The Backyard Initiative - Working together to improve health in our community

In the news...

Income, zip code, education seen as good indicator of health

The U.S. health reform debate reinforces the idea that decent insurance, you will likely live a longer, healthier life than people who are uninsured. But public health researchers will tell you that factors -- like where you live and where you shop -- have an even bigger effect on your health.

Such factors are referred to as the social determinants of health. Overcoming them is hard work. Just ask Ellie Zuehlke, who works for Allina Hospitals & Clinics. Zuehlke oversees Backyard Initiative. Read the full story on minnesota.publicradio.org...

Did you know?

Nearly half of Allina's 23,000 employees work in the Backyard.
The Backyard is home to one of the most diverse communities in Minnesota. About 32 percent of its residents are white, 26 percent are black, 22 percent are Hispanic, and 7 percent are American Indian.
About one-fourth of the community is foreign born.
A highly mobile population lives in the Backyard. Between 1995 and 2000, 64 percent of residents moved.
While high school graduation rates are comparable to Minnesota as a whole, unemployment is twice the state rate (9.8 percent compared to 4.3 percent).
Almost 44 percent of the community is low income.
People living in the Backyard experience higher rates of asthma and obesity and lower rates of health insurance than the state average.

What is the Backyard Initiative?

The Backyard Initiative is Allina's effort to galvanize a coalition of community residents and community-based, government, education and health care organizations towards improving the health and health care of residents of the community.

For more information, e-mail backyard@allina.com or call Ellie Zuehlke, project leader, at 612-262-4941.

Where is the Backyard?

The Backyard is the approximately one square mile area surrounding Allina Commons (Allina's corporate headquarters), Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Phillips Eye Institute. Communities in the Backyard include Phillips and parts of the Central, Powderhorn Park and Corcoran neighborhoods of Minneapolis.

What's the plan?

Announced in May 2008, the Backyard Initiative began with Allina engaging in many conversations with community stakeholders. Backyard Initiative focus areas were identified based on those conversations, combined with a review of the research about which economic and social conditions ("social determinants") are most likely to impact health.

Our plan now is to test these focus areas with residents by engaging them in community conversations about what improving health and health care means to families living in the Backyard.

Engage communities

Build bridges

Focus on prevention

Expand access

Start early

Who is paying for this?

Allina commits to funding specific elements of the Backyard Initiative as part of its over-arching Center for Healthcare Innovation. But Allina cannot do this alone, so we will work to secure other support leveraging our reputation and our commitment to this work.

So far, $50,000 matching grant from United Health Group will provide support for health care access through Portico Healthnet. Other funding proposals are pending.

How will success be measured?

Backyard Initiative planning continues to engage residents, Allina employees, and other community stakeholders. That continued engagement will be critical to the Backyard's ultimate success. Allina will partner with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Wilder Research to talk with residents about health.

Also critical is the strong evaluation component to be built into each Backyard activity. Evaluation results will help guide mid-course corrections to the approach and to gauge the impact on the health and well-being of participants and the Backyard as a whole.

How can I learn more about the Backyard Initiative?

For more information, e-mail backyard@allina.com or call Ellie Zuehlke, project leader, at 612-262-4941.