Improving the health of an entire region is not an easy undertaking, nor does it happen overnight. But supported by a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, several communities in northwest Minnesota are working together to make healthy living an easier choice.
The $25,000 grant was awarded to Polk County Public Health for the Northwest Minnesota Health Improvement Project.
According to the Crookston Times:
The NMF Community Connections grant will supplement the work of three community health boards – Polk County Public Health, Quin Community Health Services and Norman/Mahnomen Public Health – that together applied and received funding for the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) designed by the Minnesota Department of Health to help communities address tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor nutrition.
The Community Connection Program funding will be used to build new coalitions, strengthen networks and change organizational practices and policies in eight Minnesota counties – Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau. Overall, the project aims to institute long-term, sustainable changes addressing obesity and tobacco prevention in school, worksite, healthcare and community settings.
In the Crookston Times, Sheri Altepeter, NMF grant coordinator, explained that the groups are working together to make the healthy choice the easy choice. “This means having access to physical activity, nutritious foods and avoiding exposure to tobacco,” she said. “It will take time and effort to decrease costly chronic health conditions associated with obesity, inactivity and tobacco use. The Statewide Health Improvement Program will result in longer and healthier lives and lower health care costs.”
This post is based on the Crookston Times article, “NMF awards PC Public Health $25,000 grant,” posted on May 14, 2010.
Visit the NMF website nwmf.org for more information about its grants and programs.
Our summer issue of Giving Forum will highlight other public-private partnership initiatives led by Minnesota grantmakers. Please use the “Comment” field to share your ideas!
- Chris Murakami Noonan, MCF communications associate
