09/10/2024
If you didn't make it to one of our three launch events this morning, we're sharing our press release as an opportunity to learn what we're all about!
Sioux Falls, South Dakota (9/10/2024) – Improving health outcomes for South Dakotans through education, sharing resources, and aligning actions is the focus of a group of leaders that have formed the South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative (SDHNC). Announced at press events in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre this morning; the collaborative aims to work toward sustainable solutions to food and nutrition insecurity in the state.
The first state-wide collaborative of its kind, the SDHNC membership represents a wide breadth of sectors including individuals with lived experience, healthcare, nonprofit, business, state departments, academia, health programs, and more. This variety of perspectives ensures diverse viewpoints are represented within the collaborative’s work.
“We are proud to be a founding member of the South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative,” said Tony Burke, Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association and Steering Committee member of the SDHNC. “We know making an impact requires collective voices working together to build a strong foundation for all South Dakotans! Additionally, access to healthy nutrition during pregnancy and throughout life is vital for all South Dakotans’ long-term well-being.”
According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap Study 2024, more than 106,000 people in South Dakota are food insecure, impacting their ability to thrive. Poor nutrition is linked to chronic diseases, behavior issues, absence from work or school, and even death.
The SDHNC will strategize to improve healthy food access through three focus groups that will
• coordinate state-wide research and programs,
• elevate the voices of advocates, researchers, and individuals with lived experience; and,
• advance policy implementation to improve food and nutrition security.
With a shared interest in the “Food is Medicine” initiative, the collaboration seeks outcomes that result in more South Dakotans following a healthy diet and a decrease of nutrition-related chronic disease in the state.
Tim Rave, President of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) shared, “SDAHO is committed to advancing healthy communities through a unified voice across the healthcare continuum. The South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaboration promotes healthy lifestyles to our members and those they serve, through nutritious foods, which supports improved health outcomes for all South Dakotans.”
To learn more about the South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative, including its membership, work, and how to join visit www.sdhealthynutritioncollaborative.com.
