Bloomington, Edina, Richfield SHIP

SHIP stories:

Making healthy living easier where you live, work and play

Take a look at what's happening with Bloomington, Edina and Richfield SHIP.

 

SHIP helps boost learning in two elementary schools: This is a two-part video series highlighting the ways Oak Grove and Westwood Elementary Schools are working with SHIP to improve student health and academic success.

    • In part one, Oak Grove Principal Yu discusses the importance of adding classroom physical activity.
    • In part two, Westwood Principal Hartwigsen discusses the impact of children’s learning experiences with food.

How Bloomington, Edina and Richfield are improving the health of their communities

The Statewide Health Improvement Program covers 51 counties, four cities and one tribal government. Bloomington, Edina and Richfield in partnership received a grant of $842,749 for fiscal years 2012-13.

Working with schools

  • Healthy eating in schools: With Farm to School, SHIP connects farmers with schools to provide fresh, local foods. Efforts may include school gardens to educate children and supplement food offerings. For example, in 2012, nine schools have incorporated school gardens into their curriculum, their cafeterias, and afterschool programs. The students’ involvement in cultivating the gardens gives them pride and ownership in providing these foods to their community. In addition, SHIP is working with schools to offer healthy snacks and healthy food at celebrations and fundraisers.
  • Physical activity: SHIP helps schools with Safe Routes to School programs, making it easier for kids to walk or bike to school. In addition, SHIP works to integrate more physical activity into their students’ day through Active Classrooms programs, Active Recess programs and physical education. For example, in 2012, four schools are increasing physical activity during the school day ranging from 10-20 minutes.
  • Decreased exposure to second-hand smoke at colleges: SHIP teams up with colleges interested in a tobacco-free policy for staff and visitors on school grounds, in student housing and at school sponsored events.

Healthier communities

  • Increased access to healthy food: SHIP works to improve access to nutritious foods by increasing availability and affordability in grocery and corner stores, concession facilities and other food vendors. SHIP facilitates the development of new farmers markets and promotes their use. For example, in 2012, SHIP hosted a healthy concessions workshop for concession operators resulting in five sites altering their menus to offer healthier choices to patrons.
  • More physical activity: SHIP helps create active communities by increasing opportunities for walking and bicycling.
  • Less exposure to second-hand smoke at home: SHIP assists building owners wanting to develop smoke-free housing policies.

Comprehensive work site wellness

  • Working with businesses: SHIP works with employers to offer healthy foods in the cafeteria and in catering, to increase opportunities for walking and biking and access to worksite recreation facilities, and to support breast feeding for working mothers. SHIP also encourages tobacco-free policies, as well as health plan coverage of, and onsite support for, tobacco cessation efforts.

Prevention in health care

  • Working with health care providers: With SHIP, more health care providers are screening and documenting Body Mass Index and tobacco use and exposure and providing community resources to their patients to help make healthy living easier.

SHIP Coordinator

Ruth Tripp RTripp@ci.bloomington.mn.us

Community Leadership Team

  • Bloomington

    >Colleen Brickle, Normandale Community College
    Nathan Rust, VEAP
    Dr. Chuck Sawyer, Northwestern Health Sciences University
    Jim Urie, Bloomington Center for the Arts
    Dinna Wade-Ardley, Bloomington Public Schools
    Karen Zeleznak, Bloomington Public Health
    Donna Zimmerman, HealthPartners

  • Edina

    Kristin Aarsvold, Edina Park & Recreation Department
    Katherine Bass, do.town/Blue Cross Blue Shield
    Valerie Burke, Edina Public Schools
    Sherry Engelman, Edina Community Health

  • Richfield

    Betsy Osborn, Richfield Community Health
    Jeff Pearson, Richfield Public Works/Traffic
    Rosa Rubio, Richfield Public Schools
    Michael Schwartz, Richfield Public Schools
    Jim Topitzhofer, Richfield Recreation Services
    Jennifer Turrentine, Richfield Advisory Board of Health


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Updated Monday, 01-Apr-2013 16:11:53 CDT