Residents of Stearns County will likely start to notice changes that will benefit their health. The “Statewide Health Improvement Plan”, or “SHIP” for short, will include health improvement initiatives for schools, communities, health care, and worksites. SHIP focuses on changing the “health culture of our communities through changes which are sustainable over time. SHIP will tackle causes of preventable illness such as tobacco use, physical activity, and poor nutrition. For a two year period, 900-thousand dollars will be available to support activities in Stearns County that impact the health of the County. Groups such as schools, communities, health care providers, and universities are all working toward making changes.