ST. PETER — County public health officials said the broader goal is to help facilitate positive health change by working alongside community partners. While population-level improvements can be difficult to measure and influenced by many factors, Nicollet County’s improvement plan provides a starting point for coordinated action over the next five years.
Bree Allen said community response to findings from the Community Health Assessment and improvement plan have been largely positive. She pointed to presentations made to organizations including the Region Nine Development Commission and multiple city councils, which generated interest in addressing local health concerns.
“This is just one way to start taking little steps and to feel as though at least we’re moving forward. It makes it more practical and applied. So many things feel insurmountable, but at least we have some evidence-based strategies,” she said.
The plan can be found on the Nicollet County Health and Human Services website and Spencer Crawford said he would like future prioritization efforts to involve community members directly in the scoring process.
The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, SHIP, is another tool to address health priorities and Nicollet and Blue Earth counties both participate. Established in 2008, the statewide initiative invests in preventing chronic diseases before they develop by supporting local partnerships focused on healthy eating, active living, tobacco prevention and overall community wellness.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, SHIP supports about 3,000 partnerships statewide, including 87 counties and 10 tribal governments. In Nicollet and Blue Earth counties, SHIP works with schools, workplaces, healthcare providers, local governments and community organizations to implement policies and environmental changes aimed at improving public health outcomes.