SHIP stories
The Statewide Health Improvement Program
(SHIP) works to improve health through
better nutrition, increased physical activity
and decreased commercial tobacco use and
exposure.
Across the state, work places are one key area
in which SHIP works to improve health. As of
June 2011:
•
SHIP has assisted with over 870 worksite
wellness initiatives. These efforts reached over
138,000 employees across the state and set
the stage to reduce obesity and tobacco use,
improve productivity and help contain health
care costs.
Fresh Approach in Anoka
Farmers, employers and public health staff strive to
create stronger connections between those who grow
vegetables and fruits and the people who would like
to eat the crops. To that end, Mary T., a Coon Rapidsbased enterprise that provides a variety of housing
and health care services for disabled people and
seniors, hosts an ongoing weekly mini farmers’ market.
“We wanted something to bring everyone together,”
says Courtney Nelson, a member of the Safety &
Wellness Committee at Mary T. “Everyone” includes the
company’s 550 employees in Minnesota as well as the
people who live within the Mary T. community and the
city of Coon Rapids, who all should enjoy better access
to fresh produce.
The mini farmers’ market is part of a fresh approach to
promoting health and wellness in Anoka County
funded by SHIP. “We are trying to make the healthy
choice the easy choice,” says Susan C. Johnson, Anoka
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/oshii
County’s SHIP coordinator and public health nursing
supervisor. Stronger connections between employees
and the community, as well as health eating, seems
to be contagious. Along with Mary T., two other
Anoka County work places with substantial numbers
of employees plan to host mini farmers markets with
SHIP’s help. “Research has shown that access to things
such as farmers markets and community gardens
increases consumption of nutritious foods,” Johnson says.
“That’s exactly what we are trying to do with SHIP.”
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SHIP is working to make the healthy choice the easy
choice in Minnesota. Find out how at
www.health.state.mn.us/ship