Lake County Health and Human Services Director, Lisa Hanson, spoke with the County Commissioners on February 27th about two initiatives aimed at improving health care in Lake County. Hanson outlined a collaboration between County Health and Human Services, Lake View Hospital and the Lake Superior School District that will enable the district to hire an additional FTE school counselor to address prevention in the areas of mental health, substance abuse and homelessness. The State of Minnesota has provided an annual allocation of $40,000 to the school district for use in addressing these issues. Financial support will also come from COVID Recovery Funds in the amount of $10,000 and from Local Homeless Prevention Aid in the amount of $20,000. Moving beyond 2024 and in addition to the annual State allotment, the initiative will be funded with money from the Opioid Settlement Funds and Local Homeless Prevention Aid. The County Board was unanimous in its approval of this effort.
The Board also approved the purchase of an electronic data and case management system that will replace a system that HHS case workers have been using for years. The new system by Next Chapter Technology, Inc. will provide cost savings and better customer service and will allow Lake County HHS workers faster access to record keeping, case notes, and treatment planning. It will also allow for quicker coordination with outside agencies.
Commissioner Rick Goutermont and Lake County Housing and Redevelopment Director, Matthew Johnson, were appointed to serve as members of the Northeast Minnesota HOME Consortium Advisory Committee. The HOME program was created by Congress as a part of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 and the Northeast Minnesota HOME Consortium was formed in 1992 through a Joint Powers Agreement by the Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Itasca and Koochiching county boards. The Consortium works to access funds and plan for housing needs in the Arrowhead region.
The next Lake County Board meeting is scheduled for March 12th at 2:00.
