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Mower County

Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) 

Mower County Public Health received funding from the Minnesota Department of Health for the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP).  The goal of SHIP is to help Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives by reducing the burden of chronic diseases by addressing physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco. 

 SHIP Facts

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In Minnesota, an estimated $1.3 billion is spent every year to treat obesity.

What is Minnesota doing to fix this? 

● The State of Minnesota wants to create sustainable, systemic changes in schools, worksites, communities, and health care settings to support Minnesotans in leading healthy lives.  The current generation of children is the first generation in two centuries to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

 ● SHIP interventions focus on policy, systems, and environmental changes designed to help all of us make healthier choices where we live, work, and play. 

 ● Evidence based practices will be used to maximize program impact.  Interventions are focused in four settings: community, schools, worksites, and health care. 

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What are we doing in Mower County? 

 Schools

Goal: Implement comprehensive nutrition policies including: breakfast promotion; healthy lunch and snacks, including classroom celebrations and incentives, fundraising, concessions, and vending; school gardens; and Farm-to-School initiatives.

 SHIP and Schools Fact Sheet

 Communities

Goal:  Implement policies and practices that create active communities by increasing opportunities for non-motorized transportation and access to community recreation facilities. 

SHIP and Communities Fact Sheet

Worksites

Goal: Implement a comprehensive employee wellness initiative that provides health assessment with follow-up coaching; ongoing health education, and has policies and environment supports that promote healthy weight and healthy behaviors. 

SHIP and Worksites Fact Sheet:

Healthcare

Goal: Develop relationships among health care providers and community leaders and build partnerships to facilitate active referral of patients to local resources that increase access to high quality nutritious foods, opportunities for physical activity, and tobacco use cessation. 

 SHIP and Healthcare Fact Sheet

Reference

“State Level Estimates of Annual Medical Expenditures Attributable to Obesity”

Obesity Research, Eric A. Finkelstein, Ian C. Fiebelkorn, and Guijing Wang;

January 23, 2004; 12: 18-24