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 16, 2019

Spring Regional Meetings

One remaining regional meeting

There is one final regional meeting, and it's not too late to register! Join OSHII and other regional SHIP staff in a discussion about our collective vision for the next round of SHIP. This will be an important starting point to our SHIP planning process. Please encourage your public health leadership to attend as well.

Southwest, The Plaid Moose, 2630 Broadway Ave., Slayton - May 21, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Register today.


Provide feedback for next cycle of SHIP

Take a quick survey to provide feedback

During the Spring Regional Meetings, we offered structured conversations as the first of several formal opportunities for local public health to have input into a participatory planning process for the next funding cycle of SHIP.

For those who were unable to attend the meetings, we created an opportunity to provide feedback for the next funding cycle of SHIP. Your answers will be summarized along with the input from the meetings, shared back through the Making it Better log and move us into the next phase of planning.

Provide feedback by completing a survey.


New tobacco resource

tribal tobacco tax

Tribal tax policies for commercial tobacco

Increasing taxes on commercial tobacco products is a proven method of improving public health.

This resource describes several issues Tribal governments might want to consider when determining whether and how to raise commercial tobacco taxes. This resource was developed in collaboration with the National Indian Health Board, the National Native Network and the Michigan Public Health Institute.

View the document and learn more about tobacco taxes for tribal nations.


SHIP Financial Guide FAQ

SHIP Financial Guide questions answered

Q. What types of sporting equipment are allowable expenses within the schools active living strategy?

A. Unlike the community active living strategy, sporting equipment is an allowable expense within the schools active living strategy. Here are a few examples: snowshoes, disc golf course materials and cross country skis sets. These items are eligible with a school assessment indicating need and quality PE guidelines developed to support the activities.

See page 29 of the Financial Guide (PDF) for more information.

Calendar

Webinar: Developing a Food Procurement Policy or Profile

Date: May 28
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

This webinar will provide guidance on how a school, college or hospital can develop a food procurement policy or profile. Developing a policy or profile can institutionalize good food values that prioritize support for local farmers and food producers, sustainable or regenerative agriculture practices, and women and minority-owned farms and food businesses.

Register with the Chesapeake Foodshed Network.

This week's gem

Rochester community accessibility walk

Rochester community accessibility walk

This month, community members in Rochester, Minn., took part in a community accessibility walk sponsored by the Olmsted County Statewide Health Improvement Partnership to assess the accessibility of infrastructure for disabled residents. Individuals living with disabilities in Rochester joined the event to give their first-hand experience navigating Rochester’s infrastructure.

The walk was led by Kjensmo Walker, MnDOT transportation planner, who identifies as a disabled person and is an accessibility expert and disability advocate.

Participants who did not have a disability used a wheelchair or put on simulation googles to blur their vision during the walk to get a sense of navigating the city from a different perspective.

"This is really important for people who don't have a disability who are influential in the design of the navigation of our cities. We want them to be equipped with as much information as possible so that they can design the most inclusive space," said Walker.

Kudos to Rochester and Olmsted County SHIP for sparking the conversation around designing inclusive spaces.

Watch news coverage of the event by KIMT-TV.