OSHII: About Us
Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives (OSHII)
OSHII supports all Minnesotans in leading healthier lives, raising healthier families and building healthier communities by preventing disease well before it starts.
We work to reduce the rates of the top four underlying causes of preventable illness and early death by:
- Increasing the percentage of Minnesotans who eat more healthy foods,
- Increasing the percentage of Minnesotans who are more physically active,
- Reducing the percentage of Minnesotans who use commercial tobacco products or are exposed to second hand smoke, and
- Reducing the percentage of Minnesotans who misuse or are harmed by alcohol and other drugs.
We succeed by leveraging local and state partnerships, utilizing evidence-based best practices, conducting rigorous evaluation, and partnering with communities. These strategies support sustainable change toward making the healthy choice the easy choice.
Who we are:
- Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) – Community Initiative
By working to change the environment in community and school settings, the CPPW Community Initiative is making it easier for residents of Minneapolis and Olmsted County to incorporate healthy eating and active living as part of their daily lives.
- Great Trays
Great Trays brings schools together to exchange best practices in planning, purchasing, preparing and promoting healthy school meals with no trans-fat; less sodium and saturated fat; and more whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
- PAN; Physical Activity and Nutrition Program
The Physical Activity and Nutrition Program supports Minnesotans to be more physically active, eat more nutritious foods, strive for a healthy weight and make safe choices related to alcohol and other legal drug use.
- Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP)
SHIP works with local public health departments and tribal governments to reduce obesity and tobacco use in communities across the state by addressing physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and commercial tobacco use.
- Tobacco Prevention and Control
TP&C connects health professionals, and the public to valuable resources including smoking cessation, reports detailing the effects of tobacco use, educational materials, and guidance on community-based tobacco prevention programs.