Aitkin County Public Health Receives Funding to Launch Stroke Prevention Pilot Program

By: Hannah Sovinski, RD, LD, CLS - Aitkin County Public Health

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Stroke Team announced that Aitkin County Health and Human Services has been awarded funding through the Stroke Team - Based Care request for proposal process. This funding marks an important step in addressing stroke disparities and improving health outcomes in Aitkin County, a rural community where stroke remains a leading health concern.

Stroke in Aitkin County: The Data

Stroke and cardiovascular disease continue to be critical health priorities in Aitkin County, according to Riverwood Health Care Center’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and MDH data:

• Stroke mortality in Aitkin County is 72.6 per 100,000 residents, significantly higher than the Minnesota state average of 41.4 per 100,000.

• High blood pressure, a major risk factor for stroke, affects 47.6% of adults in the county.

• Heart disease and stroke were identified as one of the top “Areas of Opportunity” for health improvement.

• Approximately 14% of adults reported having had a stroke or heart attack, highlighting the ongoing need for prevention and care coordination.

• Crude stroke prevalence in Aitkin County is 4.6%, higher than the Minnesota average of 3.4% and neighboring counties: 3.7% in Itasca County and 3.3% in Carlton County.

These data illustrate that Aitkin County faces a significantly higher burden of stroke and cardiovascular disease than the state and surrounding counties, underscoring the urgent need for targeted prevention, early screening, and coordinated care.

Pilot Stroke Prevention Program

This new pilot program will focus on early identification and prevention of stroke risk among county residents. Participants will have the opportunity to be screened for key risk factors such as high blood pressure and other indicators. Early detection will allow public health professionals to connect individuals with interventions and/or services designed to reduce their risk before a stroke occurs.

Community Awareness Campaign

In addition to screenings, the program will include a community-wide awareness campaign to educate residents about stroke prevention. The campaign will focus on recognizing stroke warning signs, managing blood pressure, adopting healthy lifestyle habits, and accessing local resources for care.

This effort empowers the community with knowledge, screenings, and resources to take proactive steps against stroke.