UProot Updates

UProot Updates

Updates to the State Health Improvement Plan for 2024

Since the inception of UProot, our plan to improve the health of Mississippi has been transparent. Transparency is key to how UProot works. Our partners can’t help improve health without knowing the plan.

Our 2022 State Health Improvement Plan, which we call the SHIP, was the result of years of study and collaboration between the Mississippi Department of Health and more than 70 partners. The SHIP undergoes regular updates, but we’ve remained focused on our two main goals.

The first is battling obesity to prevent and manage chronic disease. Obesity is a root cause of many chronic illnesses. Therefore, it is the role of public health professionals to inform and educate Mississippians about this threat.

The second is to address the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). SDOH are the conditions and environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. They affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. SDOH have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life.

Each goal in the SHIP is developed by experts in the subject matter, working with appropriate UProot partners.

Priority: Obesity and Chronic Disease

In 2024, we are moving to decrease obesity rates through the reduction of food insecurities. In order to do that, we want to know where food insecurity is happening. Once these areas are identified, we will be able to better investigate the root causes. By sharing that data with policy makers, legislators can make data-driven decisions.

Diet is one part of our first priority. Exercise is another. UProot wants more students to achieve 30 minutes or more of moderate and/or vigorous intensity physical activity daily.

To help, UProot partners will be promoting UProot’s “10 Healthy Power UPs” campaign, working with Move 2 Learn, and leveraging the Mississippi Healthy Students Act. Additionally, partners will evaluate school wellness policies and health councils.

Priority: Social Determinants of Health

When it comes to Social Determinants of Health, we have added a new focus: increasing access to preventive health services. This means working with Medicaid to get more Mississippians into Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT ) programs. EPSDT provides things like physical exams, immunizations, lab tests and health education. These simple and cost-effective steps make a big difference in health, especially when done for children and adolescents, who are more likely to be covered by Medicaid.

There are also an array of SDOH improvements on the table, mostly involving healthcare providers and insurers. These include:

Everything we’re doing – new or established – is designed to improve the culture of health in Mississippi. Our goals are here for everyone to see, and find a place to get involved. Together, we can continue to meet our health goals, develop new ones, and reach even further to improve Mississippi’s health.