Our Falls Prevention Team; Greg Jones: Named Outstanding Nurse

Healthy neighborhood, healthy youSt. Francis Regional Medical Center and Allina Health arecommitted to improving the well-being of surroundingcommunities. That’s why Allina Health recently launched abrand-new initiative called the Neighborhood Health Connection TMto help neighbors work toward the common goal of improving thehealth of the entire community. As part of the initiative, communitymembers were encouraged to submit ideas through the website,neighborhoodhealthconnection.org, about how they plan to makea difference in their community’s health. Earlier this year, 29 winnersfrom the Shakopee area were awarded grants to put their ideas intoaction; here are four of them:• Patrick Simmons: A pastor at New Creation Church inShakopee, Simmons helps run a summer program for 180 kids,most from low-income families. His winning idea was to take thechildren swimming at a local pool every Friday. Not only do thechildren get a chance to swim and play in the pool, but they alsoreceive swimming lessons and education about water safety.“Spending time in a pool is a summer activity many Americankids take for granted,” Simmons said. “Without this funding,these children would never have had that same opportunity.”• Karen Tuitt: The Prior Lake resident knows firsthand thatexercising with others is more fun than doing it alone. That’s whyshe rounded up a group of about 10 community members toparticipate in an exercise program together. “Some of our kids aregrown, while other [neighbors] have young ones at home, butstaying within the neighborhood makes it possible for everyone toparticipate,” Tuitt said. She plans to gather with her neighborstwo to three times per week for hour-long workouts led by apersonal trainer.• Benjamin Palmby: His idea — to provide residents at the FiveStars Recovery Center in Chaska with membership passes to thelocal community center — is already having significant payoffs.“Recovery from drug and alcohol addiction is a complex processthat involves getting healthy overall,” Palmby said. Some residentsnow use the community center five to six times per week. “In ashort time, I’ve noticed many have quit using tobacco, changedtheir sleeping habits more quickly than we’d normally see and areeating much healthier diets,” he said. Exercising has improvedresidents’ self-esteem, which increases their chances of long-termsuccess, Palmby added.• Debbie Carlberg: One of the easiest things people can do toimprove their health is simply moving more. That’s why Carlberghad the idea to outfit 40 members at the City of Prior LakeSenior Center, where she works,with pedometers. Participants sportthe pedometers daily so that theycan track how many steps they take.“It’s a simple tool they can use tochallenge themselves to be moreactive throughout the day,” Carlbergsaid. “If they’re at the store, apedometer may remind them to parkfarther away so that they can seethose numbers click higher.”Find out how…you can get involved by visitingallinahealth.org/community.10 partners in health