Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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June 7, 2018

2018 SHIP Statewide Meeting

SHIP statewide meeting

SHIP summer meeting update

SHIP staff are invited to the 2018 SHIP Statewide Meeting at the Eagan Community Center

The meeting kicks off with registration at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, with lunch at noon. Presentations take place from 1-4:45 p.m. On day two (July 26), the meeting runs from 7 a.m. -3:45 p.m.

Wondering about where to stay? Get details about hotels in the area at Welcome to Eagan website.


E-Cigarette toolkit for Minnesota schools

New e-cigarette toolkit for Minnesota school staff members

The Minnesota Departments of Health and Education have created a toolkit for administrators, educators, teachers and health services staff, who are working to address the use of e-cigarettes and other vaping products in schools. The toolkit outlines opportunities for action that can be taken by various school staff, along with resources and tools to help.

Get the toolkit at E-cigarettes and Other Vaping Products.


Safe Routes to School bike fleet data collection

Bikers

SHIP funded bike fleets

MDH is working with MNDOT to collect information on bike fleets that are being used for Safe Routes to School efforts.

If your community has purchased Bike Fleets with SHIP funding, please log into Basecamp to answer a few questions posed by the Active Living team to learn about how and where the bikes are being used for Safe Routes to School.

Calendar of Events

Motivational interviewing workshop

Date: June 12 and 13
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

A workshop is scheduled to teach motivational interviewing skills for tobacco dependence treatment. Participants will learn the core skills and spirit of motivational interviewing.

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


Webinar: Supporting healthy food access - local laws

Date: June 13, 2018
Time: Noon - 1:00 p.m.

The Healthy Food Policy Project is hosting a webinar to discuss its online policy database, which can help communities identify local laws that can improve access to healthy food across the food system. The webinar will discuss how the database was created along with different policies it includes as well as ways the database can be used to support healthy eating policy work across a variety of communities.

Register at the Mitchell Hamline website.


Webinar: The intersection of tobacco and the military

Date: June 14, 2018
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

In this 4th quarterly webinar by Counter Tools and CounterTobacco.org, researchers will present findings from a recently published paper on the sales and marketing of tobacco products in the military. Various topics will be discussed such as, the availability, price, and promotions of tobacco products at tobacco retailers on and off U.S. Air Force bases as well as options for policy change.  

Make sure to register in advance for this webinar.

This Week's Gem

kids and adults painting pavement

Access to safe environments, designed to encourage physical activity and promote health in a community, was the impetus behind the first-in-the-state Bicycle Playground in Rochester.

The photo captures the Lay the Paint event beautifully. Held Monday, June 4, Olmsted County SHIP Coordinator Julie Hatch sits alongside a young helper, as they paint the pavement for the bicycle playground, which is expected to open next week. Once complete, the pavement will replicate a neighborhood streetscape, complete with stop signs, marked lanes and houses.

"The event helped draw attention to this playground where kids have a safe environment to learn bike skills and safety," said Hatch. "We are proud of our partnership with the Rochester PD to provide safety classes beginning soon. It's a cool place for parents and grandparents to bring their kids to burn energy."

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm kicked off the event with words on how important physical activity is in the prevention of childhood obesity. Kudos to the Commissioner, Olmsted County and other partners, including SHIP which provided support for the park.

We commend Julie Hatch and Olmsted County for bringing an innovative idea to the community!