HSI Monthly Momentum - November 2024
The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative’s programs and events strive to create awareness and provide solutions to improve the physical, social and mental well-being of Iowans. Every month through Monthly Momentum, we’ll share what our team did through our four main programs Make It OK, Double Up Food Bucks, Produce Rx, and 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! the month prior to realize that mission! There are tons of ways to get involved whether your passion is mental, social, or physical health, so join us in ensuring every Iowan can live their healthiest life, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media so you never miss a thing!
Make It OK
On Friday, November 22, HSI teamed up with the Iowa Wolves basketball team for the ‘Pack Has Your Back Night’ mental health awareness game! Make It OK messaging was displayed throughout the game, attendees were given free Make It OK swag, and players wore limited edition jerseys highlighting mental health that were created by our friend and local artist Van Holmgren, the creator of our mental health mural in Cedar Rapids!
Players jerseys were auctioned off post game with the funds going to our organization to continue the work of Make It OK statewide in reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness; thousands of dollars were raised. Of course, the Wolves came away with the win to top the night off!
Double Up Food Bucks
In November, we had the opportunity to collaborate with the Hy-Vee Dietician Team to enhance awareness and support for the Double Up Food Bucks program at participating Hy-Vee locations. Together, we brainstormed innovative strategies to promote the program and engage new customers for the upcoming 2025 season.
5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count!
In November we launched the new 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! monthly newsletter for registered schools! Every month, these schools receive resources, news, events, and a spotlight highlighting one individual or 5-2-1-0 site going above and beyond to make the healthy choice the easy choice for those around them.
We also introduce our sites to the Iowa 4-H Clover Power Community of Practice Facebook group, where these schools and individuals can come together to share wins, ask questions, and network about how to better prioritize well-being for students in schools across the state.
Produce Rx
Healthy Incentives Coordinator, Catie Dysert, visited Produce Prescription partners in Fort Dodge to prepare for the next group of participants to enroll in the 6-month program. The Community Health Center of Fort Dodge and Fareway are ready to write and receive prescriptions for fresh fruits and vegetables!
Learning and Growing
Executive Director, Jami Haberl, attended the Milken Institute's Future of Health Summit in Washington D.C. The Future of Health Summit convenes annually to connect the Milken Institute’s catalytic community of changemakers to advance their vision and mission to make a lasting impact in areas such as biomedical research and technological innovation, chronic disease and prevention, rare disease research, patient engagement, cell and gene therapies, mental health, healthy aging and longevity, health equity, food policy, food is medicine, health-finance trends, the role of the employer in achieving better health, and more. Speakers included leaders addressing these critical issues worldwide.
Picture: US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack with Helena Bottomiller Evich, Founder and Editor in Chief, Food Fix.