SPRING GROVE HERALD
Date Locatlon Clrculat~on(DMA) Type (Frequency) Page Keyword
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 SPRING GROVE, MN 1 ,425 (1 27) Newspaper (W) 4 Center For Rural Affalrs
Rural cowzmu~itiesneed tofocus O M preventative health with many self-employed people and small businesses; that don't provide niedical insurance. Still, the cenrer's research shows that 60 percent of premature deaths in the United States are caused by fr~ctvrsunrelated to medical care - environmental condrtions, social circumstances and brhaviaml choices, The national debate on health Education alone isn't the answer cure reform has primarily focused as the center ;~ckno\vledgesthat on m e s s to nidical services indii iduals don't make their and affordable health insuriir~c~. decision5 in a \acuulii. It adctx-ates However. thav is another public policies designed to mcist component to health care that can coniniunities to build environments be corrected hy individual arid that encourage preventative community initiatives rather than lifeqtyles-such s eating right :lnJ sweeping federal reform. exercising. to improve the licaltli and .. T h e ~ f n. a r ~ quality of life of rural people. private. non-profit organizat~on "Communities that prov~dchealthy bawd in Lyons. Neb.. has been places for people to live and \L ork studying the health care crisis from will rcali~ethe social and ecor~otl~ic a rural persprctike during the litst benefits of n healthier, happier year. One of its main findings is a and more prcxluctive population." disturbing trend of greater physical according to the report. inactivity, poorer eating habits The center supports federal and higher rates of obesity in rural funding, but r~alizrsit also America. weds local initiative. hlnndl~ting Tlie poorer health associated programs. such as the k a l with these conditions can have a Wellness Policy for sdiiwls that devastati~ngimpact on not only participate in the national schtwl individual5 and fnmilies, hut also lunch progmm, \vo~~'t help if schools entire communities. In k t , the facing declining enrollments:md findings suggest that the health of decrellsi~igaid, can't afford to individuals and their communities implement ch'mges. And, offering are rnore intertwined than it may p l t to~ communities that also face seem. "Slo while large numbers of there economic:pressures :uid don't unhealthy individuals and families have staff to ivrite prop3sals aren't lead to struggling communities, it is going to help the conimunitics that also tme thnt unlittnlthy conlmunities most need support. encourage the negative health Instead, the center favors federal behaviorq that are growing more funds for locally inipbnented conimon in rural wexs." states the initiatives fixused at the cornmunit9 center's reporI. level through not only lwol National reform is important governnielits and ~cliools,but because many rural residents alco grocery stores, churclles and don't have access to dfbrdable libraries. medical services and irlsurancc For example, tax credits for due to the rural economic stn~ctu~v grocery stol-esbased on the Q 2009 SPRING GROVE All Rlghb Reserved
percentage of total sales in freqh fruits and vegetables is a starting point to cuppc)rtin_sthe hcnlthy eating that contributes to weight contrc)l and disease prrventlnn. Grcxerc rnny paqs on the ~avingq to custornels ntith loner prices and come up with creative \Vilys to mahct these healthy options so they can gain a greater share of the tau c~ed~t. Anothcl-initintice i~ cot~~tn~rnify he;~lthcommittees; thnt t~ould encourage co~nmunitiesto take steps toward healthier environments. Federal filnding arid "circuit riders" \iould \ \ o ~ kwith cc~ni~nitrees ~iiade up of h a 1 reprrsentativtrs that ~ o u l dcome up with Itxal solutiorlq. Another ;ma that a n be addressed is trancpclrtation. p:~rticularlythc active ibrrii\ of walking and biking. The condrtion of sidewalks and traffic patterns play a role in this. Research blic)wb that communities that provitle 3 safe infri~t~uctur-e for walkiog and biking tend to be more phy\ically active by about 70 m~nutesmore per \veek than com~nunitiesthat don't. Indoor exercise facilities are also iniportant,especially in Minnesota I\ hc~e concerns about weather may, kccp pcople on the couch. If private facilitirc;ale lacking, the health committees could work with schools to provlde reliable access to physical :tctivity tacilrtles. One feature of rural communities that has great potential to encourage physical activity and healthy rating is strong social ties. Older rural midents report that hav~ngsomeone to exercise nith helps them to stay ' physically active. Religic~uscommunities have already had success by organizing community gardens and encouraging nutr~~lous meals at church meals. -
HERALD Account 18209C (28678) MN 326 For reprlnb or rights, please contact the publhsher
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SPRING GROVE HERALD
They can also promote physical activity. ' Rural communities in Isanti County in Minnesota ~~ndertuok . a project of organized physical -* activity options around the faith conlnlunity. They created a senior walking program that combined physical activity, healthy eating and meditation. The faith community helped organize it while the partnership also provided "walk the town" maps to help residents find I safe routes through the area. Another place where people , gather is the library, which can be
:
Date: Location: Circulation (DMA): Type (Frequency): Page: Keyword:
Wednesday, September 16,2009 SPRING GROVE, MN 1,425 (127) Newspaper (W) 4 Center For Rural Affairs
s resource for group or community, reading programs and other individual information on healthy , rating ;ind exercise. As the report states, rural people know that disease and disability are likely to be the end result of a lifestyle of poor eating and insufficient exercise. However, it is unreasonable to expect that people ' will change their behavior while "immersed in ,an environment that begs them to stay the same." The contentious health care reforr? debate is focused on paying for or !
:
treating the consequences of poor health. This is more of a preventative apprclach, advocating public policies that enable communities to pmvide residents with a safe, useful structufe to "nudge," not force, people into lifestyle changes that can put them back on the track to longevity and \\.ell being. If you would like more details on this report or the entire series of reports on health care by t h e m forcheck ,out its Web site at www.cfra.org.
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Q 2009 SPRING GROVE HERALD All Rlghts Reserved
Account: 18209C (28678) MN~326
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Working Together to Make Healthier Communities by Eksba GreeLg . ! i eks/Ia@ d , +a. erg, Centerfor RHralAJain Rural people eat less nuuitious food ,get less exercise and are more often obese that our urban counterparts. However, what gets less attention is the power of community in molding individual behavior. The Center For recent report--Healthy Communities-Healthy People (htrp://
files.cfra.org/pdf/HealthyCommunities-Healthy-People. pdf)--examines practical examples of initiatives involving grocery stores, local governments, schools, churches, and libraries that could help build the rural environments that assist inclividual behaviors that lead to longer, healthier lives. Sadly, the health care reform debate has not focused enough
Tuesday, September 15,2009 FOSSTON, MN 9,000 (1 19) Newspaper (W) 4 Center For Rural Affairs
on community-based initiatives to encourage healthier lifestyles among individuals, families and communities. The health care rcform legislation approvcd by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee of the U.S Senate contains a provision to provide grants to communities to implement wellness and health promotion initiatives, which should be included in thc final version of health care rcform legislation. However, many rural communities lack the resources for full-time staff to seek out federal grants, and, as a result, miss out on public funding because they arc unaware of opportunities. To makc sure funds are targeted to the communities most in need, the report proposes that "circuit riders" should actively engage underserved, rural communities with public health concerns by going to them with information, financial assistance and a commitment to help. Federal policy can assist rural Americans in creating healthier lifestyles by funding community initiatives that create, improve, o r maintain an infrastructure that
supports preventative behaviors like eating right and exercising
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Q 2009 13 TOWNS All Rlghts Reserved
Account: 18209C (28684) MN~116
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Date Locatlon Clrculat~on(DMA) Type (Frequency) Page Keyword
CHATFIELD NEWS
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 CHATFIELD, MN 1,761 (153) Newspaper (W) 3 Center For Rural Affalrs
Rural communities need to focus on preventative health
The national debate on health care reform has primarily focused on access to medical services and affordable health insurance. However, there is another comuonent to health care that can be corrected by individual and community initiatives rather than sweeping federal refornl. The Center for ,a private, non-profit organization based in Lyons, Neb., has been studying the health care crisis from a rur;ll pcrspcctive during the last vear. One of its main findings " is a disturbing trend of greater physical inactivity, poorer eating habits and higher rates of obesity in rural America. The poorer health associqled with hest: conditions can have a devastating impact on not only idividuals and families, but also entire communities. In fact, the findings suggest that the health of individuals and their communities are more intertwined than it may seem. "So while large numbers of unhealthy individuals and families lead to struggling communities, it is also true that unhealthy communities encourage the negative health behaviors that are growing more common in rural areas," states the center's National reform is important because many rural residents don't have access to affordable medical services and insurance due to the rural economic structure with many self-employed people and small businesses that don't provide medical insurance. Still, the center's research shows that 60 Dercent of oremature deaths in the United states are &used by factors unrelated to medical care -environmental conditions. social circumstances and behavioral choices.
Education alone isn't rhe answer as the center acknowledges that individuals don't make their decisions in a vacuum. It advocates public policies designed to assist communities to build environments that encourage preventative lifestyles, such as eating right and exercising, to improve the health and quality of life of rural people. "Communities that provide healthy places for people to live and work wilI realize the social and economic benefits of a healthier, happier and more productive population," according to the report. The center supports federal funding, but rcalizcs it also needs local initiative. Mandating programs, such as the Local Wellness Policy for schools h a t participate in the national school lunch program, won't help if schools facing declining enrollments and decreasing aid, can't afford to ilnplement changcs. And, offering grants to communities that also face these economic pressures and don't have staff to write proposals aren't going to help the communities that most necd support. Instead, the center favors federal funds for Iocally implemented initiatives focused at the conununity level through not only local governments and schools, but also grocery stores, churches md libraries. For example, tax credits for grocery stores based on the percentage of total sales in fresh fruits and vegetables is a starting point to supporting the healthy eating that contributes to weight control and discnsc prevention. Grocers may pass on the savings to customers wlth lowcr prices and come up with creative ways to market these healthy options so they can gain n grcarcr share of the tax credit. Another initiative is community health committees that would encourage communities to take steps toward healthierenvironments. Federal funding and "circuit riders" would work with committees made up of local rcprcscntatives that would
Q 2009 CHATFIELD NEWS All Rlghb Reserved
Account 18209C (28685) MN 57 For reprlnb or rights, please contact the publhsher
Page 1 of 2
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CHA TFlELD NEWS
come up with local solutions. Another area that can be addressed is transportation, particularly the active forms of walking rind biking. The condition of sidewalks imcl traffic patterns play a role in this. Research shows that communities that provide a safe infrastructure for walking and biking tend to be more physically active by about 70 minutes inore per week rhan communities that don't. Indoor exercise facilities are also important, especially in Minnesota where concerns about weather may keep people on the couch. If private facilities are lacking, the health committees could work with schools to provide reliable access to physical activity facilities. One feature of rural communities that has, great potential to encourage physical activity and healthy eating is strong social ties. Older rural residents repon that having someone to exercise with helps them to stay physically active. Religious communities have already had success by organizing community gardens and encouraging nutritious meals at church meals. They can also promote physical activity. Rural communities in Isanti County in Minnesota undeitook a project of organized physical activity options around the faith community. They created a senior walking program that combined physical
Wednesday, September 16,2009 CHATFIELD, M N 1,761 (153) Newspaper (W) 3 Center For Rural Affairs
activity, healthy eating and meditation. The faith community helped organize it while the partnership also provaed "walk the town" maps to help residents find safe routes through the area. Another place where people gather is the library, which can bc a rcsouice for group or community reading programs and other individual information on healthy eating and exercise. As the report states, rural people know that disease and disability are likely to be the end result of a lifestyle of poor eating and insufficient exercise. However, it is unreasonable to expect that.people will change their behavior while "immersed in an environment that begs them to stay the same." The contentious health care reform debate is focused on paying for or treating the consequences of poor health. This is) more of a preventative approach, advocating public policies that enable communities to provide residents with a safe, useful structure to "nudge," not force, people into lifestyle changes that can put them back on the track to longevity i n d well being. Ifyou would like more details on this report or the entire series of reports on health care by the Center for Rliral Affairs,check out its Web site at
Page 2 of 2
Q 2009 CHATFIELD NEWS All Rlghts Reserved
Account: 18209C (28685) MN~57
For reprints or rights. please contact the publisher
Thursday September 17 2009 ST PETER M N : e w s p a ~(W) & Type ( ~ r e ~ i e n c ~ j ~ Page: 6C Keyword: Center For Rural Affairs
Job potential strong in United States for-wind energy The Center for Rural Afhas released an analysis on the economic potential of wind energy development. The report addresses economic impact, job creation and wind resources in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. According to the report expanding production of renewable electricity to 20% of the nation's electrical generation has the potential to create a large number of new jobs in the rural Midwest and Great Plains. The analysis projects that Kansas would gain nearly 3,100 long-term jobs in operations and maintenance of
wind farms, Nebraska over 3,500 jobs, South Dakota over 3,900 jobs and Iowa over 9,000 jobs. An even higher number of mediumtern1 jobs, averaging one year in duration, would be created. These jobs would be related to manufacturing, site preparation and turbine construction. Nationally, reaching 20% of electrical generation from wind would result in 1.75 million full-time jobs during wind turbine construction and 1.6 million new, permanent operational jobs. The American Clean Energy Leadership Act is the
key to this success. The Act would facilitate development of a national interstate electric transmission grid to move electricity from areas that have the resources for renewable production to areas with high demand. The bill also includes a critically important Renewable Electricity Standard. It would ostensibly require that 12% of the nation's electric generation come from renewable sources, not 20%, including wind, solar, geothermal, new hydroelectric, biomass and landfill generation, by the year 202 1.
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Q 2009 S T PETER HERALD All Rlghts Reserved
Account: 18209C (28794) MN~317
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