Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 03/15/2018 11:00 AM CDT

Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

March 15, 2018

Drug-Free Communities Grants

More than 200 grants available

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (AMHSA) is accepting applications for the Drug-Free Communities Support Program grants.

The program aims to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance abuse. Up to 120 awards are expected to be awarded for both new and competing continuation grants of up to $125,000 per year for up to five years.

Apply here for a Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grant.

Tobacco Resources Available

Youth e-cigarette use up

On Feb. 15, the Minnesota Department of Health released findings from the 2017 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey. The new data show for the first time since 2000, overall youth tobacco use has increased in Minnesota. This increase is largely due to a rapid uptake e-cigarettes and other vaping devices. One in five high school students now use e-cigarettes, a nearly 50 percent increase since the data were last collected in 2014.

Learn more at health.mn.gov/tobacco.

New tobacco prevention resources are available, including:

Tobacco 21: Health Impacts of Raising the Minimum Tobacco Sale Age

E-cigarettes and Other Vaping Products

Menthol-Flavored Tobacco Products

School Based Grants Available

Students eating healthy snacks in school setting

Applications due in April

Action for Healthy Kids is now accepting applications for school grants for the 2018-2019 school year.

Schools may apply for school breakfast grants to pilot or expand their school breakfast programs or Game On grants to fund physical activity and nutrition initiatives. Schools and parents can apply for Parents for Healthy Kids grants to bring health programs to their children’s schools through parent engagement.

The application deadline is April 6. Visit ActionforHealthyKids.org/Grants for more information.

SHIP Legislative Report Now Available

Report includes grantee success stories

The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Report to the Minnesota Legislature (PDF) is now available at the SHIP reports web page.

The report highlights efforts from Fiscal Year 2016-17 and features grantee success stories.

Thanks to everyone for contributing to this report.

Updated SHIP Financial Guides Online

Grantee support resource

As a SHIP grantee, have you wondered: What is supplantation? When are invoices due? Can SHIP funds be used to pay for translation services?

You can find answers to all of these questions in the updated Financial Guide on the SHIP website on the Grantee Support link.

Updates include: 2018 mileage reimbursement rate, new healthy food purchasing guidelines and revision of guidance around equipment going to a private business.

You can find all of the changes highlighted in yellow.

Tip of the Week

Bi-monthly call helpful hints

We continue our helpful tips, assisting SHIP grantees in preparing and executing successful bi-monthly calls.

Week 6:

Is any of your work crossing over into other strategies? Please describe. For example: Safe Routes to Schools impacts both Schools and Active Living work.

Remember, if you have questions about these tips, feel free to reach out to your Community Specialist.

Calendar of Events

Healthy Retail Webinar

Date: Tuesday, March 20
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

This webinar will explore how city planning, public health, policy and healthy retail intersect. There will be a review of basic planning concepts to provide a foundational basis for discussion, review case studies and lessons from tobacco control and conclude with lessons learned and next steps.

For more information and to register, go to the Counter Tools link.

Minnesota Food Charter Network Webinar

Date: Wednesday, March 21
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Participants will learn about tools and resources including: the New Minnesota Food Charter Champion map, the Mix, a new shared communications platform for Minnesota Food Charter Champions, new tools for assessing and improving the health of food networks and more.

Please register for the webinar on this U of M link.

This Week's Gem

Staff at Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Elementary School are entrenched in a learning environment. Recently, they were provided an education on what was needed to become a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace.

The KMS Breastfeeding Room, pictured, is now available to staff at the school, just one part of the BFF designation. The room, once used for storage, is located in the basement of the Murdock Elementary, just a short 2-5 minute walk for all staff.

After months of planning, the room was converted thanks to the hard work of custodial staff, Countryside SHIP and KMS staff and administration. Not only are there two pumping stations provided, the room has a lock and signage on the door. Only staff are allowed access to the basement- leaving the breastfeeding room a private space to pump or feed. There is an attached bathroom which provides a sink to wash all pumping parts.

In addition, Countryside SHIP also helped provide resources for breastfeeding moms, including healthy recipe books, milk storage magnets, local resource numbers and contacts and the breastfeeding policy.

KMS currently has 14 pregnant women using the room, and reaction has been spectacular. Countryside SHIP is now collaborating with three other schools to implement BFF policies in 2018. Congratulations on your successes!