Promotes, encourages, and supports healthy and safe communities and works to build capacity for individual, community and system change to improve health and prevent injury, substance abuse, and chronic disease.(See also Health promotion and Chronic Disease division of MDH)
Public Health is dedicated to meeting the health promotion needs of our community. If you have a need for a speaker or need information on a health topic, call 377-5100. The information listed below is meant to be a start for help and will continue to be updated as additional resources become known.
Statewide Workplace Smoking Ban
Smoking will be prohibited in most indoor public places and indoor places of employment in Minnesota as of Oct. 1, 2007. The Freedom to Breathe Provisions fo the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act were signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty on May 16, 2007.
The Freedom to Breathe Provisions of the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act describes where smoking is prohibited, outlines the responsibilities of proprietors and lists facilities and circumstances that are exempt from prohibitions. More information
Smoking & Tobacco Resources
American Cancer Society
Provides a guide to quitting smoking, quitting smokeless tobacco and information on nicotine replacement therapy.
American Heart Association
Offers information about the risks of smoking, resources and tools for quitting and fighting tobacco through advocacy.
American Lung Association-Minnesota
Information on the effects of smoking, quitting, second hand smoke and prevention.
Association for Nonsmokers (ANSR) - Minnesota
Works in tobacco prevention, sponsors programs through grants and volunteer efforts. Has been a leader in introduction of legislation to make all public venues smoke-free.
Centers for Disease Control
Prevention reports, research articles, educational materials, and information on quitting.
ClearWay Minnesota
Works to reduce tobacco use and second hand smoke exposure through grants, research and outreach activities. Sponsors a free Quit Line.
Minnesota Institute of Public Health
Protects public health and safety. Sponsors projects in prevention and research.
National Cancer Institute
Tobacco facts, research findings, information on quitting and prevention. Relevant statistics.
1.800.4.CANCER (1.800.422.6237)
Nicotine Anonymous
Offers a 12-step program to help "kick the habit".
1.877.TRY.NICA (1.877.879.6422)
Smoking Cessation Leadership Center
A program housed at UC San Francisco sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Offers a Quit Now program.
Smokefree.gov
A quit smoking guide, offers educational materials to download and information on Quitlines.
1.800.QUITNOW (1.800.784.8669)
Quit Line
Smoking cessation sponsored by Clear Way. Includes Quit Plan Helpline (1.888.354.PLAN) and community Quit Plan Centers.
Quit Plan
Provides the following tools to help you learn to quit; smoking cessation resources, quitting tips, support from QuitNet community and helps you create your own Quit Smoking Plan.
Creating Smoke-Free Workplaces
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Resources regarding Second Hand Smoke and the Workplace.
Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act
Detailed information specific to Minnesota's Clean Indoor Air Act.
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
Tobacco Prevention and Control Section works to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke, prevent the initiation of tobacco use by youth, and eliminate disparities among populations at higher risk of tobacco use.
Cancer Prevention/Resources
American Cancer Society 1-800-ACS-2345 or go to www.cancer.org Rochester office phone is 507-287-2044.Get personalized cancer early detection advice today. Go to www.cancer.org/healthcheck
SAGE program-a breast and cervical cancer screening program that can provide free screenings services such as a mammogram, clinical breast exam and pap test. Additional diagnostic services are also available. You must be 40 or older and income eligible. Go to www.MNSage.com for details.
Look Good, Feel Better-this program is for persons in cancer treatment who would like assistance with skin care and appearance-related side effects from treatment. They are held at Ascension Lutheran Church, Albert Lea quarterly(next session is Oct 8, 2007, 5:30-7:30 pm.). Call 507-287-2044 to sign up.
Minnesota Cancer Resource site, www.MNCancerResources.org
Tobacco Cessation
QUITPLAN Helpline at 1-888-354-PLAN
Mayo Tobacco Quitline at 1-888-642-5566
Albert Lea Medical Center Patient Education at 507-379-2046
Diabetes
American Diabetes Association(ADA) at www.diabetes.org. Enter your zip code to get the MN area ADA. They are located in St. Louis Park, MN. 1-888-DIABETES. Try reading Action, the MN area ADA newsletter for local activities and information.
Hypertension or High Blood Pressure, Heart or Stroke
Adult Health promotion clinics-These clinics are held monthly in different locations around Freeborn County to provide blood pressures and health promotion counsel. See schedule.
American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org. The Greater Minnesota office is located in Minneapolis. Phone 952-835-3300.
Need your blood pressure taken? Call Albert Lea Medical Center Patient Education at 379-2046.
American Stroke Association, www.strokeassociation.org. Affilliated with the American Heart Association.
National Stroke Association, www.stroke.org. 1-800-787-6537 is national phone number. Local office is in Minneapolis, 763-553-0088.
Nutrition/Physical Activity
FitnFree Freeborn is a local campaign to encourage Freeborn County residents to safely start regular physical activity and promote healthy eating. This effort is a project of the American Cancer Society’s local community action team. Call 377-5100 for more details. Would you like to try a campaign in your business? Try Active for Life, a free 10 week worksite program to encourage physical activity in a fun way. Log on to www.cancer.org and read more about the program.
Healthy Freeborn County, www.healthyfreeborncounty.org. Helping residents of Freeborn County live longer healthier lives.