Healthy Northland works to make the healthy choice, the easy choice. How do we know if what we are doing works? All the work we do has evidence behind it – we only use strategies that have been proven to work. In 2018, we wanted to dig a little deeper to show the impact these strategies are having locally. In... Continue Reading
Offering the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is quite an endeavor for community organizations and healthcare systems. It’s even harder to meet the stringent requirements set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program (DPRP). Achieving full recognition for this evidence-based program is difficult and it is about 2 years process. Only programs with the... Continue Reading
In Duluth, Minn., residents don’t have to look far to find an excuse not to use a bicycle for transportation. Duluth is a city on a hill, with a steep incline facing cyclists on most trips. Nestled along the shores of Lake Superior, the weather is unpredictable and sometimes severe. Because of these perceived barriers, many Duluthians are missing... Continue Reading
Healthy Northland awarded six mini-grants to make breastfeeding easier for employees. Six businesses made improvements by adding or updating lactation rooms, a designated space for women to pump and express milk privately during work. Many of the sites also implemented new breastfeeding policies to support mothers and expanded support and education for employees around breastfeeding. The awardees are: Aitkin County... Continue Reading
Getting to your destination by bike is easier than ever in Grand Rapids, Minn., thanks to a new community bike share. Just check out a bike at one of four locations around the city and take it to your next destination – free of charge. The program debuted in the fall of 2017, and the bikes traveled 240 miles in... Continue Reading
Bike lanes, sharrows and bump-outs became a reality in Cloquet through an Active Places Demonstration Project Grant from BlueCross and Blue Shield’s Center for Prevention. This funding ($5,000) was leveraged through Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) work in Cloquet. The Active Transportation Coalition in Cloquet has been active since 2012 and helped to prioritize the project in hopes to lead... Continue Reading
The application deadline for the grant has passed. The benefits of breastfeeding are extensive. Breastfed babies received added immunity from many illnesses, such as asthma, ear infections, and diabetes. Mothers that breastfeed have lower rates of diabetes, heart disease, and breast and ovarian cancer. But, did you know that breastfeeding benefits workplaces, too? Becoming a breastfeeding supportive business delivers a... Continue Reading
Students in Cook County are learning to grow plants and snacking on fresh veggies during class, thanks to gardens transported into the classroom. Cook County has had a school district wellness committee since 2007. One result of the committee’s work has been a school-based agriculture project at the elementary school. During the 2016-2017 school year, a teacher found a way... Continue Reading
Three worksites, two hospitals and one city were recognized on Dec. 14 for their contributions to building more breastfeeding-friendly communities. The Healthy Northland Breastfeeding Friendly Awards were given out at the Northeast Minnesota Breastfeeding Summit on Dec. 14 at St. Luke’s Hospital. Healthy Northland recognized worksites Essentia Health – Deer River, Essentia Health –Virginia Medical Arts Clinic and Lake County... Continue Reading
Are you passionate about local food? Are you a farmer, a distributor, a purchaser, or even just someone who eats? If so, you’re invited to the Northeastern Minnesota Food Charter in Action event, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Mountain Iron. Join others to talk about all things food. The focus is how... Continue Reading