Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP)

Tackling the Root Causes of Chronic Disease

In 2008, in a bipartisan vote in response to rapidly accelerating and costly chronic disease, the Minnesota Legislature created the Statewide Health Improvement partnership. The partnership works at the local level throughout the state to create and expand opportunities to be more physically active, eat healthier foods and live free from commercial tobacco, the key ingredients to reducing chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and Type 2 Diabetes.

In addition to work in improving healthy eating and active living and to reduce commercial tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, SHIP added an additional mission that focuses on well-being. The existence of well-being, which includes mental, physical, social/emotional health and resiliency, is a key factor in health and the prevent of chronic diseases, especially among those faced with existing health inequities.

Community Coming Together

Local partnerships improving health at the local level.

To achieve the goal of reducing chronic disease, SHIP operates at the community level through partnerships and coming together. We recognize that local organizations know best how to positively impact health in their communities.

Apartment Owners/Managers
Businesses
Cities
Chambers of Commerce
Clinics
Coalitions
Community groups
Faith communities
Farmers

Food Shelves
Hospitals and Healthcare Systems
Planning Entities
Schools
Senior Organizations
Workplaces
Youth Centers and Organizations
Many more

Goal

SHIP is working in local communities to help overcome the factors that lead to significant health inequities. SHIP seeks to reduce the percentage of Minnesotans who use or are exposed to tobacco and reduce the percentage of Minnesotans who are obese or overweight through better nutrition and increased physical activity.

SHIP Model

The SHIP model: improving health by increasing opportunities for healthy choices:

Increased opportunities for physical activity, nutritious food, and tobacco free living
Means more people get physical activity, better nutrition, and less tobacco exposure
Leading to improved health
Lowered costs, and improved quality of life

Addressing Preventable Death

SHIP addresses the top three preventable causes of illness and death, tobacco use/exposure and obesity due to physical inactivity and poor nutrition, both for the well-being of the community and to address the spiraling cost of health care costs in our state.

Positive Impacts in Lives and Dollars

Investing in reducing preventable chronic diseases and eliminating health inequities holds a significant long-term promise of improving the lives of Minnesotans while reducing the human and financial costs associated with those diseases.

SHIP works at the local level to
- Increase access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at farmers markets and emergency food programs
- expand and establish farmers markets
- support new moms and create workplace support for breastfeeding
- increase physical activity and healthy eating opportunities in schools
- work with employers to implement sustainable worksite wellness initiatives that have workable and easy-to-implement tools and resources
- create opportunities for employees to get more physical activity and to manage stress during the workday
- assist communities in making their towns and cities more walkable and bikeable
- expand the Walk! Bike! Fund! Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Curriculum in schools
- implement and expanding Safe Routes to School Programs
- implement active school initiatives to increase the time students are physically active
- implement activities to improve well-being and reduce inequities
- assist cities and counties with implementing policies to raise the minimum tobacco sales age to 21
- partner with schools to address the youth vaping epidemic
- increase access to cessation resources for commercial tobacco and nicotine
- work with rental housing manages to protect residents from the dangers of commercial tobacco smoke