Public Health honors teacher, organizations

April 04--Lynn Nelson recalls working with Olmsted County Public Health to get a fleet of bicycles for Longfellow and Riverside elementary schools.

"What was surprising to me, once we got these bikes, was how many kids at the elementary did not own a bike or did not know how to ride a bike," the Longfellow Elementary School physical education teacher said Tuesday.

"It's interesting to teach fifth-graders how to ride a bike," she added.

Nelson continued working with Olmsted County and other programs to expand opportunities for her students, from following the bike fleet with snowshoes to creating Rochester's all-city track meet.

"It has been one of my missions in teaching to provide many experiences for my children to learn, participate and experience activities," she said.

Dawn Beck of Olmsted County Public Health said those efforts are among the reasons the agency awarded Nelson the Public Health Champion Award.

"Her commitment to students has empowered learners of all ages to understand their bodies and how to fuel them for success," Beck said of Nelson. "This builds confidence in our youth."

Nelson's award was one of three presented Tuesday during the Olmsted County Board meeting. It is the 19th year the awards have been presented.

Recovery is Happening received the Public Health Champion Award for an organization.

The grassroots nonprofit led by people in recovery focuses on mobilizing resources for people struggling with addiction.

"Prior to Recovery is Happening, people struggling with addiction didn't have resources for next steps, but now Recovery is Happening is hosting many recovery support and discussion groups and weekly programs," Beck said, noting the group has trained 62 peer-recovery specialists and 13 volunteers who make support calls.

Tiffany Hunsley, executive director, said the program continues to grow with increasing needs in the community. She pointed to a call the group received Monday night to provide support for an emergency room patient with alcohol poisoning.

"We are paged, and one of our peers responds to that individual," she said of a pilot program with Mayo Clinic. "Of our 13 calls to date, we have now gotten six of those individuals into a treatment program, where before they would have been stabilized and released."

Hunsley said the county award sends an important message.

"Individuals today need to know that recovery is not something that you should be ashamed to reach out for, that recovery is here and that this is a public health issue," she said.

A third award was presented Tuesday to RNeighbors. The Outstanding Partnership Award acknowledged the organization's contributions through a dedicated partnership with Olmsted County Public Health.

"They've created many sustainable changes to make our community safer, healthier and more vibrant," Beck said.

While she was unable to accept the award in person, RNeighbors Executive Director Rene Halasy said the acknowledgement means a lot and shows the organization is on the right track.

"The folks at Olmsted County Public Health care about neighborhoods and have been willing to work creatively and collaboratively with RNeighbors on a grassroots level that is sometimes sticky but has outcomes that are a community benefit both on a social level and a fitness level. Both are important to healthy neighborhoods," she said, noting RNeighbors and Public Health have partnered on creative crosswalk projects, the NeighborWalks program and project grants that encourage healthy activity.

In other county business, the board:

--Designated April as National County Government Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

--Approved an agreement for a $7,440 State Boat Patrol grant.

--Awarded a $159,154.40 contract for an Oxbow Park parking lot extension.

--Received a legislative update.

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