Minnesota consistently ranks as one of the healthiest states in the nation. Yet health outcomes, and opportunities to live a healthy lifestyle, vary greatly depending on who you are and where you live.
Healthy Together Willmar believes that all people, regardless of race, income, zip code or other factors, should have opportunities to live the healthiest lives possible.
The Changing Face of Minnesota:
Home to 5.5 million people, Minnesota is undergoing major shifts.
- People of color are expected to comprise one-quarter of our state’s population by 2035, up from 14% in 2005.
- 48% of Ramsey County residents are projected to be nonwhite or Latino by 2035; 44% of Hennepin County residents are expected to be people of color.
- The number of Minnesotans over age 65 is expected to almost double by 2030.
A State of Disparity
The challenges our state faces are as diverse as our rapidly changing demographics. Despite the efforts of government and public-interest groups, gaps in health equity have continued to grow.
Quick Facts: Race
- The mortality rate for African American infants born in Minnesota is double that of white infants.
- The mortality rate for Native Americans living in the Twin Cities is 3.5X that of other racial/ethnic groups; African Americans living in the same region have 2.9X the mortality rate of others.
- 22% of Somali immigrants have been screened for colorectal cancer, compared to 40% of those born in Laos and 70% of white patients.
- Only 25% of Native Americans are receiving optimal diabetes care, compared to 27% of African Americans and 41% of white patients.
Quick Facts: Income
- 24.4% of Minnesota adults with an annual household income of $35,000 or less smoke; 8.7% of those with household incomes above $75,000 smoke
- The difference in average life expectancy between those living in the Twin Cities’ highest income areas and those living in its lowest income areas is eight years.
- The difference in life span between the highest and lowest income areas of St. Louis County, Minnesota is seven years.
Quick Facts: Geography
- One third of Minnesota counties have fewer than eight physicians per 10,000 residents, especially in the most rural areas of the state.
- 25 Minnesota counties have fewer than four dentists per 10,000 residents.
- 55% of Greater Minnesota residents say their food choices are at least somewhat influenced by a lack of stores nearby that sell healthy food, compared to 46% of Twin Cities residents.
Download Willmar Fact Sheet
Additional Resources:
- Willmar Fact Sheet
- 2018 Idea Fund: Key Learnings
- Healthy Together Willmar Qualitative Evaluation
- Healthy Together Willmar: Themes from Community Conversations
- BCBS Healthy Together Willmar 2017 Summary
- My Neighbor is Muslim – Study
- What is Health Equity? – Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Advancing Work in Health Equity: A Guide to Health Equity Principles
- Race, Ethnicity, and Language Data: Standardization for Health Care Quality Improvement
- 2017 Minnesota Statewide Health Assessment
- Minnesota Population Projections by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2005 to 2035 (PDF)
- Minnesota State Demographic Center
- Advancing Health Equity: Statistics and Legislative Report
- 2014 Health Equity of Care Report: Stratification of Health Care Performance Results in Minnesota by Race, Hispanic Ethnicity, Preferred Language and Country of Origin
- Tobacco Use in Minnesota: Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey 2014
- Achieving the Anchor Promise: Improving Outcomes for Low-Income Children, Families and Communities
- Achieving Health Equity: A Guide for Health Care Organizations
- CDC Community Health Improvement Navigator
- County Health Rankings, What Works for Health
- Guide to Community Preventative Services
- The What Works Clearinghouse
- Build Environment and Health (BEH) Research Group at Columbia University
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Measures Clearinghouse