Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota

Today is the *last day* to apply to serve on one of the Multi-Partner Health Collaborative goal groups! These groups will function as specialized work groups, focusing on critical areas outlined in the State Health Improvement Plan. Through collaborative efforts and shared resources, they'll work to drive measurable progress toward collective health objectives. ICYMI, the Multi-Partner Health Collaborative was created by The Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota, American Heart Association - North Dakota, and ND Health and Human Services to build bridges for a healthier North Dakota. It's partnering with communities, tribal nations, business and other sectors to equitably enhance health and wellness. Learn more about the MPHC goal groups and apply: https://bit.ly/3VtAhmp

Shelly, one of our coalition health directors, and Sandy, our executive director, recently attended the Tribal Leaders Summit and Tradeshow in Bismarck. The event united tribes from across the nation for two days of speakers and workshops to promote cultural exchange and foster collective progress. We were so glad to meet some new people and expand our community connections!

Your heart is the strongest muscle in your body, so it's no surprise that poor heart health can take a toll on a person. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer not just in North Dakota, but also across the U.S. and worldwide. On #WorldHeartDay, learn more about cardiovascular disease and what you can do to improve your heart health, courtesy of our friends and colleagues at the American Heart Association of North Dakota. We're honored to be working with this team on our Multi-Partner Health Collaborative! https://bit.ly/38Fw6ci

The Alzheimer's Association? estimates that approximately 14,000 people aged 65 and older in North Dakota are living with Alzheimer’s disease, but there are things we can all do to improve our personal brain health and prevent cognitive decline. Learn more about how physical activity, nutrition, and mental and social activity can help protect you against Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia: https://bit.ly/2xcwhL6

Earlier this summer, we launched the Multi-Partner Health Collaborative with the American Heart Association of North Dakota and ND Health and Human Services. We're excited to announce the group’s steering committee, which will play a vital role in guiding and supporting the collaborative by ensuring its effectiveness and alignment with its mission, vision, purpose and values. Amber Blomberg — Executive Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation Ann Fritz — Environmental Justice & Nondiscrimination Program Manager, North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality Candace Muggerud — CEO, KAT & Company Carlos D. Miranda, M.D. — Pediatric Cardiologist, Sanford Health Dawn Mandt — Executive Director, Red River Regional Council - Grafton Dirk Wilke — Executive Director of the Public Health Division, ND Health and Human Services Donene Feist — Director, Family Voices of North Dakota Ellie Ahlfeldt — Student & Former Miss ND Teen Hannah Zaun — Director of Nursing, Dakota Regional Medical Center - Cooperstown Jacob Davis — Assistant Director, Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota Karin Mongeon — Highway Safety Division Director, North Dakota Department of Transportation Katie Heck — Coordinator, Safe Kids Fargo-Moorhead Kayla Ver Helst — Sustainability Officer, Bank of North Dakota Kristin Knorr — ND Afterschool Network Lead, South East Education Cooperative Mark Strand, Ph.D. — Professor & Member of ND State Health Council, Pharmacy Practice & NDSU Department of Public Health Megan Langley — Executive Director, Strengthen ND Melanie Gaebe — North Dakota Public Policy Director, Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter Molly Howell — Immunization Unit Director and Assistant Director of Disease Control and Forensic Pathology, ND Health and Human Services Nathaniel Johnson — Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of North Dakota Pat Bertagnolli — Executive Director, Job Service North Dakota Sara Hanson — Director of Population Health, BCBSND Health Integration Sadie Hanson — Student Representative, State Board of Higher Education Shannon Bacon — Director of Equity and External Affairs, Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas Sherry Adams — Executive Director, Southwestern District Health Unit Stephanie Jay — Public Health Manager, Turtle Mountain Public Health Department Susan Elsbernd — Registered Nurse, CHI & Small Business Owner Suzanne Kramer-Brenna — Project Director, North Dakota Domestic & Sexual Violence Coalition Taylor Syvertson — Director of Community Impact, United Way of Cass-Clay Tim Blasl — President, The North Dakota Hospital Association Traci Pole — Senior Regional Advisor, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Victoria Ngatia — Mental Health Therapist, We Thrive Counseling The committee held its initial meeting Sept. 11-12, and there are more opportunities to get involved. More info: https://bit.ly/3XhLaaT

We recently teamed up with American Heart Association of North Dakota and ND Health and Human Services to launch the Multi-Partner Health Collaborative and help build bridges for a healthier North Dakota. The group advocates for sustainable resources and increasing access to options that foster health and wellness throughout our state. And we want you to get involved! We're now accepting applications to serve on the MPHC's four goal groups. These will function as specialized work groups, focusing on critical areas outlined in the State Health Improvement Plan. Learn more about the MPHC goal groups and submit your application by visiting the links below! **Applications must be in by October 1, 2024 to be considered.** More information about the goal groups: https://bit.ly/3Y0k7Tb Apply to serve: https://bit.ly/3zgUtzY

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to our first-ever Children & Families Wellness Fair earlier this month! ?? We were thrilled to see all of you at The Lights and have the chance to meet hundreds of North Dakotans for a fun-filled — and sun-filled! — day of health and wellness resources. A special note of gratitude to our presenting sponsor, Sanford Health, and to our silver and bronze sponsors — Essentia Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation, and Corwin Honda — for helping us make this event happen. We'd also like to shout out a few area businesses for supporting our organization with gift cards, discounts, and other items that helped us get the fair up and running: Scheels, Bell Bank, Costco Wholesale, Target, The Black Frame, Cash Wise Foods, Family Fare Supermarkets, and Qdoba Restaurant Corporation.

Learn more about how to prevent and manage respiratory illnesses on Tuesday, October 8th! We'll be joined by Dr. Stephanie Hanson of Sanford Children's for a free educational webinar. All are welcome! Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3AOhavr

There are so many different ways to stay healthy, including through the promotion of nutritious and culturally relevant foods. In this video, Tanya RedRoad — the program coordinator at The Indigenous Association and owner of Tee’s Tacos — shows how to make one of her famous dishes: the Indigi Bowl. This recipe includes wild rice, ground buffalo and vegetables, making it nutrient-dense and delicious. Our own Shelly and Mary even got to taste test! And a big congrats to Tanya and to Tee's Tacos for recently opening up a new location in Fargo!

Ending hunger and lowering the prevalence of disease are closely related ... and tied to having access to nutritious foods. In North Dakota, more than 42,000 of our neighbors need better access to foods that support a healthy lifestyle. The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic recently released a comprehensive report detailing what's being done at the federal and state levels to educate physicians and medical students on the importance of nutrition and anti-hunger initiatives. The report also goes into how private and non-profit organizations can get involved in this movement and help boost community wellness. Read more: https://bit.ly/3XuxSJk