SHIP

Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) supports community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for active living, healthy eating and commercial tobacco-free living, helping all people in Minnesota prevent chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

SHIP Communities Are Thriving

SHIP helps build thriving communities, creating opportunities for all people in Minnesota to live longer, healthier lives.

Ninety percent of the nation’s health care costs are for people with chronic conditions, and the majority of those costs are preventable.

How SHIP Works

Thanks to SHIP, Minnesota communities are:

  • Increasing access to fresh, local fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, local corner stores, emergency food programs, mobile markets and other food retailers
  • Serving healthier foods and increasing access to physical activity opportunities at schools and child care facilities
  • Making biking and walking easier in Minnesota towns and cities
  • Taking steps to make multi-unit housing sites smoke free
  • Working with small- and mid-sized employers to improve workers’ health and productivity
  • Working with health care sites to strengthen connections to community to ensure that patients are referred to evidence-based programs in their area
  • Supporting new moms so its easier for them to breastfeed after they return to work or school and more.

SHIP = local leadership, local partners and local expertise

SHIP work is directed by local community leadership teams that bring expertise and connections to the table.

The complex, comprehensive nature of this work requires strong relationships, partnerships and expertise at the local level.

Want to Learn More about SHIP?

The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) creates wellness across Minnesota’s communities through community-driven, evidence-based, and equity-focused programs that tackle the root causes of chronic diseases. SHIP funding expands opportunities for active living, healthy eating, and commercial tobacco-free living for everyone.

Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) supports community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for active living, healthy eating and commercial tobacco-free living, helping all people in Minnesota prevent chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

  • Active Living in Community 
  • Food Access in Community 
  • Commercial Tobacco Free in Community 
  • Health Care 
  • Child Care 
  • Schools 
  • Workplace 

SHIP’s framework is rooted in public health best practices and a commitment to quality improvement. The core components of SHIP include: 

  • Relationship Building 
  • Capacity Building 
  • Technical Assistance and Training 
  • Evaluation 
  • Assessment and Surveillance 
  • Community Engagement and Voice 
  • Health Equity 
  • Communications 
  • Trauma Responsiveness in health departments 

  • 87 counties
  • 10 Tribal Nations
  • statewide funding
  • partnerships

SHIP policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) work supports and advances sustainable changes. The PSE approach is a long-term approach to achieve equitable health outcomes in Minnesota.

SHIP is funded through the Minnesota Health Care Access Fund, which was established to increase access to health care, contain rapidly accelerating health care costs and improve the quality of health care services for Minnesotans.

SHIP impacts the whole community. SHIP creates PSE changes that are long-term and sustainable. SHIP builds relationships with local partners in schools, worksites, community centers, churches, child care, governments, and more.

Some of the activities SHIP supports is FoodRX, SuperShelf, Commercial Tobacco Point of Sale, Quit Partner Referral, improving safety and access for active transportation and mobility, breastfeeding in the workplace, Safe Routes to School, park planning, social connection, trauma-informed principles, and commercial tobacco free youth.

SHIP funding supports public health projects involving:

  • All 87 counties plus the cities of Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Minneapolis, and St. Paul (with Ramsey County) 
  • 10 Tribal Nations
  • 2,172 unique collaborative partnerships (2024 and 2025)
  • 850 engaged community leaders (2023-2024) 

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