Public Health Promotion

The county works to reduce chronic disease and associated healthcare costs.

Lack of physical activity, a poor diet and tobacco use or exposure are the leading causes of preventable death and disease in the United States.

We focus where people live, learn, work, and play, supporting local organizations as they work to help their employees and the people they serve make healthy lifestyle choices.

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Food shelves and free food programs

Map of food shelves and free food programs in Hennepin County

Contact each location before visiting.

View map in full screen

Worksites

Advancing worksite wellness

Health@Work offers a wide array of low- and no-cost trainings, events and resources to help employers in Hennepin County promote healthy worksites and lifestyles for their employees.

Join Health@Work's LinkedIn group

Networking breakfasts

Attend these events to hear from worksites that have made healthy changes. Topics include tobacco, nutrition, physical activity, employee benefits and work-life balance. Come network, ask questions and share your ideas. A light breakfast is served.

No events are scheduled at this time. Future events will be posted here. For questions, email Linda Brandt at linda.brandt@hennepin.us or call 612-596-1511.

Wellness by Design award

This award recognizes employers with successful health promotion efforts. Worksites who also minimize their impact on the environment may receive a +Green designation.

The next application period will open in early 2019. Any worksite headquartered in Hennepin County may apply. For questions, contact Linda Brandt at linda.brandt@hennepin.us or 612-596-1511.

2014-2015 Wellness by Design winners

More than 80 organizations and businesses received the Wellness by Design award.

Read about the winners (DOC).

Watch award winners' videos

Testimony from past winners

"We really appreciated the award, which is displayed at our front desk. The more attention to this topic the better!"

"Wellness by Design has been a great way to get my company leaders excited about wellness."

"We have used this award to educate our management and employees about how we met the criteria of the gold award. It has helped the "legitimacy" of our wellness program..."

See all past winners 2006 - 2015 (PDF)

Hennepin County Worksite Advisory Council

The council was established to provide input and direction in making Health@Work health promotion activities relevant and helpful to worksite health promotion coordinators. Health@Work provides resources that promote healthier lifestyles for employees in organizations located in Hennepin County. Email Kelly Harjes at kelly.harjes@hennepin.us.

Worksite Advisory Council members (DOCX)
Group photo (JPG)

Schools

Healthy School Partnership Awards

Hennepin County Public Health is pleased to announce our application for Healthy School Partnership Awards is now open. Funding is available for schools (pre-K-12th grade) to apply for healthy eating, physical activity, mental well-being, or commercial tobacco prevention. Funding amounts are between $1,000 - $5,000. Application deadline is February 29, 2024, at 4 p.m.

Interested applicants should review the following documents for funding details and application requirements:

Application guidelines (PDF, 1MB)
Explore project ideas (PDF, 1MB)
Submit a project proposal

Direct questions to Cathy Rude at cathy.rude@hennepin.us.

Creating safe, positive environments for learning

Hennepin County's partnerships within the schools and the community are helping create healthy school environments that reduce chronic disease, increase student attendance and achievement, and increase student and staff wellness.

The importance of public health initiatives in schools (PDF)

Consultations

Health@School staff are available to provide no-cost consultations on the following topics:

Active recess and other physical activity initiatives
Healthy cafeteria assessments and other healthy eating initiatives
Safe Routes to School
School climate initiatives
Tobacco-free K-12 schools
Tobacco-free post-secondary schools

For information, email Catherine Stahl at catherine.stahl@hennepin.us or call 612-596-7467.

Youth mental well-being resources

Change to Chill training

Hennepin County Public Health offered a virtual training for school employees in collaboration with Allina Health on their award-winning Change to Chill program. It educates school staff on mindfulness concepts, resilience techniques, and models deep breathing techniques and other strategies to help young people be their best selves.

Change to Chill spring 2022 training recording – 1 hour (YouTube)

Change to Chill training December 2022 on new BIPOC and LGBTQ+ resources – 1 hour (YouTube)

Health Powered Kids training (November 2022)

Allina Health offered a virtual training for school employees working with younger children ages 3-12. Health Powered Kids offers activities and videos for school staff to promote healthy eating, physical movement, stress management and more.

Health Powered Kids training – 15 minutes

Calm spaces in schools: Health Powered Kids training (November 2022)

This calm spaces in schools resource guide is available to school staff to design calm rooms or calm corners in their schools.

Calm spaces in secondary schools resource guide (PDF)

Calm spaces in elementary schools resource guide (PDF)

Youth tobacco prevention

A parent's guide to vaping

Talking to youth about the dangers of vaping is more important than ever. Caregivers can learn about youth vaping from a series of free videos and begin conversations with their child to prevent use. All resources are free. We encourage you to share them with other caregivers.

Videos en español

Hablar ahora con los jóvenes sobre los peligros del vapeo es más importante que nunca. Los cuidadores pueden informarse sobre la práctica del vapeo entre los jóvenes a través de una serie de videos gratuitos y comenzar a conversar con sus hijos para prevenir el consumo. Se proporcionan guías de apoyo y preguntas para el debate. Todos los recursos son gratuitos. Le recomendamos que los comparta con otros cuidadores.

En español: Enlace aquí

Somali videos

Nutrition training for Minnesota Statute 245D

To complete MN 245D nutrition training, watch the videos in numbers 1 through 7. Apply what you’ve learned by completing the online nutrition training module in number 8. Upon successful completion of the online training, print out the certificate of completion at the end of the online module and keep a copy with your records or provide a copy to your manager.

1. Hennepin Today: nutrient-rich foods and portion sizes

2. Fat, sugar and salt, oh my!

3. One family's plan: budgeting, shopping and meal planning

7. Cooking videos: learn new cooking skills and watch recipe demonstrations

8. Online training

Practice what you’ve learned in the nutrition module online. Upon successful completion of the training, print out the certificate of completion on the last screen of the online module and retain a copy for your records and provide one to your manager if needed.

Additional recipes

Handouts and print resources

Cooking skills-building and easy recipes

Special diets

Here are four common special diets ordered by doctors and tips to prepare them. These videos are intended for information only and do not take the place of medical advice or in-person, professional training. If you need more assistance, contact your health care provider or manager. Along with videos and supporting materials, quizzes have been provided to test your knowledge. You can apply what you’ve learned to real life situations by completing the special diet online activity.

Heart-healthy

Diabetes

Dysphagia and thickened liquids

Practice what you've learned by completing the e-learning activity.

Cannabis

Cannabis is a plant that contains a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is what gives you a “high.” Cannabis can be smoked, vaped or consumed as edibles. Edibles are products made with cannabis that you can eat or drink. Edibles often resemble food products such as cookies, chocolate, gummy candy, and beverages.

Legislation

The state of Minnesota legalized edible cannabinoid products in July 2022 and began working on legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis soon after. Minnesotans age 21 and older may legally possess, use, and grow cannabis as of August 1, 2023. Read the law's 2023 summary here.

THC overdose symptoms and response

There are many symptoms of THC overdose including excessive sleepiness, nausea/vomiting, rapid heart rate, and slurred speech. If you suspect a THC overdose or if a child has consumed a product with THC, contact Poison Control immediately.

Contact

Poison Control: 1-800-222-2222
mnpoison.org

Resources

Minnesota Department of Health:

Cannabis and Your Health (Minnesota Department of Health)
Preventing Unintentional Poisonings from Cannabis Products (Minnesota Department of Health)
Submitting edible cannabinoid product complaints (Minnesota Department of Health)
- Use the form on this page to file a complaint against a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer.

Other resources: