Alison McIntyre, Cook County PHHS Director. Photo provided

From Cook County, MN - January 17, 2025

By: Alison McIntyre, Cook County Public Health and Human Services Director

In 2024, the Cook County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) department experienced a dramatic increase in residents served through human services programs, expanded public health prevention programming, undertook several major projects, and welcomed eight new staff to the department. The Cook County PHHS department includes 36 staff members who provide community-based services. In addition to our staff, the PHHS department contracts with local and regional service providers including child support, substance use disorder assessment, and treatment services, in-home support services for persons over age 65 or with a disability, and a range of public health programs. Contracted and department-delivered services are either mandated by state and federal law or prevention services aimed at furthering the goals of the Community Health Assessment. Our department’s mission is “supporting the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community.”  

Staff Updates 

In 2024, 11 positions turned over due to resignation, retirement, and internal job transfers, a reduction from 14 positions turned over in 2023. Of the 11 positions turned over last year, six employees left the organization while five staff members changed positions due to a promotion or transfer within the department.

Two positions remained vacant for most of the year: the Coordinated Crisis Response Worker (April 2023 to September 2024) and Children’s Mental Health Case Manager (July 2024 to January 2025). The Public Health and Human Services Board approved the addition of two positions in 2024 in response to the increased volume of reports and residents served through Children and Family Services and with the support of competitive state grant funds to expand our work in youth substance misuse and suicide prevention.

Image: CC PHHS  

Increasing Community Impact

With the support of the County Board, PHHS developed greater capacity and responsiveness to the increasing demands on our department as we support more individuals and families in the community, respond to increased State oversight of our work, and develop programs and services that are responsive to community needs.

Across all social services programs in 2024, Cook County saw a dramatic increase in individuals served from 365 in 2019 to 647 in 2024. While our department serves more adults than children, the increase in unduplicated children served represents a 152% increase from 2019 caseloads.  In response to the increased volume and complexity of our work the Board approved an additional case manager for Children and Family Services and the investment in a regional electronic document management system to modernize technology and streamline internal operations across human services.

Collaboration and Program Development 

Through our strong local and regional partnerships, Public Health and Human Services staff led efforts to expand programs and services in several key areas aligned with the Community Health Assessment.

2024 marked the final full year of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a three-year federally funded grant partnership between the Cook County, Grand Portage, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, and the University of Minnesota to expand access to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services. In 2024, our team continued efforts to expand access to overdose prevention supplies, education, and community outreach and engagement. With the support of Cook County’s opioid settlement funds, our team led initiatives to install harm reduction cabinets in the restrooms of the Cook County Courthouse and overdose prevention kits at AED locations throughout Cook County buildings including the Courthouse, Community Center, and Law Enforcement Center.

PHHS also established a community coalition focused on substance misuse and suicide prevention with the mission of decreasing the prevalence of substance misuse and suicide for all people through creating strong relationships, supportive environments, and access to opportunities that improve wellbeing across generations. Public Health staff also supported the development of the Cook County Cannabis Ordinance in 2024.

While the Coordinated Crisis Response position remained vacant for most of 2024, department staff, along with our partners at Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Portage Human Services, North Shore Health, and regional mental health service providers, continued efforts to develop the infrastructure and collaborative relationships required to provide a more streamlined and supportive process for responding to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. In late 2024, our department received State certification to provide mobile crisis response services and began the design and implementation of a new electronic health record to comply with state standards.

Cook County Childcare Wage Enhancement pilot program entered its second year in 2024. All eligible providers in the county and Grand Portage have participated and shared positive feedback about the difference this has made for their programs. This program is unique within this field and continues to generate interest on a national scale. In May, department staff participated in a national convening of county leaders to collaborate on solutions for career readiness and economic mobility for families with young children, grounded in the robust role of counties in removing barriers for families and connecting residents to good jobs.

Last year, Cook County entered the AARP Age-Friendly Communities network —this collaborative project between Cook County Public Health and Human Services and Care Partners. Through a series of community listening sessions and surveys, we learned that housing, transportation, and access to healthcare are top priorities for aging adults in Cook County. By joining the Age-Friendly Communities Network, we commit to developing an action plan that addresses these areas. We also commit ourselves to considering policies, programs, and other initiatives from an age-friendly perspective. In other words, we are asking ourselves how our work affects older adults and how we are involving older adults in decision-making.

With the support of grant funds from the MN Department of Human Services: Live Well at Home grants, MnDOT Moving Greater Minnesota Forward, and the North Shore Health Care Foundation, Cook County Public Health and Human Services developed the Boreal Partners Transit project. The project addresses a current transportation gap by providing a lift-equipped, mobility-accessible vehicle for use by providers and volunteers with the Cook County In-Home Support Program and Care Partners of Cook County.

Community Engagement and Outreach 

The PHHS Advisory Council and Cook County Local Mental Health Advisory Council made policy, service, and funding recommendations. The Councils also supported outreach and fostered connections across local health and human services organizations in 2024. Both advisory councils are seeking additional members. To get involved in a citizen advisory council, visit the Cook County website meeting portal at: https://cocookmn.civicweb.net/Portal/. You can also call 218-387-3620 or email us at [email protected] for more information. Our meetings are open to the public if anyone is interested in learning more before committing to join as a voting member. 

In 2024, our team provided monthly presentations and service updates to the Public Health and Human Services Board. In conjunction with the monthly Board presentations, staff contributed to monthly Cook County Connections columns and interviews on WTIP’s North Shore Morning program. PHHS department staff contributed to 20 media releases on various topics including harm reduction access, prevention of respiratory viruses, and efforts to support aging community members.

Learn more about the PHHS department at the January 21 PHHS Board Meeting at 8:30 a.m. in the Cook County Commissioners Room. The meeting is available to live stream on the Cook County website at www.co.cook.mn.us. You can also visit our website at www.cookcountyphhs.org, contact us via email at [email protected] or find us on Facebook @CookCountyPHHS or Instagram @cook_county_phhs to learn more about our work in supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of Cook County.  

County Connections is a column on timely topics and service information from your Cook County government. Cook County – Supporting Community Through Quality Public Service.