The State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) has brought a number of initiatives to Cook County, including bicycle safety training for area youths. SHIP Coordinator Kristin Wharton has announced that the program has once again received funding.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that it has awarded $1.3 million over the next two years in funding through the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) to Healthy Northland. The funding will be used in Cook County to support better health for all residents.
SHIP funding is available to Community Health Boards, which work in partnership with communities, workplaces, schools and health care, to support efforts that increase opportunities for active living, healthy eating and avoiding commercial tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.
“It’s exciting to see the changes that have taken place over the six years of this program,” said Kristin Wharton, local SHIP coordinator, when the announcement was made. “The high school has a salad bar; there is a sidewalk creating a safe route between Birchwood Apartments and the school zone; and seniors and people of all ages were able to purchase produce from local farmers at a Thursday farmers market.
“I am looking forward to continuing to work with the community over the next five years of SHIP,” said Wharton.
SHIP has been instrumental in helping Minnesota make progress on obesity and commercial tobacco use, factors that contribute to chronic diseases, disability and death. All Minnesota counties are participating in SHIP, which is in its fourth round of funding.
Minnesota has more work to do, considering 27.6 percent of adults in Minnesota are obese (CDC), 14.4 percent of adult Minnesotans smoke (Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey), and cancer, heart disease and stroke were among the top five leading causes of death in Minnesota in 2013 (Minnesota Department of Health Center for Health Statistics).
SHIP communities choose from a menu of strategies based on the latest science that MDH compiled in collaboration with local public health. Communities select strategies that best align with local needs to address chronic disease.
Launched in 2008 as part of Minnesota’s bipartisan health reform effort, SHIP helps Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives while building healthy, vital communities.
To learn more about SHIP, visit www.health.state.mn.us/ship.
In Cook County, SHIP will:
. Support the Safe Routes to School program, including in-school bike education
. Work to increase access to local fruits and vegetables through farmers markets
. Continue to support healthy schools initiatives throughout Cook County
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