PartnerSHIP 4 Health

PartnerSHIP 4 Health We are community & public health partners in Becker, Clay, Otter Tail and Wilkin counties working to

The Statewide Health Improvement Program - or SHIP - works to improve health by encouraging healthier eating, more physical activity, and avoiding tobacco. We do it by making healthy choices more available to people. For example, we work with local communities to add sidewalks so people can walk more, we work with schools to serve fresh food from local farmers so kids eat better, and we work with

employers to add workplace programs to help people quit smoking. That's three- there are about a dozen other strategies, all based on research, all proven to work.

Part 2 of our September kratom education series looks at an important distinction: 7-OH and traditional kratom leaf are ...
09/08/2026

Part 2 of our September kratom education series looks at an important distinction: 7-OH and traditional kratom leaf are not the same thing.

We're also looking at the new North Dakota law and what it means for communities in our region.

For more information or to arrange a presentation: [email protected]

7-OH and kratom leaf are not the same thing.

You may be seeing products labeled 7-OH, 7-Hydroxy, 7-HMG, or 7-hydroxymitragynine in stores or online.

7-OH is a compound that occurs naturally in the kratom plant in very small amounts. But products sold today may contain much higher concentrations of 7-OH, including products made through chemical conversion or synthesis.

That difference matters.

The FDA describes concentrated 7-OH products as potent opioid products and recommends consumers avoid them. These products have not been approved by the FDA to treat pain, anxiety, opioid withdrawal, or any other medical condition.

And just across the river, the law has changed.

On September 4, North Dakota enacted a new kratom law that:

Bans synthetic/concentrated kratom derivatives, including 7-OH
Limits sales of natural kratom products to people 21 and older
Requires testing and accurate labeling of mitragynine and 7-OH content
Prohibits packaging that imitates candy or marketing that appeals to children
Requires kratom retailers to be licensed

North Dakota's approach also makes an important distinction: natural kratom leaf and concentrated or synthetic 7-OH products are not being treated as the same thing.

That's an important distinction for Minnesota residents to understand, too.

When we talk about kratom, we need to know what product we're actually talking about.

Concerned about substance use?

Understanding how addictive substances affect the brain and behavior can make it easier to recognize a problem and seek support.

CredibleMind offers a free video, “Understanding Substance Abuse and Seeking Help,” along with additional substance-use resources:

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/videos/understanding-substance-abuse-and-seeking-help

Asking for help is a responsible step toward better wellbeing.

For more information about kratom or 7-OH, or to arrange a presentation for your organization or community, contact:

Jason McCoy, Community Prevention Manager
[email protected]

Please register and join us on Saturday, September 12 from 9:00am to 11:00am in Fergus Falls! Registration information ...
09/04/2026

Please register and join us on Saturday, September 12 from 9:00am to 11:00am in Fergus Falls! Registration information is in the description beneath this YouTube video!

Registration links and more information: St Paul, September 10th: ...

You can strengthen your family bonds in 15 minutes or less.No elaborate plans required.Take a walk. Have a cup of coffee...
09/04/2026

You can strengthen your family bonds in 15 minutes or less.

No elaborate plans required.

Take a walk. Have a cup of coffee. Play a quick game. Sit outside together.

The activity isn't really the point. The time together is.

CredibleMind's “Ways to Strengthen Family Bonds” offers ideas for being more intentional about the relationships with the people we call family.

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/articles/ways-to-strengthen-family-bonds

Here's a small challenge for the weekend:

Give someone you care about 15 minutes of your time.

No agenda. No multitasking.

Just spend a little time together.

Strong relationships are built in ordinary moments when we choose to make room for one another.

Small action. Stronger connection.

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/articles/ways-to-strengthen-family-bonds

You can strengthen your family bonds in 15 minutes or less.

No elaborate plans required.

Take a walk.

Have a cup of coffee.

Play a quick game.

Sit outside together.

The activity isn't really the point. The time together is.

CredibleMind's “Ways to Strengthen Family Bonds” offers ideas for being more intentional about the relationships with the people we call family.

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/articles/ways-to-strengthen-family-bonds

As we finish the first week of Small Actions, Stronger Connections, here's something simple to try this weekend:

Give someone you care about 15 minutes of your time.

No agenda.

No multitasking.

Just spend a little time together.

Strong relationships aren't built only through vacations, celebrations, or big moments. They're also built in ordinary moments when we choose to make room for one another.

So sometime this weekend, give someone 15 minutes.

Small action. Stronger connection.

Explore “Ways to Strengthen Family Bonds” on CredibleMind:

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/articles/ways-to-strengthen-family-bonds

September is Su***de Prevention Month.Knowing what to say when someone tells you they're thinking about su***de can be d...
09/03/2026

September is Su***de Prevention Month.

Knowing what to say when someone tells you they're thinking about su***de can be difficult. This free 10-minute CredibleMind video gives practical guidance for having that conversation and helping someone connect with support.

**You don't need all the right words. Being willing to ask, listen, and stay matters.**

You don't need to have all the right words to help someone who is struggling.

September is Su***de Prevention Month. This free 10-minute CredibleMind video shows what you can actually say when someone you care about is thinking about su***de:

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/videos/what-to-say-to-someone-who-is-thinking-about-su***de

Dr. Shashank Joshi, a Stanford professor of psychiatry, pediatrics, and education, shares practical guidance for starting the conversation, what to say—and what not to say—and how to help someone connect with support.

You don't have to be a mental health professional to care about someone.

Sometimes helping starts with being willing to **ask, listen, and stay.**

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or su***de crisis, call or text **988**.

Learn what you can say:
https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/videos/what-to-say-to-someone-who-is-thinking-about-su***de

One small way to strengthen a connection today: really listen.Active listening is more than staying quiet while someone ...
09/02/2026

One small way to strengthen a connection today: really listen.

Active listening is more than staying quiet while someone else talks. It means giving someone our attention, trying to understand what they're saying, and asking questions that show we're interested.

CredibleMind's 8-minute video, “The Art of Active Listening,” offers practical ways to become a better listener.

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/videos/the-art-of-active-listening-or-the-harvard-business-review-guide

Try this today:

Give one person your full attention.

Put down the phone.

Listen without planning your response.

Then ask one thoughtful question about what they just told you.

It's a small action that can send an important message:

What you're saying matters to me.

Small action. Stronger connection.

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/videos/the-art-of-active-listening-or-the-harvard-business-review-guide

Want to strengthen a connection today? Try listening differently.

Really listening takes more than staying quiet while someone else talks.

CredibleMind's 8-minute video, “The Art of Active Listening,” explores how recognizing our listening habits, asking thoughtful questions, and paying attention to what the other person needs can help them feel heard.

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/videos/the-art-of-active-listening-or-the-harvard-business-review-guide

As part of September's Small Actions, Stronger Connections campaign, today's action is simple:

Give one person your full attention.

Put down the phone.

Turn away from the screen.

Listen without planning what you're going to say next.

And before you respond, ask one thoughtful question about what they just told you.

It's a small change in how we listen, but it can send an important message:

What you're saying matters to me.

Small action. Stronger connection.

Watch “The Art of Active Listening” on CredibleMind:

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/videos/the-art-of-active-listening-or-the-harvard-business-review-guide

Public education was a clear priority coming out of yesterday's conversations with the Clay and Becker County Commission...
09/01/2026

Public education was a clear priority coming out of yesterday's conversations with the Clay and Becker County Commissioners.

We're starting a four-part September series to help our communities better understand kratom and 7-OH.

For more information or to arrange a presentation: [email protected]

**Not all kratom products are the same.**

Kratom products sold today can range from traditional leaf powders and teas to highly concentrated extracts and products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine, often called **7-OH**.

Understanding that difference matters.

Product strength, ingredients, and labeling can vary considerably, and concentrated products may carry different risks than traditional kratom leaf.

Following recent discussions with the **Clay and Becker County Boards of Commissioners**, our public health teams will be expanding education about kratom so residents can make informed decisions.

Throughout September, we'll be sharing a **four-part kratom education series** covering:

* What kratom is and how products differ
* What 7-OH is and why it matters
* Dependence, withdrawal, and other potential health risks
* What consumers, parents, and communities should know

**Good prevention starts with accurate information.**

For more information about kratom or to arrange a presentation for your organization or community, please contact:

**Jason McCoy, Community Prevention Manager**
[email protected]

Who is someone you’re grateful for today?Gratitude can be more than something we feel. It can be something we practice.C...
08/31/2026

Who is someone you’re grateful for today?

Gratitude can be more than something we feel. It can be something we practice.

CredibleMind offers a free Gratitude learning series exploring the science behind gratitude and ways to make it part of everyday life.

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/series/gratitude

Here’s one small action to try today:

Think of someone you appreciate.

Then tell them.

Send a text. Make a call. Say it in person.

It only takes a moment, but letting someone know they’re appreciated can create a meaningful moment of connection.

Small action. Stronger connection.

Explore the free Gratitude series:

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/series/gratitude

What’s one thing you’re grateful for today?

It sounds simple. But gratitude is something we can practice—and the more we practice it, the more natural it can become.

Start CredibleMind's free Gratitude learning series:

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/series/gratitude

The first part of the series explores the science behind gratitude and how regularly practicing it can strengthen the brain processes involved in emotional regulation and responding to stress.

And that's where we're starting our new September campaign: Small Actions, Stronger Connections.

Throughout the month, we'll explore simple actions we can take to support our own wellbeing and strengthen our connections with the people around us.

Today's small action:

Think of one person you're grateful for.

Then take it one step further.

Tell them.

Send the text. Make the call. Say it in person.

A small expression of gratitude can become a moment of connection.

Small action. Stronger connection.

Start the free Gratitude series:

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/series/gratitude

Sometimes supporting someone doesn't mean having the right answer.It can mean being willing to listen.Being present.And ...
08/28/2026

Sometimes supporting someone doesn't mean having the right answer.

It can mean being willing to listen.

Being present.

And giving someone the space to talk without immediately trying to fix what they're going through.

Clay County Public Health is sharing a CredibleMind podcast with practical ideas for how we can better be there for the people in our lives.

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/podcasts/408-selfwork-how-to-be-there-for-someone-else

Reach out to someone you care about.

Ask how they're doing.

And if they want to talk, listen.

Sometimes we don't need the perfect words.

We just need to show up.

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/podcasts/408-selfwork-how-to-be-there-for-someone-else

**Sometimes the best way to support someone is simply to be there.**

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/podcasts/408-selfwork-how-to-be-there-for-someone-else

When someone we care about is struggling, it's natural to want to help.

We want to find the right words.

Offer advice.

Fix the problem.

But sometimes what another person needs most is someone willing to listen and make room for what they're going through.

As we wrap up another week of **Conversations That Matter**, consider someone in your life who might need you right now.

Reach out.

Ask how they're doing.

And if they want to talk, give them the gift of being heard.

Sometimes we don't need the perfect words.

We just need to show up.

Listen to **"How to Be There for Someone Else":**

https://partnership4health.crediblemind.com/podcasts/408-selfwork-how-to-be-there-for-someone-else

**Overdose is preventable. Being prepared can save a life.**Ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, ...
08/27/2026

**Overdose is preventable. Being prepared can save a life.**

Ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, we're reminding our communities that knowing how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose matters.

Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, and learning how to use it is something parents, friends, coworkers, employers, community organizations, and caring neighbors can do.

You don't have to wait until someone you care about is at risk to learn what to do.

This weekend, we remember those we've lost, support the people who love them, and continue working toward communities where more people have the knowledge and resources to help save a life.

Check with your local public health department to learn about naloxone access and training in your community.

Overdose is preventable. You can be prepared to save a life.

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day—a time to remember those we've lost, support the people who love them, and recognize that there are things each of us can do to help prevent another loss.

One of those things is learning how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose.

Clay County Public Health is a Naloxone Access Point, helping community members access naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

We also offer free naloxone training to individuals and groups. You'll learn how to recognize the signs of an overdose, how to respond, and how to administer naloxone.

You don't have to wait until someone you care about is at risk to be prepared.

Parents. Friends. Coworkers. Employers. Community organizations. Caring neighbors.

Any of us can be someone who knows what to do.

Learn about naloxone access in Clay County:
https://claycountymn.gov/1846/Naloxone-Access

Interested in free naloxone training? Call Clay County Public Health at 218-299-5062 or learn more:
https://claycountymn.gov/1847/Naloxone-Training

This International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember those we've lost—and help make sure more people are here tomorrow.

Address

Clay County Health Department 715 11th Street N Suite 303
Moorhead, MN
56560

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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