State Community Health Services Advisory Committee
Office of Performance Improvement
Minnesota Department of Health
PO Box 64975
Saint Paul, MN 55164-0975
651-201-3880 | www.health.state.mn.us
Overview of 2013 SCHSAC Work.................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Issues of Special Interest .................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
2013 SCHSAC Work Plan at a Glance ........................................................................................................................................................... 3
Local Public Health Act Workgroup .............................................................................................................................................................. 6
Mental Health Workgroup ................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Building Health Information Exchange (HIE) Capacity Workgroup ........................................................................................................ 9
Performance Improvement Steering Committee ...................................................................................................................................11
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Oversight Group .................................................................................................................13
Public Health Update Video Conference ...................................................................................................................................................15
Orientation to MDH for Local Public Health Leaders ...........................................................................................................................16
SCHSAC Executive Committee ......................................................................................................................................................................17
Community Health Conference Planning Workgroup .........................................................................................................................18
Nominating and Awards Workgroup .........................................................................................................................................................20
2013 SCHSAC Members by Region .............................................................................................................................................................21
SCHSAC Regions with Community Health Boards ................................................................................................................................22
Printed on recycled paper. If you require this document in another format, such as large print, Braille or cassette
tape, call 651-201-3880 or email [email protected].
In 2013, SCHSAC workgroups, ad hoc groups, and standing committees engaged local public health leaders, local
elected officials, state department leadership and staff, and community partners. Two groups, the Mental Health
Workgroup and the Building Health information Exchange (HIE) Capacity Workgroup, completed their charges. No
new workgroups began in 2013; updating the SCHSAC Strategic Plan was scheduled for early 2014. The Local
Public Health Act Workgroup developed its recommendations to revise the statute. The Public Health Emergency
Preparedness (PHEP) Oversight Group focused on revising the PHEP funding formula. The Performance
Improvement Steering Committee (PISC) completed a full performance management cycle by revising, collecting,
monitoring and sharing new performance measures. The three standing committees conducted SCHSAC business
related to executive leadership, the annual Community Health Conference, and nominations and awards.
The Mental Health Workgroup was convened in September, 2012 in response to an identified need for public
health leadership to develop program and policy recommendations for future public health action on mental
health. In September, 2013, the workgroup presented its recommendations in the report Improving Mental Health
and Wellbeing: A Vision for Minnesota’s Public Health System. SCHSAC approved the recommendations and the
Mental Health Workgroup completed its work.
During 2013, the Building Health information Exchange (HIE) Capacity Workgroup, which began in 2010,
continued to work on data exchange issues. The group focused on Family Home Visiting data exchange activity
because of the changes required for the federal Maternal Infant and Child Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant. In
December, the workgroup’s final recommendations were approved by SCHSAC.
The Local Public Health Act Workgroup held its first meeting in November 2012 and presented proposed
statutory language to revise the Local Public Health Act at the September 2013 SCHSAC meeting. The proposal
will be introduced as part of the Governor’s initiatives for the 2014 legislative session.
The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Oversight Group, which began in 2011, provided ongoing advice
and guidance to the state-local preparedness partnership throughout the year. The group focused on an
examination of the formula to determine the allocation of public health emergency preparedness funds to
community health boards. Members received SCHSAC’s approval for its recommended set of funding principles at
the September meeting. Final funding formula recommendations are anticipated in spring 2014.
The 2013 work of the Performance Improvement Steering Committee culminated in the completion of one full
performance management cycle. Community health boards reported on new measures developed during 2012
and were provided with summaries of their data to use for quality improvement. The committee recommended
priority areas for system infrastructure improvement based on the data.
Throughout 2013, SCHSAC members discussed aspects of the state-local partnership and public health issues with
the Commissioner of Health and his staff at quarterly meetings and through conference calls. Topics included local
and state roles in health reform, including the development of the health insurance exchange and the State
Innovation Model (SIM) Grant; the infrastructure of the state-local public health partnership, projects of the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, health in all policies, and advancing health equity. In addition, MDH provided
an orientation for administrators and directors of local health departments, as well as a statewide video
conference on public health for community health board members and local elected officials.
SCHSAC continued to have representatives on the State Preventive Health Advisory Committee, the Food Safety
Partnership of Minnesota, the Minnesota Public Health Research to Action Network, the Maternal and Child Health
Advisory Task Force, and the Healthy Minnesota Partnership.
The 2013 SCHSAC Work Plan is summarized on the table that follows. Topics include emergency preparedness,
building health information exchange capacity, performance improvement, mental health, the local public health
system, issues of special interest, and standing committees.
New Work
SCHSAC Strategic Plan: Jan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2018
A SCHSAC Strategic Planning Team will review and update the 2009-2013
SCHSAC Strategic Plan. The charge will be to (1) develop a long-range strategic
plan to define and address the infrastructure needs of the statewide CHS
system in order to improve the health of the public; and (2) recommend
activities that the MDH, community health boards (CHBs), and SCHSAC should
undertake to implement the plan.
Activities: The Planning Team
will meet in the fall for two daylong planning sessions.
Public Health and Health Reform
SCHSAC will discuss the potential impacts of health reform on Minnesota’s
public health system, and will be encouraged to provide input on various
aspects of health reform most relevant to local government/public health.
Activities: Discussions at
SCHSAC and Executive
Committee meetings, ad hoc
workgroup, or other methods as
needed.
Continuing Work
Local Public Health Act Workgroup
Minnesota’s state-local partnership and Community Health Services framework
was established in 1976. Since then, much has changed. Grounded by recent
SCHSAC recommendations (from the SCHSAC Blueprint and Performance
Improvement and Accreditation Workgroups), SCHSAC will discuss elements of
Minnesota’s system that continue to work well, and aspects that need to be
redesigned to assure the continued strength of Minnesota’s public health
infrastructure. This workgroup was convened in November 2012, and will
continue into 2013.
p. 6
Activities: Workgroup;
discussions at SCHSAC and
Executive Committee meetings;
other methods as needed.
Mental Health Workgroup
This workgroup began in 2012 and will complete its work by the fall SCHSAC
meeting in 2013. It will continue identify a role for public health in promotion
of good mental health and prevention of mental health issues.
p. 8
Activities: Workgroup;
discussions at SCHSAC and
Executive Committee meetings;
other methods as needed.
Building Health Information Exchange (HIE) Capacity Workgroup
This workgroup is continuing to work with local public health to prepare them
for the 2015 federal interoperability electronic health record mandate. Current
work is focused on developing a roadmap for collaboration between state and
local public health, Minnesota-based public health software vendors, private
partners, and academia.
Performance Improvement Steering Committee
This Steering Committee will provide ongoing oversight for the
implementation of a local public health performance management system, the
implementation of related recommendations from the SCHSAC Performance
Improvement and Accreditation Workgroup, and will advise and/or facilitate
gathering local input as needed. In particular, during 2013, it will: (1) provide
guidance for the implementation of new performance measures for PPMRS
that align with the national standards and measures (for reporting on 2013
activities in 2014); and (2) continue aligning Minnesota’s performance
improvement activities with the national standards, with particular emphasis on
performance management (i.e., integration of standards, measures, reporting,
and quality improvement into core operations).
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Oversight Group
This workgroup will: (1) provide ongoing review of public health emergency
preparedness programs and issues; (2) assure that the policy recommendations
made by SCHSAC in 2011 can be implemented to provide ongoing guidance;
(3) oversee the continued development of capacity assessment and related
measurement outcomes; and (4) oversee strategic planning for public health
emergency preparedness in Minnesota.
p. 9
Activities: Workgroup will
continue into 2013.
p. 11
Activities: The Steering
Committee will continue
throughout the duration of the
CDC Public Health Improvement
Initiative Grant.
p. 13
Activities: The Oversight Group
will continue throughout 2013.
Topics of Interest
These topics provide opportunities for SCHSAC to be informed about current public health issues and topics and
take local action. Potential topics include:



Violence as a public health issue
Drought and its impact on public health
Adverse childhood experiences
Activities: Presentations, guest speakers at SCHSAC meetings, and videoconferences. SCHSAC representation on
advisory committees: Healthy Minnesota Partnership, Research to Action Network, and others.
Standing Committees
Executive Committee
The executive committee will conduct any interim business of SCHSAC; develop
recommendations for decisions by SCHSAC; and work on activities to
strengthen the state-local partnership and the role of the executive committee.
p. 17
Activities: Regular meetings and
conference calls as needed.
Community Health Conference Planning Workgroup
The workgroup is responsible for selecting a theme, topic, format, general
session speakers, and concurrent session presenters for the 2013 Community
Health Conference, and will assist MDH staff in hosting the conference.
p. 18
Activities: Two to three
meetings per year.
Nominating and Awards Workgroup
The workgroup will solicit and select candidates for the annual Community
Health Awards and will supervise the nomination and election process for
SCHSAC Chair-Elect at the December meeting.
p. 20
Activities: One to two
conference calls per year.
Approved October 3, 2012 by the Executive Committee. The SCHSAC Local Public Health Act Revisions Workgroup will:


Work with MDH to develop proposed statutory language that addresses key issues/action steps identified
in the summer 2012 working sessions.
Provide input and advice on the implementation of other high priority actions to be addressed through
non-statutory means.
As both the environment for public health work and the work of public health have evolved in recent years, the
SCHSAC has taken initial steps to look forward and envision system changes needed to strengthen Minnesota’s
public health system. In 2010, the SCHSAC Blueprint for Successful Local Health Departments Workgroup report
recommended strategies to ensure continued strength of the local public health system. The same year, the
SCHSAC Performance Improvement and Accreditation Workgroup developed a roadmap for incorporating
performance management into public health practice and preparing to meet national accreditation standards.
During the summer of 2012, thirty local and state representatives met in two all-day “working sessions” to identify
ways to strengthen Minnesota’s public health system. There was a consensus on several next steps. First, a
SCHSAC workgroup should be convened to provide input on revisions to several parts of the local public health
statute (Minn. Stat. §145A) that were identified as high impact action/high urgency action steps. Second, action
should be taken on several key issues that would not require statutory changes, such as working to strengthen
public health leadership through training.
The Local Public Health Act Revisions workgroup convened in November 2012, and met nine times through
September 2013.





Proposed changes to update the statute (Minn. Stat. §145A) with current practice in Minnesota’s local
public health system
Developed a proposal for strengthening CHS administration and updating the requirements of the
position
Summer 2013: Vetted both proposals at LPHA regional meetings around the state, and with other key
stakeholder groups
September 2013: Recommended to SCHSAC that the CHS administration proposal be tabled until
additional stakeholders could be brought into the discussion
September 2013: Recommended to SCHSAC that the proposed statute changes move forward in the 2014
legislative session
The revisions to the LPH Act, proposed by the workgroup, will be introduced during the 2014 legislative session.
MDH staff will provide updates to the workgroup (via email and phone as appropriate) throughout the session.
Additionally, the workgroup is likely to be reconvened in the summer or fall of 2014 to revisit the issue of
updating the CHS administrator qualifications. Representatives of key local stakeholder groups, including county
administrators and country human services directors, will be invited to participate.
* County Commissioners
Pete Giesen, Co-chair (Olmsted)
Susan Morris, Co-chair * (Isanti-Mille Lacs)
Liz Auch (Countryside)
Judy Barton (Wabasha)
Bonnie Brueshoff (Dakota)
Allie Freidrichs (Meeker-McLeod-Sibley)
Renee Frauendienst (Stearns)
Rachel Green (Quin County)
William Groskreutz * (Faribault-Martin)
Mary Hildebrandt (Brown-Nicollet)
Cheri Lewer, LPHA Policy Committee Rep.
(Le Sueur-Waseca)
Rina McManus (St. Paul-Ramsey)
Julie Myhre (Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis)
Britta Orr (Local Public Health Association)
Janelle Schroeder (Isanti-Mille Lacs)
Marcia Ward * (Winona)
Deb Burns (Office of Performance Improvement)
Matthew Collie (Office of Legislative Relations)
Arden Fritz (Legal Unit)
Aggie Leitheiser (Health Protection Bureau)
Tom Hogan/Colleen Paulus
(Environmental Health Division)
Phyllis Brashler (Office of Performance Improvement)
Allison Thrash (Office of Performance Improvement)
Approved February 24, 2012 by the Executive Committee. The Mental Health Workgroup will:


Examine current literature and existing public health activities related to the promotion of good mental
health and the prevention of mental health problems.
Develop recommendations for needed public health models and/or policies as they relate to mental health.
The Mental Health Workgroup was convened in September, 2012 in response to an identified need for public
health leadership to develop program and policy recommendations for future public health action on mental
health. The workgroup was unique in its broad representation and participation from the fields of public health,
mental health, health care, health policy, advocacy groups, and other interested parties. The group worked
collaboratively to envision a new way of thinking about mental health from a population-based perspective and to
articulate next steps for further developing a role for public health in addressing mental health.
In September, 2013, the workgroup presented its recommendations in the report Improving Mental Health and
Wellbeing: A Vision for Minnesota’s Public Health System (PDF: 1.19MB / 42 pages). In particular, the group
urged that MDH and DHS, in partnership with other state agencies, continue to demonstrate leadership by
convening a broad group of experts and interested parties to develop a state framework for mental health,
including a work plan for implementing workgroup recommendations. This group would be connected to SCHSAC
through representation, but would not be operated or administered under the umbrella of SCHSAC.
Other recommendations included specific suggestions to strengthen population-based data collection and analysis;
build capacity at the state and local level to promote positive mental health and prevent mental illness; facilitate
access to mental health services; and address the premature mortality of individuals with serious and persistent
mental illness. With the acceptance of its report by SCHSAC, the Mental Health Workgroup concluded its activities.
* County Commissioners
Nancy Schouweiler, Chair * (Dakota)
Sue Abderholden (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Angie Bellanger (White Earth Nation)
Ellen Benavides (Minnesota Dept. of Health)
Joan Brandt (St. Paul-Ramsey)
Bobbi Cordano (Wilder Foundation)
Dave Hartford (Minnesota Dept. of Human Services)
Nancy Houlton (Minnesota Council of Health Plans)
Larry Kittelson * (Horizon)
Katherine Mackedanz (Morrison-Todd-Wadena)
Harlan Madsen * (Kandiyohi-Renville)
Ann Meyer (Guild, Inc.)
Todd Monson (Hennepin)
Carol Schefers (Wright)
Betty Younggren * (Quinn)
Yvonne Prettner Solon, ex-officio (Lieutenant Governor)
Phyllis Brashler (Office of Performance Improvement)
Gail Gentling (Office of Performance Improvement)
Approved May 21, 2010 by the Executive Committee. The charge to this workgroup is as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Affirm a vision and principles for the exchange of public health data
Collect information on the data standards currently in place in the electronic health records systems used
by LHDs and other states such as North Carolina
Determine initial business processes focus
a. Review of business process activities
b. Determine common processes and different processes
c. Define foundational business processes
Develop and recommend a set of data standards and resource needs for LHD electronic health record
systems that will include standards related to terminology, messaging, and transactions. Due to the
diverse type of services provided at LHDs and scope of content, the workgroup will develop data content
standards for services affecting the maternal and child health population group
Assure communication with stakeholders including the Local Public Health Association of Minnesota
(LPHA), e-Health Advisory Committee, and primary vendors of electronic health records for LHDs
Work with southeast Minnesota Beacon grantees to ensure coordination of efforts
Align efforts with the Health Information Technology (HIT) Meaningful Use requirements for exchanging
data relating to immunizations, lab reporting, and coordination of care
Utilize the important lessons learned from other data standards projects, such as the Local Public Health
Planning and Performance Measurement System (PPMRS) and the Environmental Health Knowledge
Management Project (EHKMP), to guide the process
Utilize resources available from the Public Health Informatics Institute and the MDH Office of Health
Information Technology related to data standards and information systems development
During 2013, the workgroup continued to work on data exchange issues. The focus was to work on one data
exchange activity and the group chose Family Home Visiting data because of the data collection changes required
for the federal Maternal Infant and Child Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant. The workgroup reviewed the new
requirements, reviewed data elements, involved LPH data systems vendors in the discussion and supported the
joint project with MDH and LPH to report MIECHV data to MDH directly from LPH data systems.
Concluding its efforts, the workgroup developed three recommendations that emphasize the need for guidance,
governance, coordination, and leadership to advance e-health in Minnesota’s local public health community; the
importance of local public health electronic health record (EHR) systems that utilize common information
requirements and national standards; and the need to ensure an informatics-savvy workforce in local public
health. These recommendations were approved by SCHSAC at the December 6, 2013, meeting.
Diane Thorson, Chair (Otter Tail)
Wendy Bauman, LPHA Informatics Subcommittee Rep.
(Dakota County)
Jill Bruns (Kandiyohi-Renville)
Diane Holmgren/Barb Lescenski (St. Paul-Ramsey)
Connie Hanson Hullstrom/Pat Stewart
(Cottonwood-Jackson)
Lisa Klotzbach (Olmsted)
Betsy Kremser (Anoka)
Greta Siegel (Douglas)
Cheryl M. Stephens
(Community Health Information Collaborative)
Deb Burns (Office of Performance Improvement)
Kari Guida (Office of Health Information Technology)
Janet Olstad (Community and Family Health)
Amy Camp (MN.IT)
Mark Doerr (MN.IT)
Kathy Grantham (MN.IT)
Wendy Nelson (Executive Office)
Bill O’Brien (MN.IT)
Approved February 18, 2011 by the Executive Committee. This steering committee will guide implementation of
the roadmap developed by the SCHSAC Performance Improvement and Accreditation Workgroup and inform the
development of a statewide performance management system to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness
of the public health system. Issues which the steering committee will address include:
1.
2.
3.
Alignment of the local public health performance management system (e.g., CHAAP, PPMRS,
Accountability Review) with national public health standards and measures
Implementation of Minnesota’s Public Health Improvement Initiative activities to build performance
management infrastructure and capacity in Minnesota
Identification of performance improvement opportunities and strategies to address them
Since it convened in 2011, the Performance Improvement Steering Committee has led efforts to improve
Minnesota’s governmental public health system through the ongoing use of performance standards, measures and
outcome reports that guide quality improvement efforts and decision-making. The work of the Committee includes:



Alignment of the local public health performance management system with national public health
standards and measures,
Implementation of Minnesota’s Public Health Improvement Initiative activities to build performance
management infrastructure and capacity in Minnesota, and
Identification of priority performance improvement opportunities and strategies to address them.
Collectively, these efforts will assist community health boards (CHBs) achieve optimal performance, thereby
maximizing their contributions to population health in Minnesota.
The work of 2013 culminated in the completion of one full performance management cycle. For the first time the
Committee is able to respond to four basic questions on behalf of Minnesota’s governmental public health system:




Where do we want to be? – Committee selects system-level objectives that reflect improvement
priorities.
How will we know? – CHBs report on performance measures.
How well are we doing? – Committee monitors and communicates progress toward system objectives.
How will we improve? – Committee determines areas of quality improvement based on measurement
data and stakeholder input.
Specific activities accomplished during 2013 include:



Reviewed system level findings for the Local Public Health Act Measures from the 2012 PPMRS (Planning
and Performance Management Reporting System) reporting period.
Advised MDH on the format and content of Local Public Health Act reports.
Recommended priority areas for system infrastructure improvement.


Created objectives for system performance in the infrastructure area of responsibility.
Recommended new Local Public Health Act performance measures related to environmental health and
health equity.
The Committee will continue to meet in 2014 and will direct attention toward:



Reviewing preliminary data from LPH Act performance measures reported in 2013.
Consulting on the format and content of summary reports to communicate key findings.
Monitoring progress toward system objectives; modify or create new improvement priorities and
objectives as appropriate.
Allie Freidrichs, Chair (Meeker-McLeod-Sibley)
Liz Auch (Countryside)
Dawn Beck (Olmsted)
Susan Brace-Adkins (Goodhue)
Bonnie Brueshoff (Dakota)
Dave Brummel (Hennepin)
Renee Frauendienst (Stearns)
Julie Myhre (Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis)
Sarah Reese (Polk-Norman-Mahnomen)
Sandy Tubbs (Horizon)
Sue Hedland (Washington)
Cheryl Schneider (Morrison-Todd-Wadena)
Deb Burns (Office of Performance Improvement)
Dee Finley (Community and Family Health)
Mickey Scullard (Office of Emergency Preparedness)
Beth Gyllstrom (Office of Performance Improvement)
Kim Gearin (Office of Performance Improvement)
Chelsie Huntley (Office of Performance Improvement)
Kerri Sawyer (Office of Performance Improvement)
Becky Sechrist (Office of Performance Improvement)
Approved May 20, 2011 by the Executive Committee. The SCHSAC PHEP Oversight Workgroup will:
Building on the program evaluation and policy development achievements of the 2010-2011 SCHSAC Public
Health Emergency Preparedness Work Group, the SCHSAC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Oversight Work
Group will become a standing committee under the auspices of SCHSAC to:




Provide ongoing review of public health emergency preparedness programs and issues;
Assure that the policy recommendations from the 2010-2011 EP Work Group can be implemented to
provide ongoing guidance to the state-tribal-local preparedness partnership;
Oversee the continued development of capacity assessment and related measurement outcomes to
provide definition of capacity and achievement in Minnesota’s public health emergency preparedness
programs; and
Oversee strategic planning for the next five years (2011 through 2016) of public health emergency
preparedness in MN.
The SCHSAC PHEP Oversight Group became a standing SCHSAC Committee in 2011 to foster ongoing dialogue around
public health emergency preparedness and to strengthen relationships between CHBs and MDH. This workgroup
prioritized issues identified in the previous workgroup’s report and addresses emergent issues as they are identified.
In 2013, the workgroup focused on one major project and provide advice and feedback on several issues. The major
project was an examination of the funding formula. Members decided it was important to develop a set of funding
principles that could be used with funding changes (increases/decreases) or unexpected funding awards (e.g., similar
to H1N1 received in 2009). Several funding formula options were also reviewed and work continues into 2014.
The SCHSAC PHEP Oversight Group advised the MDH Office of Emergency Preparedness on a number of other
items. The workgroup reviewed the CHB & Tribal Health Department CDC Performance Measure Reports, which
helped guide the discussions used to develop the Budget Period 2 (July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014) CHB grant duties.
Another item addressed by the workgroup including review and feedback on the project plan and prototype
reporting form to be used by CHBs for Mid-Year and End of Year Reporting for the next four years.
This workgroup will continue in 2014.
* County Commissioners
Pete Giesen, Co-Chair (Olmsted)
Susan Morris, Co-Chair * (Isanti-Mille Lacs)
Sharon Braaten (Horizon)
Pam Blixt (Minneapolis)
Robert Einweck (St. Paul-Ramsey)
Jim Gangl (Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis)
Bill Groskreutz * (Faribault-Martin)
Mike Matanich (Stearns County)
Karen Swenson (Brown-Nicollet)
Gloria Tobias (Countryside)
Grant Weyland * (Clay-Wilkin)
Cindy Borgen (Office of Emergency Preparedness)
Jane Braun (Office of Emergency Preparedness)
Becky Buhler (Office of Performance Improvement)
Cheryl Petersen-Kroeber
(Office of Emergency Preparedness)
Mickey Scullard
(Office of Emergency Preparedness)
Because elected local officials have a broad range of responsibilities, they must learn about many topics in order
to be able to make informed decisions. Public health may be a new topic area for some local elected officials. This
opportunity presented statewide. The video conference provided a review of the importance of the state-local
public health partnership.
On March 18, 2013, a Public Health Update video conference was held as an orientation to public health for newly
elected local officials. It was broadcast to 27 sites throughout Minnesota. Among the participants were 32 local
elected officials, 41 staff from local health departments and 20 interested others. The update was hosted by the
State Community Health Services Advisory Committee and the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of
Performance Improvement.
The Public Health Update included an overview of the following topics: public health in action given by Ed
Ehlinger, Commissioner of Health; state and local public health governmental partnership and the roles and
responsibilities regarding public health for local elected officials given by Deb Burns, Director of the MDH Office
of Performance Improvement; responsibilities as an elected official and the State Community Health Services
Advisory Committee (SCHSAC) given by Bill Groskreutz Faribault County Commissioner and 2013 SCHSAC Chair;
and Public Health in Action – Northeast Flood 2012 and Asthma and Housing presented by numerous local public
health partners.
Change over in top public health leadership positions has been taking place throughout the state and will
continue in the coming years. To strengthen the public health workforce, a need for an orientation to MDH for
new public health leaders was identified by those in both local and state agencies. MDH yearly delivers an
orientation to the new Community Health Services Administrators, Public Health Directors, and other top local
public health officials. The purpose is to orient these individual to MDH as an organization and to put faces to
names of MDH leadership and staff.
An orientation to MDH was held for 13 local public health leaders May 16-17, 2013.
MDH and local health departments work together in a statewide public health system—this orientation gave new
public health leaders the opportunity to meet state public health leadership and staff.
Orientation activities for 2013 included:







Toured the MDH Public Health Lab
Reviewed the Minnesota public health system
Participated in panel discussions with MDH division and office directors closely connected to local
activities
Met with the MDH executive office
Met with MDH staff that can be contacted for technical assistance
Networked with colleagues, and
Attended a SCHSAC meeting
The orientation continues to be well received by the local leaders and by the MDH staff participating.



Develop the annual work plan for SCHSAC
Conduct interim business of SCHSAC and develop recommendations for decisions by SCHSAC
Provide input to the Commissioner of Health upon request
The major work of the SCHSAC Executive Committee included: supporting an unusually high workload for
SCHSAC by approving workgroup charges, supporting ongoing committees, and developing the 2013 work plan.
The Executive Committee also discussed the legislative session, the local public health system infrastructure,
health reform, evaluating SCHSAC, newborn screening, and environmental health.
* County Commissioners
Chairs
Chair: Bill Groskreutz * (Faribault-Martin)
Chair-elect: Larry Kittelson * (Horizon)
Past Chair: Karen Nordstrom (Bloomington)
Northeast Region
Metro Region
Member: Cynthia Bennett (Aitkin-Itasca-Koochiching)
Alternate: Peter Wash * (Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis)
Member: Nancy Schouweiler * (Dakota)
Alternate: Karen Nordstrom (Bloomington)
Northwest Region
Southeast Region
Member: Don Skarie * (Becker)
Alternate: Helene Kahlstorf (North Country)
Member: Marcia Ward * (Winona)
Alternate: Ted Seifert * (Goodhue)
West Central Region
South Central Region
Member: Doug Huebsch * (Otter Tail)
Alternate: Neal Folstad (Clay-Wilkin)
Member: Mark Piepho * (Blue Earth)
Alternate: Jim Berg * (Brown-Nicollet)
Central Region
Southwest Region
Member: Ewald Peterson * (Sherburne)
Alternate: Lora Walker * (Chisago)
Member: Rosemary Schultz * (Cottonwood-Jackson)
Alternate: LaMont Jacobson * (Kandiyohi-Renville)
Becky Buhler (Office of Performance Improvement)
The State Community Health Services Advisory Committee (SCHSAC) Community Health Conference Planning
Workgroup was charged to select the format, theme, objectives, and speakers for the 2013 Community Health
Conference and to assist Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) staff in hosting the conference.
The 2013 Community Health Conference Planning Workgroup worked with MDH staff to organize the format,
program, and speakers for the 2013 Community Health Conference, Working Together: Attaining Health Equity in
Minnesota Communities. The conference was held on September 25-27, 2013 at the Cragun’s Conference Center
near Brainerd, MN.
Three hundred seventy-five people statewide attended the conference. Attendees included: local elected officials;
local public health administrators, directors and staff; SCHSAC members and alternates; Tribal leadership and staff;
community-based organization leadership and staff; Community Health Board and advisory committee members;
health plan staff; MDH management and staff; and other public health professionals. Ninety-five were “first time”
attendees.
Conference participants explored the idea that all Minnesotans do not have an equal opportunity to be healthy,
which can be seen in each area of public health responsibility. Looking beneath the average health statistics
revealed the complexity and health challenges faced by specific populations and communities in our state.
During the conference participants had the opportunity to:
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Connect emerging national and state public health issues to public health at the community level;
Discover creative ways colleagues are approaching public health practice;
Increase skills to engage diverse communities in public health partnership, and
Improve knowledge of health disparities and their impact on achieving health equity.
The conference featured four general sessions:
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Creating Community at the Conference and Afterward – Shawna Suckow, Senior Planners Industry Network
Health in All Policies: How State Agencies are Creating Opportunities for Health – Ed Ehlinger,
Commissioner, Department of Health; Tom Landwehr, Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources;
John Linc Stine, Commissioner, Pollution Control Agency and Charlie Zelle, Commissioner, Department of
Transportation
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Public Health and Community Organizing: The Evolution of Public Health Practice in the 21 Century – Rex
Archer, Director, Kansas City Health Department
Telling the Truth about Trauma - Syl Jones, Transformational Thinker, Journalist, Playwright, Video
Producer
In addition, 26 concurrent sessions featuring 65 presenters were offered on the following theme areas:
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Strategies to Improve Outcomes in Diverse Communities
Building Capacity at the Local Level
For Elected Officials
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Working with New Partners
Integrating Pubic Health and Health Care
Telling our Public Health Stories
Challenging Topics
The concurrent sessions were heavily attended with several reaching full capacity. Participants appreciated the
variety and quality of the presentations and benefitted by learning from colleagues and partners.
Highlights during the conference included the yearly community health awards ceremony and reception, public
health resources and displays, after dinner conversations with the Commissioner of Health and the MDH Executive
Team, and movie night.
Conference participants continue to see value in this annual conference. Feedback from 2013 Conference
participants includes:
“Best place in Minnesota to connect with public health professionals.”
“My favorite conference to attend as it re-ignites passion to keep doing what we do and should do.”
“As a first time attendee, I was impressed at the level of cooperation and partnership stressed among all
levels (State, Local, Non-Profit, etc.) of attendees. An extremely valuable conference for networking and
establishing new relationships.”
“Very interesting and relevant to my work.”
“Great to come back to work with new skills and insights.”
* County Commissioners
Larry Kittelson, Chair * (Horizon)
Karen Ahmann * (Polk-Norman-Mahnomen)
Ken Bence (Minnesota Council of Health Plans)
Deb Burns (MDH Office of Performance Improvement)
Xiaoying Chen
(MDH Office of Minority & Multicultural Health)
Jackie Dionne (MDH Director of Tribal Health)
Dee Finley (MDH Community & Family Health)
Bill Groskreutz * (Faribault-Martin)
Allison Heinzeller
(MDH Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives)
Ardis Henriksen (SWHHS)
Helene Kahlstorf (North Country)
Amy Kenzie (MDH Health Promotion & Chronic Disease)
Dan Locher (MDH Environmental Health)
DeeAnn Pettyjohn (Dodge-Steele)
Deb Radi (MDH Office of Emergency Preparedness)
Theresa Evans Ross, EHDI Grantee (Annex Teen Clinic)
Jacob Zdon
(MDH Infectious Disease Epi., Prevention & Control)
Liz Arita (Office of Performance Improvement)
Becky Buhler (Office of Performance Improvement)
Peggy Malinowski
(Office of Performance Improvement)
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Review the awards process and recommend modifications to the Executive Committee to fulfill the intent
of the awards.
Solicit for nominations and select awardees for the community health awards and certificates of
recognition to be presented at the annual Community Health Conference.
Prepare a ballot for the election of the SCHSAC Chair-Elect in December.
The Nominating and Awards Workgroup met via conference call in August to review the nominating process and
to select the recipients for the 2013 Community Health Service (CHS) Awards.
The following individuals and group were selected and received a 2013 Community Health Award during the
Community Health Conference on September 25, 2013 at the Cragun’s Conference Center, Brainerd, MN.
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Award for Outstanding Dedication to Local Public Health: Karen Nordstrom, Councilmember, City of
Bloomington
Commissioner’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Health Service: Carol Schefers, Public
Health Nurse Director, Wright County Public Health
Jack Korlath Partnership Award: Stephan Saravia, Coordinator, Chemical Threat Preparedness, MDH
Jim Parker Leadership Award: Lowell Johnson, Director, Washington Co. Public Health and Environment
Lou Fuller Award for Distinguished Service in Eliminating Health Disparities: Laura Waterman Wittstock,
Author, Host, and Producer, First Person Radio
Certificate(s) of Recognition
– FATHER Project Team of St. Joseph’s Area Health Services Community Health
– Raise It for Health Coalition
– Kathy Bystrom, Community Health Outreach Coordinator, Fairview Lakes Health Services
In addition to the CHS Awards, the Nominating and Awards Workgroup prepared a slate of nominees and
supervised the election of the new SCHSAC Chair-Elect during the December 2013 SCHSAC meeting.
* County Commissioners
Bev Bales, Chair * (Horizon)
Bonnie Brueshoff (Dakota)
Helene Kahlstorf (North Country)
Kathleen Krenik-Minkler (Isanti-Mille Lacs)
Wilhelmina Holder, Advisory Committee Member
(MDH Office of Minority and Multicultural Health)
Becky Buhler (Office of Performance Improvement)
Peggy Malinowski
(Office of Performance Improvement)
Northeast Region
Southeast Region
Cynthia Bennett (Aitkin-Itasca-Koochiching)
Peter Wash (Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis)
Judy Barton (Wabasha)
Thomas Kaase (Fillmore-Houston)
Sheila Kiscaden (Olmsted)
Lisa Kocer (Mower)
Glen Mathiason (Freeborn)
Dee Ann L. Pettyjohn (Dodge-Steele)
Debra Purfeerst (Rice)
Ted Seifert (Goodhue)
Marcia Ward (Winona)
Northwest Region
2
Karen Ahmann (Polk-Norman-Mahnomen )
Rachel Green (Quin County)
Don Skarie (Becker)
West Central Region
Neal Folstad (Clay-Wilkin)
Douglas A. Huebsch (Otter Tail)
Helene Kahlstorf (North Country)
Larry Kittelson (Horizon)
Central Region
Christine Husom (Wright)
Susan Morris (Isanti-Mille Lacs)
Rachel Reabe Nystrom (Crow Wing)
Warren Peschl (Benton)
Ewald Peterson (Sherburne)
Deb Schuhmacher (Chisago)
Bill Stearns (Morrison-Todd-Wadena)
Wendy Thompson (Kanabec-Pine)
Reno Wells (Cass)
Vacant: Stearns
South Central Region
Jim Berg (Brown-Nicollet)
Joy Cohrs (Meeker-McLeod-Sibley)
Bill Groskreutz, Jr. (Faribault-Martin)
Mark Piepho (Blue Earth)
Amy Roggenbuck (Le Sueur-Waseca)
Kathleen Svallund (Watonwan)
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3
Southwest Region
Carol Biren (SWHHS)
Jeanne Krueger (Countryside)
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Harlan Madsen (Kandiyohi-Renville )
Rosemary Schultz (Cottonwood-Jackson)
Matthew Widboom (Nobles)
Metro Region
Gail Dorfman (Hennepin)
Cheryl Engelman (Edina)
Cam Gordon (Minneapolis)
Lowell Johnson (Washington)
Rose Jost (Richfield)
Carol LeDoux (Anoka)
Barbara Marschall (Scott)
Karen Nordstrom (Bloomington)
Janice Rettman (St. Paul-Ramsey)
Nancy Schouweiler (Dakota)
Marcee Shaughnessy (Carver)
As of September 2013.
In 2013, Polk County joined the Norman-Mahnomen CHB to become the new Polk-Norman-Mahnomen CHB.
In 2013, Renville County joined Kandiyohi County to form the new Kandiyohi-Renville CHB. Redwood County joined SWHHS.