One of the key goals of Steps to a HealthierMN is to support, promote, implement, and evaluate health interventions that lead to sustainable improvements in health.

The best way to ensure sustainable improvement in health is to change the policies and environments where individuals live, work, play, and seek health care services.  For example: 

• Neighborhoods with attractive, safe, and walkable distances between destinations have more active residents. 

• Workplaces with policies regarding the types of foods that can be provided at meetings set the tone for a healthy eating environment.

• Schools with administration, teachers and food service staff that emphasize the importance of breakfast and provide the necessary time for breakfast have students that are alert during class and perform better academically. 

• Governmental units that restrict smoking and therefore exposure to environmental tobacco smoke reduce exposure and acceptability of tobacco use and benefit their populations with fewer health problems.