Goodhue County
Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP)

Goodhue County Public Health Service has the opportunity to improve the health of its residents through the two-year Statewide Health Improvement Program grant from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The goal of SHIP is help Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives by reducing the burden of chronic diseases by addressing physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use in our Schools, Communities, Worksites, and Health care. For more general information see MDH's SHIP homepage and the SHIP general fact sheet. The primary contact in Goodhue County is Susan Brace-Adkins. .

SCHOOLS

Implement comprehensive nutrition policies including: breakfast promotion; healthy lunch and snacks, including classroom celebrations and incentives, fundraising, concessions, and vending; school gardens; and Farm-to-School initiatives.

For more information see the SHIP & Schools fact sheet.

COMMUNITIES

Implement policies and practices that create active communities by increasing opportunities for non-motorized transportation and access to community recreation facilities.

For more information see the SHIP & Communities fact sheet.

WORKSITES

Implement comprehensive employee wellness initiatives that provide health assessment with follow-up coaching; ongoing health education, and have policies and environment supports that promote healthy weight and healthy behaviors.

For more information see the SHIP & Worksites fact sheet.

HEALTH CARE

Develop relationships among health care providers and community leaders and build partnerships to facilitate active referral of patients to local resources that increase access to high quality nutritious foods, opportunities for physical activity, and tobacco use cessation.

For more information see the SHIP & Health Care fact sheet.

Contact:
Goodhue County Public Health Service
Attention SHIP Coordinator
512 West 6th Street
Red Wing, MN 55066
651-385-6112

Other pertinent information:

A recent study done by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute developed a ranking system to determine which counties were healthiest or least healthy in each state.  Goodhue County was ranked 81st out of 85 counties (that were included in the study) in the state of Minnesota as one of the least healthy counties in its Healthy Behaviors. This study’s findings strongly support the need for programs and grants like SHIP. To learn more about the County Rankings follow this link.