Southwest (Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone and Rock Counties) SHIP

With Nobles County

SHIP Stories:
  • Pipestone gets active (PDF: 201KB/1 page)
  • Hear about how students at Russell-Tyler-Ruthton School are growing their own fresh produce:

How Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Rock and Nobles Counties are improving the health of their communities

The Statewide Health Improvement Program covers 51 counties, four cities and one tribal government. Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Rock and Nobles Counties received a grant of $427,044 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. In addition, SHIP is working with schools to offer healthy snacks and healthy food at celebrations and fundraisers. For example, Ivanhoe Elementary enjoys farm to school and a school garden for healthy, fresh produce.
  • More physical activity for kids: SHIP helps schools with Safe Routes to School programs, making it easier for kids to walk or bike to school. Plus, 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, the Jammin’ Minute & Active Recess programs were added in six schools.
  • 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.
  • More physical activity: Help create active communities by increasing opportunities for walking and bicycling. For example, working with a local active living organization, the city of Pipestone has embraces Compete Streets. Now residents and visitors enjoy bikes paths around town.
  • Heritage Montessori School implemented LANA and best practice nutrition policies.
  • Decreased exposure to second-hand smoke at home: SHIP works with apartment 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.

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 

Carol Biren carol.biren@swmhhs.com

Community Leadership Team

  • Michael VanderHaar, City of Pipestone
  • Valarie Dallenbach, Southwest Minnesota State University
  • Ivonne Hart, Interpreter
  • Gustavo Estrada, Marshall Public Schools
  • Sunny Ruthchild, Sustainable Farmers Association/Producer – Merryweather Gardens
  • Paula Bloemendaal, SWHHS -CHIP
  • Anne Dybsetter, University of Minnesota Extension
  • Judy Pitzl, SWHHS – SFMUH, Worksites and Schools
  • Alicia Snyder, Statewide Health Improvement Program Field Worker - Schools
  • Rebekah Reynolds, Statewide Health Improvement Program Field Worker – Schools and Communities
  • Katie Chapman, Peer Breast Feeding Counselor
  • Michelle Malmquist, Statewide Health Improvement Program Field Worker – Health Care
  • Lindsay Ourada, SWHHS - Dietician
  • Marie Meyers, SWHHS – Health Care
  • Jessica Peterson, Southwest Minnesota State University – Student
  • Sheila Smallfield, Affiliated Community Medical Center


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Updated Friday, 26-Apr-2013 13:38:33 CDT