Rice County SHIP

SHIP Story:

Find out more about Healthy Rice County

NEW! Rice County SHIP results 2012 fact sheets

How Rice County is improving the health of the community

The Statewide Health Improvement Program covers 51 counties, four cities and one tribal government. Rice County received a grant of $223,861 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.
  • More physical activity for kids: SHIP works to integrate more physical activity into their students’ day through Active Classrooms programs, Active Recess programs and physical education. For example, Faribault Lutheran School, with the support of District One Hospital health and wellness staff, offers “Fit Friday,” an active classroom program.
  • 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: Help create active communities by increasing opportunities for walking and bicycling. For example, Northfield established a Complete Streets Task Force and drafted and passed a complete streets policy and implementation guidelines.
  • Decreased exposure to second-hand smoke at home: SHIP works with apartment building owners who wish to develop smoke-free housing policies.
  • Active child care: More physical activity is now available in licensed child care and pre-school settings through programs such as I Am Moving, I Am Learning (IMIL). For example, since 2010, Rice County SHIP's GAME--Getting Active, Motivated, and Energized!--program has given 12 trainings for care child care providers on incorporating more physical activity into the day – benefiting about 2000 children.

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. For example, one new worksite for 2012 was the I & S Group, a firm of architects, engineers, planners, land surveyors and scientists. They have six locations across Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota and while their worksite wellness initiative includes their Faribault location, it will be implemented in all sites. 

SHIP Coordinator 

Natalie Ginter nginter@co.rice.mn.us

Community Leadership Team

  • Zach Pruitt, Northfield Healthy Communities Initiative, Chemical Health Coalition
  • Erin Mayberry, Northfield School District Community Services Division
  • Marcia Morris Beck, United Way of Faribault
  • Laurie Johnson, Faribault Public Schools
  • Caren Hoffman, A Child's Delight, United for Kids Coalition
  • Neil Lutsky, Carleton College and Northfield Non-motorized Task Force
  • Dr. Donald Lum, Northfield Hospital, Rice County Public Health
  • Sheila Rolling, Fit for Life
  • Asher Ali, Somali Community Services Center
  • James Wolf, University of Minnesota Rothenberger Institute, Faribault School District

SHIP logo

Updated Thursday, 04-Apr-2013 09:24:31 CDT