Fact Sheets
Check out our series of fact sheets highlighting the success of our various programs and initiatives — from partnerships with local restaurants, schools and worksites to a Complete Streets project, a social marketing campaign, and more. You can choose to download a PDF of each fact sheet separately or a single PDF containing all of our fact sheets.
Looking for more details about the strategies and results for a specific program or initiative? Our team has conducted numerous studies about our population-health interventions and extensively disseminated our findings. Access links to our published scientific journal articles, view our professional conference poster sessions, and check out the titles of presentations we've conducted for a wide variety of audiences.
Project Overview
Started in 2009, Hearts Beat Back: The Heart of New Ulm Project is a 10-year population-based prevention demonstration project designed to reduce the number of heart attacks that occur in New Ulm, Minn. The project is a collaborative partnership of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Allina Health and the New Ulm community that employs evidence-informed health improvement practices in community settings, health care, worksites, and the food and built environments.
SWAP IT to DROP IT
Hearts Beat Back developed the SWAP IT to DROP IT™ social marketing campaign and offered it in the rural Minnesota communities of New Ulm (pop. 13,500), Springfield (pop. 2,215) and Sleepy Eye (pop. 3,600). The grant-funded campaign helped people learn to make healthier SWAPs to lose weight and improve their overall health.
Restaurant Program
In 2011, Hearts Beat Back developed and launched a restaurant program in New Ulm, Minn., as part of its efforts to improve the availability, identification and promotion of affordable healthier foods (especially fruits and vegetables). The project partnered with local restaurants that were committed to serving the same great-tasting food, while making it easier for people to eat healthier.
Food Explorers
Due to unhealthful eating and activity habits, the current generation of children is expected to live less healthful, and likely shorter, lives than their parents. Based on the belief that food skills are foundational to healthful eating, we created the school-based Food Explorers program integrating nutrition into the core curriculum to support healthier schools and healthier futures.
Farmers Market Promotion Program
The Farmers Market Promotion Program In New Ulm, Minn., (population 13,500) was funded in 2012-13 by a USDA grant and aimed to expand the promotion of local produce along with community resources.
HeartBeat Connections
Since 2010, the HeartBeat Connections phone coaching program has focused on primary prevention of heart disease in New Ulm, Minn., by helping those at highest risk improve their risk factors. Individualized approaches include lifestyle changes such as eating healthier, increasing physical activity, quitting smoking or losing weight, as well as prescribing preventive therapies for blood pressure and cholesterol as needed.
Complete Streets
Hearts Beat Back wanted to make it easier for people to be more physically active in the community of New Ulm, Minn. With the help of federal grant funding, project leaders worked to help create more opportunities for people to safely walk and bike in the community.
Marketing Health
Often with community initiatives, communications happen in the form of marketing a specific program, product or service. Hearts Beat Back markets a way of life with messages that penetrate the entire community, helping propel a shift to a culture where health is the new norm.
SWAP IT to ROCK IT
Hearts Beat Back worked with local athletic and food personnel from schools and sports organizations throughout New Ulm, Minn., to make healthier concessions available at area sporting events. The campaign used the slogan “SWAP IT to ROCK IT on the courts … in the stands … on the field … in the classroom … at home.”
Worksite Wellness
Since 2009, Hearts Beat Back has worked to engage employers in the rural area of New Ulm, Minn., (population 13,500) in worksite wellness programs. Healthy employees are more productive and enjoy their work more, and research shows employers may realize reduced health care costs.
