National Public Health Week is Underway

Celebrate Public Health in Otter Tail County!

MOORHEAD, Minnesota, April 6, 2015 — April 6-10th is Public Health Week, and The

American Public Health Association is bringing communities together around the country to

recognize the contributions of public health and highlight important issues. This year,

PartnerSHIP 4 Health (PS4H) is celebrating the preventative nature of public health. PS4H is a

collaboration of community partners in Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, and Wilkin counties that works

to reduce costs associated with chronic disease and improve the health of residents through

preventive strategies that support sustainable changes in schools, communities, workplaces and

Public Health Week

PS4H collaborates with many organizations in Otter Tail County such as the Complete Streets

project in downtown Battle Lake and Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC) in Fergus

Falls. These organizations do an exceptional job at promoting public health and who are making

the healthy choice the easy choice for residents in Otter Tail County.

With the help of PS4H the City of Battle Lake adopted a Complete Streets policy that guided the

recent renovation of downtown Battle Lake. The project included a newly paved street,

accommodations for cyclists, installation of new bike racks, special seating with artwork that is

inviting and promotes safety for both motorists and pedestrians. This project resulted in better

retail business and increased tourism in the downtown Battle Lake area. LCSC improved their

company worksite wellness program in which they increased opportunities for physical exercise

and healthy eating with standing workstations, organizing daily walks and providing inexpensive

healthy snacks during the work day. The Complete Streets project, LCSC and many other

partners of PartnerSHIP 4 Health contribute to wellness and public health in Otter Tail County.

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For more information, contact Katie Ahlstrom, Communications Intern at PartnerSHIP 4 Health

at 763-442-8655 or healthstudent.intern@co.clay.mn.us.