Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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Making it Better: Minnesota's Health Improvement Log

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Jan. 3, 2019

Winter Walk to School Day

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Get your schools moving

This is Minnesota, the land of snowmobiling, ice fishing, hockey, cross-country skiing and fat biking – why wouldn’t we throw a Walk (and Bike) to School Day party in the middle of the winter? Dig out your hats and gloves, organize your volunteers and get ready for Winter Walk and Bike to School Day on Feb. 6.

Sign up at the Minnesota Walk and Bike to School Day registration page. You'll receive materials and incentives to get your school moving.


Good Food Access Grant opportunity

GFAP request for proposal deadline approaching

The Good Food Access Program Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant increases the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food for underserved communities in low and moderate income areas. Grants help grocery store and small food retailers make physical improvements and purchase equipment to stimulate sales of such foods.

Grant deadline is Jan. 17. Learn more and apply by going to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Good Food Access Program Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant page.

Events

Winter Regional Meetings

Jan. 24: Southwest, MinnWest Technology Campus, Commons: 1707 Technology Drive NE, Willmar

Jan. 29: Northeast, Blandin Foundation, 100 North Pokegama Ave., Grand Rapids

Jan. 30: Northwest, Detroit Lakes Community & Cultural Center, 826 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes

Feb. 5: Metro, MDH Golden Rule Building, 85 E 7th Place, Suite 220, Saint Paul

Feb. 7: Southeast, Well Living Lab, 221 1st Ave. SW, Rochester

Register and view the agenda.


Webinar: Unanswered Questions about the FDA's Juul Enforcement Blitz

Date: Jan. 23
Time: 1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

On Sept. 12, 2018, the FDA announced “historic action,” issuing 1,300 enforcement actions against retailers for selling Juul and other e-cigarettes to minors. While robust enforcement is a critical element of the FDA’s response to the public health crisis caused by Juul and other similar products, there is a lot of information about the FDA’s efforts that the agency did not highlight. This webinar will highlight findings from research of FDA’s enforcement data to find out whether the FDA’s actions are proportionate to the public health threat posed by Juul.

Register with the Public Health Law Center.


Webinar: Local Active Transportation Financing Initiatives

Date: Jan. 31
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

In this webinar, get an overview of why active transportation financing matters and what types of financing approaches are working for local governments. Learn from speakers from bike advocates in other cities, who will share lessons from their exciting and inspiring local active transportation financing success stories.

Go to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership to register.

This week's Gem

Healthy snacks

Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP) is a community-based, non-profit agency dedicated to providing information, referrals, advocacy and assistance to low-income families and individuals, senior citizens and adults with disabilities. 

CEAP joined the Hennepin County SHIP worksite cohort in 2017 to address employee wellness. To improve the food environment for their employees, CEAP’s first step was to provide healthy snacks for employees. That small step started a movement that continues to gain momentum today for both employees and clients. Since then, CEAP has:

  • Added an employee wellness initiative to their strategic plan.
  • Created a healthy food recipe demonstration program for clients using the food market to promote healthy choices.
  • Redesigned their food market to provide nutrition information and encourage produce selection.
  • Pursued health- and wellness-focused grant and programming opportunities.

According to Brad Kerschner, CEAP’s Director of Programs, “SHIP has kick-started our health and wellness initiative in our agency as a whole and it has become an embedded focus in all of our work.”

Kudos to CEAP and Hennepin County SHIP staff on efforts to promote the health of both CEAP clients and employees!