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WALKER - The Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) of Cass County Health, Human, and Veterans Services has partnered with four Cass County Public schools to implement physical activity and nutrition initiatives. SHIP Schools include Walker/Hackensack/Akeley (WHA), Northland Community Schools, Pine River/Backus (PRB) and Pillager. As first funding cycle SHIP draws to a close, Cass County schools prepare their current projects for sustainability. The current funding cycle of SHIP ends on June 30, 2011. SHIP was included in Governor Dayton's proposed budget. The future funding of SHIP is unknown until a budget has been passed.

All four Cass County SHIP schools implemented physical activity initiatives in November of 2010 with WHA implementing an additional nutrition intervention. WHA, Northland and PRB implemented walking programs while Pillager school implemented JAMmin Minutes and WittFitt stability balls.

Throughout implementation, Cass County SHIP has been directly involved in the planning and implementation of policy, systems and environmental changes. Each school was responsible for tracking progress of their projects. "With all of the stressors that we encountered during the planning and implementation phase of this project, it was important to keep in our minds who we were doing all of this for, and why. The future is in their little hands; we just have to give them the tools...it's our job, no matter how difficult our job may seem," says Jessica Nyland, Pillager School Nurse.[[In-content Ad]]

Cass County SHIP estimates that nearly 2000 students were affected by physical activity and/or nutrition interventions in their schools. Each school has formulated plans to sustain their already successful programs. "We have added 'Eagle Energizers' to our wellness initiatives for the students. We thought this would be a good addition to our current projects. Eagle Energizers is a physical activity burst during classroom time, very similar to Jammin Minutes. I created this program to cross brain hemispheres left and right with movement," says Mandy Giffen, Health Educator at Northland.

"Our kids are walking when they would normally be sitting at a computer", says Lynn Wangberg, teacher at PRB.

Northland, PRB and WHA all have put up signage for their walking paths which will help to sustain their physical activity efforts. Schools have noticed unexpected outcomes from their programs. Sandy Munson, School Nurse at WHA says, "Some of these kids didn't fit into groups or ways during free roaming and now they get to know each other and have found a place to belong. I never expected that to be a part of it." WHA has a wellness committee that has met monthly throughout the school year to plan and implement SHIP initiatives.

The purpose of Cass County SHIP's effort with the school sector is to reduce obesity in school age children by changing policies, systems and environments within physical activity and nutrition. Schools are uniquely situated to support the healthy behavior of children and youth. Because children learn, eat and play at school during the years when they are acquiring lifestyle habits, an environment that supports and models healthy behavior is critical to their becoming healthy, productive adults.

The Statewide Health Improvement Program, an integral part of Minnesota's nation-leading 2008 health reform law, strives to help Minnesotans lead longer, healthier lives by preventing the chronic disease risk factors of tobacco use and exposure, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. For more information on Cass County SHIP, go to www.co.cass.mn.us/ship.

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