Hennepin County SHIP

SHIP story:

"Active Living and SHIP dollars have provided New Hope an incredible opportunity to coordinate and communicate with its adjoining communities, Hennepin County, and our school district. We have started Complete Streets initiatives, Safe Routes to Schools, bike and walking projects, as well as public health and wellness awareness. We are putting forth a concerted effort to coordinate various department activities with the public’s health in mind.”
— Kathi Hemken, Mayor of New Hope.

Visit the Hennepin County SHIP pages

How Hennepin County is improving the health of the community

The Statewide Health Improvement Program covers 51 counties, four cities and one tribal government. Hennepin County received a grant of $1,291,044 for fiscal years 2012-13.

Working with schools

  • Healthy eating in schools: SHIP is working with schools to offer healthy snacks and healthy food at celebrations and fundraisers.
  • More physical activity: SHIP helps schools with Safe Routes to School programs, making it easier for kids to walk or bike to school. For example, because of SHIP 20 schools now have Safe Routes to School programs. Plus, SHIP works to integrate more physical activity into their students’ day through Active Classrooms programs, active recess and physical education.
  • 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

  • More physical activity: SHIP helps create active communities by increasing opportunities for walking and bicycling. For example, in 2012, Complete Streets policies were under development for Brooklyn Center, St. Louis Park and Robbinsdale, while New Hope began implementation of their policy.
  • Less exposure to second-hand smoke at home: SHIP helps building owners who wish 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. In 2012, twenty-two worksites were recruited by Hennepin County SHIP to participate in comprehensive worksite wellness.

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. In 2012, the Hennepin County Medical Center East Lake Clinic conducted a 12-week Wellness Group, led by a healthcare provider and dietitian along with a registered nurse and fitness trainer, in order to help patients learn how to improve their health.

SHIP Coordinators

Sonja Savre Sonja.Savre@co.hennepin.mn.us
Cathy Stahl cathy.stahl@co.hennepin.mn.us

Community Leadership Team

  • Christopher Reif, MD, Community University Health Care Center
  • Victoria Amaris, Twin Cities United Way Hispanic Health Network
  • Mike Harristhal, Hennepin County Medical Center
  • Beverly Propes, Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Jonette (Zuercher) Lucia, Northwest Hennepin Family Services Collaborative
  • David Golden, Boynton Health Services, University of Minnesota
  • Noya Woodrich, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, Division of Indian Work
  • Ani Koch, Rainbow Health Initiative
  • Mary Benbenek, University of Minnesota
  • Sean Walther, City of St. Louis Park
  • Mary E. Jackson, MnDOT
  • Melissa Voigt, Health Partners
  • Lori Kratchmer, Energy Foodshelf Network
  • Brittany McFadden, Association for Nonsmokers -MN
  • Nancy Marcy, Hopkins Public Schools
  • April Bechel, Robbinsdale Area Schools
  • Carol Berg, Ucare
  • Diana Dubois, Wellshare International

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Updated Monday, 01-Apr-2013 16:11:56 CDT