-based approaches that are working toward offering more locally produced foods to consumers, and providing additional market opportunities to farmers. This grant program will provide much needed financial assistance to help further these efforts.”

A 2016 report on food hubs commissioned by the MDA indicated that Minnesota is home to approximately 15 food hubs of varying size and business structure, and that nationwide there are at least 300 food hubs engaged in some form of local food aggregation and distribution. Like elsewhere, most Minnesota-based food hubs are in the early startup phase, often sponsored or supported by nonprofit organizations. Food hubs vary in scale, stage of development, definition of “local,” seasonal versus year-round operation, market channels, and more.

For-profit and not-for-profit food hubs, and other alternative community-based food distribution businesses, may apply for grants to develop or update their business plans, conduct feasibility studies or create marketing plans. Grants are also available for equipment purchases or physical improvements to allow more purchasing, processing and distributing of Minnesota grown and raised foods.

Proposals for this one-time grant must be submitted by April 19. To learn more and to apply online, click here.


Walk Summit | Sept. 13-15

Vital and Vibrant Communities: The Power of Walkability

Date:  Sept. 13-15
Location: Intercontinental Saint Paul Riverfront, 11 E. Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul

America Walks and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative are excited to announce the 2017 National Walking Summit, “Vital and Vibrant Communities: The Power of Walkability.” The National Walking Summit explores the benefits walking and walkability can provide to an individual and community. For the 2017 National Walking Summit, the conference will expand what is meant by the term “healthy” to include not only physical health, but also social, economic and civic health. Walkability is at the cornerstone of creating neighborhoods that are vital and vibrant, allowing all members of a community to enjoy health, social and economic benefits in a variety of forms. The conference agenda can be viewed here: http://walkingsummit.org/2017-program-agenda.

Early bird registration is available until July 14 at a rate of $375.  Get registration information here.

  • America Walks is offering 100 scholarships to the conference. Learn more and apply for the scholarship here.
  • The National Physical Activity Society also offers scholarships to the Walk Summit. Learn more here.

Event | Breastfeeding Management & Counseling for the Health Care Team | May 25

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Breastfeeding Management & Counseling for the Health Care Team: A Deep Dive

Time:  9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Date:  May 25
Place: Holiday Inn, 200 W 1st St., Duluth
Cost:  $80/person

This continuing education event provides lactation training for health care providers to address breastfeeding management needs in hospitals, clinics, community and tribal settings. We'll provide great information for SHIP grantees and their health care partners.

Additional information about the event and registration will be posted to the MBC website events page at www.mnbreastfeedingcoalition.org

Questions? mnbfcevents@gmail.com


National Bike Month | Resources Available | May

May is National Bike Month, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast.

Established in 1956, National Bike Month is a chance to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to give biking a try. 

Bike Month is a way for coalitions, CLTs and partners to encourage people to take advantage of how SHIP work has made biking easier in communitie4s across Minnesota.

National Bike to Work Week 2017 will be held on May 15-19. Bike to Work Day is May 19.

A Bike Month guide, promotional materials and fact sheets can be found here to help you and your partners plan a strategic event during Bike Month. 


Walk! Bike! Fun!

The Walk! Bike! Fun! Curriculum training season has begun!

Bike Alliance of Minnesota is hosting seven trainings around the state this spring.  Please find registration information below for the first three trainings and feel free to pass the information and links along to your schools, Safe Routes to School partners and active living champions. Let's get kids out walking and biking more and doing so safely!

http://www.bikemn.org/events/event/413

http://www.bikemn.org/events/event/414

http://www.bikemn.org/events/event/415


Safe Routes to School

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Safe Routes to School Network Calls

Time:  10-11 a.m.
Date:  Third Thursday of every month

Calls are for all partners working on Safe Routes activities.

Future agendas and webinar information are found on the website: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/mnsaferoutes/news/network_calls.html

Archived calls can also be found on the website.


Bicycle Friendly University | April 20

Time:  11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Date:  April 20

Learn how the Bicycle Friendly University program can help advance local efforts by connecting a major influencer in communities to active living work.  The Bicycle Friendly University is a part of the Bicycle Friendly America Award program that also includes community and worksite programs.

Natalie Gilles of Bike MN will provide an overview of the Bicycle Friendly University program and introduce representatives who helped Concordia College in Moorhead and Macalester College receive their Bicycle Friendly Awards.  The webinar will conclude with a Q&A.

Additional Information on the BFU program can be found: http://bikeleague.org/university

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To join the training session

Topic: Bike Friendly University Webinar
Date: Thursday, April 20
Time: 11:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time (Chicago, GMT-05:00)
Session number: 636 918 229
Session password: DfnVQA4*

-------------------------------------------------------

1. Go to https://health-state-mn-ustraining.webex.com/health-state-mn-ustraining/k2/j.php?MTID=t07341cfb8a351d02a306149d758c249c
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the session password: DfnVQA4*
4. Click "Join Now".
5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

 
 

New Health Systems Change Case Studies

In 2014, ClearWay MinnesotaSM funded three organizations for two years to help them improve their ability to assess and address tobacco use with their patients. An external evaluator conducted a process evaluation and worked with Clearway Minnesota and the grantees to develop individual case studies on each of the projects. These case studies share the strategies, successes, challenges and lessons learned. See 2014 Health Systems Change Grantee Case Studies.


New Tobacco Resources

Underserved and Overlooked: Tobacco Addiction Among the Homeless Population (2017)  Policy brief that examines challenges in addressing tobacco use among homeless individuals, as well as promising tobacco control policies and cessation interventions for this population.

Smoke-Free Public Housing: Reasonable Accommodations (2017)  Background information to help housing authorities field reasonable accommodation requests in smoke-free public housing.

Tobacco Use Among the Homeless Population: Frequently Asked Questions (2016)  Answers to several common questions about tobacco use among members of the homeless population.

HUD's Rule to Restrict Smoking in Public Housing: An Overview (2017)  On November 30, 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a final rule to restrict smoking in public housing. This updated fact sheet provides an overview of the rule’s smoking restrictions.


National Tobacco Control Program State Fact Sheets

New from the CDC: National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP) State Fact Sheets

This new resource from the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health features an interactive U.S. map where users can access informative fact sheets that illustrate the impact of CDC's investment in tobacco prevention and control and the burden of tobacco use for each state and the District of Columbia.

Each fact sheet features a universal problem statement, as well as state-specific information such as burden data, current CDC tobacco control funding levels, Minnesota’s public health response to tobacco use, information about the impact of the Tips From Former Smokers™ campaign, and information describing how tobacco prevention and control programs reduce healthcare costs. Go to the website and click on your state.


New 500 Cities Interactive Website Explores Health Data by Neighborhood

The 500 Cities Project launched a new interactive website where users can view and explore city and neighborhood level health data for largest 500 cities in the United States.

The website reports city and census tract-level data obtained using small area estimates for 27 chronic disease risk factors such as prevalence of adult cigarette smokers, health outcomes and clinical prevention services.

The data can be used by cities and local health departments to better understand the burden and geographic distribution of health-related variables in their jurisdictions and assist them in planning public health interventions. The 500 Cities Project is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the CDC Foundation. View the website and explore.


Free Online Youth Training Program | Taking Down Tobacco

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, in partnership with the CVS Health Foundation, launched a free, comprehensive advocacy training program titled "Taking Down Tobacco.”  It is geared toward middle and high school students and adults who work with youth. The program offers a range of online and in-person courses, from introductory to advanced, that can lead to becoming a certified "Taking Down Tobacco Trainer.”

View the website for more information.

 
 

ICSI Annual Colloquium on Health Care Transformation | May 8-10

Health: A Team Sport

Date: May 8-10
Host: The Minnesota Public Health Association
Location: Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, 7025 Northland Drive, Brooklyn Park

This conference will be beneficial for anyone interested in transforming health care and improving health in the community.

Check out the complete line-up of breakout sessions, keynoters and other program features in the detailed program. CME accreditation, objectives and intended audience information can be found here.

To register click here.


MPHA Annual Conference | April 19-20

Moving Health Equity Forward: Critical Conversations and Bold Action

Date: April 19-20
Host: The Minnesota Public Health Association
Location: The Commons Hotel, 615 University Ave SE, Minneapolis

Join the Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA) for an opportunity to:

  • Further advance efforts to achieve health equity
  • Lay the foundation for a culture of health in communities
  • Meet new colleagues and network with fellow professionals
  • Celebrate the 110th anniversary of MPHA

For more information and to register please click here.

 
 
SHIP GRANTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Statewide Health Improvement Partnership logo

SHIP Educational Materials

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Visit our website for SHIP educational materials. New documents can be found at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/oshii/ship/index.html

SHIP educational materials on the website include:

  • SHIP Infographic
  • Map of SHIP community partners across Minnesota
  • Tribal SHIP Fact Sheet
  • Dementia Fact Sheet
  • SHIP Focused Evaluation Studies Fact Sheet
  • SHIP Evaluation Framework Backgrounder
  • Local Surveillance Fact Sheet
  • SHIP Cost Savings Infographic
  • Strategy Setting Summaries
  • Local SHIP Grantee Fact Sheets

Other SHIP educational materials are available upon request (but not posted on the website) include:

  • Evidence of the Impact of SHIP Strategies on Targeted Behavioral and Health Outcomes

(A summary of evidence that supports the effectiveness of SHIP strategies that target physical activity, nutrition and tobacco use).

  • Evidence of Benefits of Investment of SHIP Strategies

(A summary of cost savings and business revenue associated with SHIP strategies that target physical activity, nutrition and tobacco use).

Please contact health.makingitbetter@state.mn.us for more information.


Call for Presentations | SHIP Statewide Meeting | July 26-27

Statewide Meeting logo

SHIP Statewide Meeting

Date: July 26-27
Location: Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway, Eagan

Call for Presentations

Conference Objectives:

1.       Showcase local community accomplishments
2.       Expand understanding, skills and confidence to advance health equity work
3.       Provide opportunities for networking
4.       Build links between local, regional and statewide work
5.       Generate ideas for working with partners to assure sustainability

Presentation Guidance:

Breakout sessions will be 75 minutes.

There are 30 breakout sessions available; half are reserved for SHIP grantees and half for MDH staff and technical assistance providers.

Presentations that partner grantees with each other, with MDH staff and/or technical assistance providers are encouraged.

Consider ways to bring skill-building, experiential or active learning to your presentation. Some suggestions might be to incorporate small group activities, brainstorming, role-playing, panels, voting, fishbowl conversations or asking questions of the group.

When sharing a project, explain the steps to take, so others might more easily replicate your approach.

Your session proposal should include at least one of the following:

  • Community engagement: involving the population whose health you are striving to improve in the design, decision-making and implementation of your work
  • Sustainability of SHIP work
  • Strengthening the capacity of communities
  • Barriers to implementing SHIP with communities experiencing health inequities
    Implementing multiple strategies in a single setting
  • Skill-building content, such as how to use data to determine your work, using social media well and focus groups 101

Submitting your presentation proposal

All proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m., Friday, April 28.

Use this link to go to the submission page:    https://survey.vovici.com/se/56206EE32DD62549                                                  

Once all of the proposals are received, they will be organized by topic and by presenter affiliation - grantee, MDH or TA provider and other - then reviewed and ranked by a group of SHIP grantees and MDH staff recruited by the SHIP Planning Unit. Proposals will be ranked based on inclusion of the criteria above.

You will learn if your proposal has been accepted by May 12.

Feel free to ask the SHIP Planning Unit staff for assistance in drafting your proposal, recruiting co-presenters for your session and/or designing your presentation.

Contact:  health.makingitbetter@state.mn.us


Making it Better Spring 2017 Regional Meetings

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Health Equity Data Analysis (HEDA) | School Wellness Policy

Time:  8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

April 10
Southeast | Rochester
MDH DO Rochester, 18 Wood Lake Dr SE, Rochester

April 13
Northwest | Bemidji
MDH DO Bemidji, 705 5th St NW, Suite A, Bemidji

April 20
Northeast | Duluth
Duluth Public Safety Building, (Training Rm), 2030 N Arlington Ave, Duluth

April 27
Southwest | Redwood Falls
Redwood Falls Public Library, 509 S Lincoln St., Redwood Falls

May 4
Metro
Northern Service Center (Rooms 110A and 110B), One Mendota Rd. W., West St. Paul

May 11
Central | St. Joseph
St. Joseph Government Center, 75 Callaway St. E, St. Joseph

Agenda

8:30 – 8:45 a.m. | Welcome and Introductions

Session Description
SHIP coordinators are encouraged to join this morning skill building workshop, and include relevant local staff with data collection and analysis skills. Grantees will learn from the experience of SHIP staff who completed the HEDA pilot, and receive information on tools and resources to help them in getting started with their health equity data analysis. 

8:45 – 11:45 a.m.

Health Equity Data Analysis (HEDA)

Participants will learn about the HEDA process, and increase their understanding of the multiple strengths and skills needed to conduct a HEDA

Participants will be introduced to an expanded idea of community engagement and public narrative around health

Participants will learn about training plans and technical assistance support in moving forward with their HEDA

11:45 a.m.  – 12:45 p.m. | Lunch off-site

12:45 – 1 p.m. | CS Updates

Session Description
SHIP school coordinators are encouraged to join this afternoon skill building workshop. This workshop will not only prepare SHIP school staff with the knowledge and understanding of moving Local Wellness Policies forward within the districts they partner with but it will also provide attendees the opportunity to gear up for the 2017-2018 school year!   

What to Bring: 

Please bring a copy of a current local wellness policy for one of the districts that you work with!  This is public information and usually can be found on the district’s website. 

Also, bring your questions! 

1 – 2:30 p.m.

Policy! Policy! Policy! Workshop

Participants will be able to review a school wellness policy, identifying both gaps and areas of improvement utilizing the final rule requirements.

Participants will be able to discuss and problem solve current school SHIP issues.

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Optional Session on Utilizing the School Health Index 

(If you are new to SHIP or have new school partners, this session will provide a quick overview of the School Health Index and the link to SHIP action planning) 

Register here.

 
 
tribal grantee announcements

Second Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition | Sept. 18-20

Date:  Sept. 18-20
Location: Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake

This annual conference brings together tribal officials, researchers, practitioners and more to discuss the current state of Indigenous and academic scientific knowledge about Native nutrition and food science and identify new areas of work.

A reception will be held in the evening of Sept.17.

Registration is expected to open this month.

Visit the conference website or send an email to learn more.

The conference is co-sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the University of Minnesota's Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Institute.

 
 
 

No announcements this week.