Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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May 24, 2018

SHIP Statewide Meeting Update

SHIP statewide meeting

Restructuring of SHIP statewide meeting

In response to grantee feedback, this year’s SHIP Statewide Meeting has been restructured to create more opportunities to interact with each other and share work.

That means there will be fewer breakout sessions and keynote addresses.

There will be no requests for proposal for presentations this year. Instead, a team that includes local SHIP staff representatives has been working with OSHII staff to develop content for the meeting.

As always, if grantees have ideas for training topics that could be addressed at regional meetings or through webinars, please share them with your Community Specialist or Linda Feltes (linda.feltes@state.mn.us).

Reminder: the 2018 SHIP Statewide Meeting will take place July 25-26 at the Eagan Community Center.


Quick Reminder

Due date for SHIP reports is May 31

Please be sure your report includes:

  • New success story
  • Updated work plan
  • Updated budget
  • Updated contact list
  • Updated mini-grant tracker
  • REDCap updates for CLT membership and meeting list, and, if applicable, tobacco point of sale

Reach out to your CS with any questions.


JUUL and the Guinea Pig Generation

Young people

Public health concerns about JUUL

The use of the popular e-cigarette brand JUUL has sparked public health concern as the rates of use are higher than conventional cigarette use. A fact sheet was developed by the Public Health Law Center about how JUUL works similarly to cigarettes. The fact sheet also describes regulatory measures that can help prevent harmful health impacts on young people.

To learn more about this trendy e-cigarette device and its harmful health effects, visit the Public Health Law Center to download the fact sheet.


Tip of the Week

American Indian QUITLINE Brochure

    A new brochure promoting the American Indian Quitline from QUITPLAN Services is now available! Please visit www.quitplan.com and click on “Request Materials” to order brochures for your organization. The new brochure has a fresh new design with the hope to be helpful in promoting the American Indian Quitline.

    There is also a webinar on May 31, talking about the Quitline services. RSVP by May 25 by emailing Pamela Jensen.

    Calendar of Events

    Webinar series: MN Food Charter communications training

    Date: May 30, 2018
    Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

    This webinar is the first of four in a series about communications and messaging around the Minnesota Food Charter Network. The May 30 webinar will introduce the power and rationale for using values-based frames in strategic communications. It will also discuss how intercultural development plays a role in effective messaging for systems change.

    Visit the Minnesota Food Charter site for more information on this webinar series.


    Webinar: The first amendment - hazardous to public health?

    Date: May 31, 2018
    Time: Noon - 1:00 p.m.

    Many public health regulations, including advertising restrictions on tobacco products and required warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages, have faced legal challenges as impermissible restrictions on protected First Amendment free speech. Legal experts in this webinar will provide in easy-to-understand terms a general overview of the First Amendment and a current assessment of how courts view different types of public health regulations in both the tobacco control and the healthy eating and active living realms. 

    Visit the Public Health Law Center for more information or to register for the webinar.


    Motivational interviewing for tobacco dependence treatment

    Date: June 12 & 13, 2018
    Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    The American Lung Association is hosting a workshop to teach motivational interviewing basics for tobacco dependence treatment. Participants will learn the spirit of motivational interviewing as well as demonstrate some core skills of motivational interviewing. Participants will also begin to recognize change talk in their clients.

    Register online for either the June 12 or June 13 trainings located at the American Lung Association on Concordia Avenue in St. Paul.


    Webinar: Data available on the MDH website

    Date: June 21, 2018
    Time: 10:00 - noon

    The Center for Health Statistics/Ann Kinney is offering a “Data Resources 101” webinar on June 21 from 10:00 a.m. – noon. The idea for this webinar came from public health staff in a region not covered b a regional data group.

    Join us for this webinar designed for local public health and tribal health staff who use county-level data in their work. This webinar will provide a high-level overview of some of the data resources available on the MDH website.

    Meeting Number: 638 520 547
    Meeting Password: Start123!
    Dial In: 844-302-0362

    This Week's Gem

    Leech Lake bikers

    Northern Minnesota is known for its natural beauty and abundance of trails. Students in the Cass Lake-Bena School District are now interacting even more with the outdoors, while discovering a renewed enthusiasm for health and fitness.

    One year ago, the school district began the process of incorporating new items to encourage healthier living. This included: providing healthy breakfast options, adding four hydration stations to encourage students to drink water instead of sugar sweetened beverages and purchasing dozens of bicycles and helmets. The latter has had a tremendous impact, with planned outings becoming a hit with the students. The last event had the highest number yet - 24 students - take part in a 19-mile bike ride around the Heartland trail and the Pike Bay Loop through the forest.

    Kathy Wittner, Physical Education Teacher at Cass Lake- Bena Area Learning Center said, "Our kids love these outings. There are many students who feel so accomplished that they were able to finish that 19 mile trek with their friends and the ALC staff family, you instantly see the smiles come out!"

    As a result of the new bikes, cycling is also now part of the school based physical education curriculum. Leech Lake SHIP was instrumental in providing the financial support to make this happen, and the district did a phenomenal job in identifying what strategies would work well in the schools. Nicely done!