Making it Better Log

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Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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Oct.26, 2017

Basecamp 3 Going Live Nov. 1

Basecamp 3 logo

Don't forget to add yourself to Teams

Starting Nov. 1, we will transition from Basecamp 2 to Basecamp 3. This means all new discussions, events, file shares and uploads should post to Basecamp 3. At end of day on Oct. 31, BC2 projects will be archived and remain accessible, although it will not allow new activity.  

Send questions to Health.MakingitBetter@state.mn.us.


The Real Cost Campaign

the Real Cost logo

Expanding to e-cigarettes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expanding The Real Cost public education campaign to include the dangers of using e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to teens. This is the first time FDA will explicitly address youth use of e-cigarettes through campaign advertising.

Read more about the campaign and changes on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's website.


Community Leadership Team

October meeting slides now on Basecamp

Slides from the October Community Leadership Team (CLT) calls are now on Basecamp. Topics covered include: sharing and discussion of selected results from the CLT survey, review of the Intersector Toolkit and examples of how grantees let CLT members know how their input has made a difference.

The next CLT support call is scheduled for Dec. 4. If you would like to receive an invitation for this meeting, please contact Jeannette Raymond.  


AGRI Farm to School Grants

cucumbers in a bin

Applications due Nov. 16

Apply now to support Minnesota school districts in the processing of Minnesota agricultural products. Grants are intended to create plans and purchase specific equipment, tools, training or policies needed by school districts to implement Farm to School programs.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture site has application details.

Calendar of Events

Planning for Population Coffee Call

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 1
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

This month, the call focuses on healthy food access and planning and discussion will include ideas that may have stemmed from the Food Access Summit. Didn’t attend the Food Access Summit?  Here is a chance to questions and learn from others about what you missed.

Call-in Details: 1-888-742-5095   Participant code: 8856043562


Quitplan Webinar

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 8 
Time: Noon - 1:00 p.m. 

This webinar is designed for individuals who want to learn more about the free stop-smoking services we offer through QUITPLAN Services and is just in time for The Great American Smokeout on Nov. 16.

Please RSVP by Friday, Nov. 3, by emailing Pamela Jensen
Call-in and WebEx information will be  emailed several days before the webinar.

This Week's Gem

community garden in winona

Spring brought new growth to the city of Winona and its former East Recreation Center skate park space in the form of a community garden.

More than 200 volunteers put in more than 200 hours helping with the project, from measuring garden plots to stacking many, many cinder blocks (4,536 to be exact) that frame the raised garden beds.  The once unused concrete desert has become a colorful, lush, productive garden- home to countless vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruits.

SHIP supported the effort with project funding. Deb McClellan of Live Well Winona and SHIP said, "The City of Winona partners with us, particularly in the Active Living strategy and CLT, so it made sense to assist with the start up funds for blocks and other supplies for the gardens."

Since its inception, the garden has increased opportunities for good nutrition and physical activity for residents of Winona, and has positively impacted the economic, social and physical environment at the East Recreation Center. Garden-centered programming included a tea party, potluck and yoga. Now that this year's plants are harvested, plans are already underway for next year.