Making it Better Log

Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 09/14/2017 11:08 AM CDT

Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

View this as a webpage

Sept. 14, 2017

Agriculture Education Grant

Schools encouraged to apply

Minnesota Department of Education has released the Summer Agriculture Education grant opportunity. This grant has $250,000 in competitive state funding that is available for districts, charter schools and intermediate district schools that have an approved agriculture program.

Grant deadline is Oct. 11. For more information regarding this grant application, please visit the MDE website.

Promote Your Farm to School Activity

October is National Farm to School Month

Next month is a time to celebrate the connections happening all over the country between children and local food. One activity that is gaining momentum is the Great Lakes Great Apple Crunch on Oct. 12, where anyone interested will bite into an apple at the same time. Imagine the social media posts surrounding this event!

To access logos, information and event registration, go the Minnesota Farm to School Month website.

School Indoor Air Quality Trainings

Best practices and regulations detailed

The Minnesota Department of Health is holding free School Indoor Air Quality Trainings statewide and via webinar. This training will discuss the state’s best practices for school IAQ management. Non-public schools are also encouraged to attend this training.

To register for the free training, please visit the MDH IAQ Training for Schools website.

SHIP Regional Meetings

Topics include worksites, health care and Basecamp 3

The dates have been set for the six regional meetings grantees are required to attend.

Visit the MDH website to register for the training in your region.

The locations and dates are:

Oct. 5, Southeast

MDH Rochester, 18 Wood Lake Dr. SE, Rochester

Oct. 12, Northwest

MDH Bemidji, 705 5th St NW, Suite A, Bemidji

Oct. 17, Metro

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

Oct. 19, Northeast

Duluth Public Safety Building, (Training Rm), 2030 N Arlington Ave, Duluth

Oct. 24, Central

St. Joseph Government Center, 75 Callaway St. E, St. Joseph

Nov. 2, Southwest

Redwood Falls Public Library, 509 S Lincoln St., Redwood Falls

Calendar of Events

Tobacco Point of Sale Grantee Connect Call

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 20
Time: 2:00 p.m.

The monthly call is hosted by American Lung Association and provides a space for SHIP grantees and TA providers working on local POS and E-Cig initiatives to connect on the latest science, successes and news and to discuss barriers, tools and resources.

Call in number: 1-888-354-0094
Conference ID: 8132089

Food Security Webinar

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 20
Time: noon - 1:00 p.m.

The Climate and Health Program is hosting several webinars on the health impacts of climate change in Minnesota. This webinar will cover climate impacts to food security, crop production, livestock and culturally important foods.

Healthy Food Retail Webinar

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 25
Time: 10:30 a.m.

Topic is using the MN EATs assessment tool to understand the convenience store environment and will provide training for grantees on how to use the tool for convenience stores. Participation is open to those joining the Good Food Small Store Partnership or using the MN EATs for convenience stores in other food retail work.

You can register for the webinar on this MDH training link.

Session password: HFRetail-2017

2017 ACT on Alzheimer’s Learning Summit

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 24
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

This Learning Summit is intended for community members new to the work and interested in what dementia friendly involves, as well as for those who are continuing their work toward creating dementia friendly communities.

Please visit the ACT on Alzheimer's Learning Summit website for details on the event and registration information.

This Week's Gem

In August, Kanabec County’s Back to the Tower Days celebration included a new, highly popular space – a portable tent for nursing moms. Not only was it used for the festival in Ogilvie, it is available to use at no charge for other events in the county.

The tent was the result of a collaborative effort between Kanabec County Community Health, SHIP, and several other stakeholders, with a goal of helping support breastfeeding and its many benefits to mothers, babies and communities. It also signifies advancing the breastfeeding friendly philosophy beyond the workplace, which had been much of the focus.