This is a paid piece from Health + Nutrition First.
Simplified: Jennifer Folliard is a connector. She's spent her career in public health policy, specifically advocating for access to nutritious food, maternal health, and building systems that improve people's lives by improving access to what they need to be healthy. Now, she's translating that work into her own local business: Health + Nutrition First.
Why it matters
- Folliard's expertise is the ability to see systems and make connections, particularly when it comes to understanding and bridging gaps in health policy. In her work with clients, she's able to help improve systems so at every level of a nonprofit, for example, the work being done is moving toward a shared goal.
- She's also often a convener – bringing people together from different organizations to work toward solutions that make South Dakotans healthier. That's evidenced in her work with the South Dakota Healthy Nutrition Collaborative, a statewide effort to improve access to nutritious food.
- In Health + Nutrition First, Folliard offers public health consulting that helps organizations with policy analysis, advocacy strategy, strategic planning, program development and more.
"I think there's value in learning from the person that’s really doing very well and sharing it, so that other people can do very well in other parts of the state," Folliard said. "A lot of my work is connecting or putting the puzzle pieces together and then sharing what is working for people."
Tell me more
Folliard moved to South Dakota in 2017 and spent time working with SDSU Extension and the state Department of Health. Through that work, she was able to see the disconnect between the clinical systems that exist and the needs of the people using them.
"Public health is always engaging in systems and partnerships – and we're still learning how to do that," Folliard said.
One of the groups Folliard has helped is South Dakota Doulas. Serving as their executive director, Folliard has helped the organization secure grants and bring doulas together statewide.
"She’s just so good at facilitating and seeing the big picture and bringing everything together," said Renee Forred, co-owner of Transitions: Doula and Life Services. "I've just been so grateful for her help."
How can I learn more?
If your organization is looking for support with policy, strategy, consulting or more, you can reach out to Folliard via the Health + Nutrition First website.
