2000 County Achievement Award Winners

  • North Ten Mile Lake Cluster Sewer Project
    Cass County
    The North Ten Mile Lake Cluster Sewer Project demonstrated what county government can accomplish by providing a leadership role in collaborate effort to eliminate a public and environmental health hazard. A cluster sewer system for 22 homeowners on the shores of Ten Mile Lake was constructed since updating the existing failing individual onsite septic systems was not possible. The area consists of small individual lake lots that were established long before zoning requirements, which is a common situation throughout the lake country of Minnesota. A county highway and a large protected wetland also encompass these “postage stamp” lots. Due to the extreme environmental limitations, land in close proximity for sewage treatment could not found. So, Cass County provided county land for the treatment area, through a permanent easement, approximately one half mile from lakeshore. Cass County’s leadership role consisted of organizing the citizens, obtaining the funding, drafting an ordinance and by-laws and providing consultation throughout the project. The new system was constructed in the fall of 1999 and put into operation in the spring of 2000. Cass County will continue to provide the sewer district with consultation to assure operation and protection of the public and environmental health.

 

  • Continuum of Responses for Dakota County Children and Families
    Dakota County
    The Continuum of Responses for Dakota County Children and Families had its origin in the county board adopted Child Neglect Study. The Dakota County Human Services Advisory Committee (HSAC), a 21-member citizen group appointed by the county board, conducted the study. The goal was to learn how to prevent and reduce incidences of recurring child neglect using five key objectives: (1) Establish children’s safety and secure attachment and healthy development as the county’s highest priority; (2) Ensure responses to child maltreatment including best practices in prevention and early intervention, community supports and mandated and maximum interventions; (3) Ensure county departments (public health and social services) share in the responsibility of protecting children’s safety and promoting their secure attachment and healthy development and (4) Ensure public policy and state funding decisions promote best practice strategies across the response continuum.
    It is a conceptual framework used to illustrate the important of community partnerships, interdepartmental coordination and best practices across a range of five responses: (1) Ounce of Prevention; (2) Off to a Good Start; (3) Connect to Community; (4) Prevent Recurrence; and (5) Step in and Take Over. Advocates for a coordinated approach to addressing child maltreatment and for increasing the state’s share of child welfare funding credit the continuum with succinctly depicting what it takes to have effective strategies and helping to secure state funding for targeted home visiting and alternative response.

 

  • County “Bean Poll”
    Olmsted
    County

    The Olmsted County “bean poll”, conducted at a county fair booth, was developed to help the county board gather public input in setting budget priorities. A much larger and wider cross-section of people participated than in the usual public hearing format. Fair goers were given 3 beans and allowed to vote among 8 jars, representing the major program funding decisions facing the county in 2001. Approximately 3,744 people case 11,232 “bean votes” as follows: 22 % “protect more children”; 14% “better maintain current roads”; 14% “protect more elderly/disabled”; 12% “improve community’s health”; 12% “jail more criminals”; 11% “no new services/don’t raise taxes”; 9 % “add to road system”; and 6% “provide better supervision of convicted criminals.” Citizens and the media were intrigued – they asked questions and discussed issues with commissioners and staff at the fair as they voted with their “budget beans”.

 

  • ACE (All Children Excel)
    Ramsey County
    Ramsey County ACE is an innovative early intervention program targeted to children under 10 at high risk for serious, violent and chronic delinquency. Based on Justice Department research, ACE is a comprehensive collaborative effort between county government, schools, police and community-based agencies. It features (a) a multi-disciplinary, multi-sector screening process, (b) an integrated information system and service delivery team, (c) collaborative multi-sector (county, schools, community agencies) service delivery, (d) a comparison of child-focused and parent-focused interventions and (e) a budgeting system that focuses on outcomes, combines multi-departmental resources and continuously monitors cost-effectiveness. ACE represents a holistic approach to the promotion of health development in high-risk children and youth. It aims to reduce the caseload of the criminal justice system, reduce the damage to communities, reduce costs to taxpayers and enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of government services.

 

  • Social Butterflies Preschool
    Scott County
    In response to a need identified by parents, teachers and early childhood workers, the partners of Scott Family Net designed and implemented a preschool focused on building social and emotional skills in young children. A service gap was identified for the growing numbers of preschoolers being asked to leave daycare and preschool due to behavioral problems. The program was called Social Butterflies. Attending the program were children, ages 3 to 6, who were identified as in need of skills with peer relationships, anger and frustration management, compliance with adults, safety and other social and emotional areas. A licensed social worker from Carver-Scott Special Educational Cooperative and a licensed psychologist from Scott County worked together using a unique classroom process approach. The staff focused on skill development including empathy, pro-social behaviors, problem solving, frustration tolerance, compromise and internal controls. Home visits with families were provided to encourage the proactive of the newly developed skills within the family. The initial outcome data, including pre and post-evaluation by parents and observers, is very positive. The pilot program was in operation from June 12 through July 20, 2000. Built into the pilot program is the provision for the preschool staff to serve as trainers and consultants to teachers across Scott County.

 

  • Online Purchasing Database
    St. Louis County
    The St. Louis County purchasing department has worked with an outside vendor to develop an online purchasing database that has greatly increased efficiency and lowered costs for the department. The new system allows vendors, at no cost to the county, to preview up-to-the-minute electronic information about new bids, vendor lists for current and future projects, tabulations for opened projects and recommendations by the St. Louis County Board. The service has greatly increased the overall number of vendors able to bid on projects and has allowed the St. Louis County purchasing department to eliminate copying for bid specs, to eliminate the costs for mailing, to clean up its vendor base, to improve its record keeping and save local tax dollars. The project began January 1, 2000.

 

  • Historic Courthouse Video Documentary
    Washington County
    From 1870 to 1975, the Washington County Courthouse was the seat of governmental activities for Washington County. Over the last twenty-five years, the Historic Courthouse has evolved into an important historical resource for Washington County and the St. Croix Valley. Through the efforts of Washington County and numerous other organizations and individuals, the Historic Courthouse has been largely restored and now serves as a center for exhibits, historical programming, community and government events and wedding receptions. Many of the Historic courthouse programs are made possible by the efforts of a strong volunteer work force. Their efforts, combined with funding contributed by Washington County and other sources, allows for the ongoing restoration and educational programming of the Historic Courthouse. The video A Sentry on the Hill was made to tell the important story of the Washington County Historic Courthouse. 

 

  • Wellness on Wheels – WOW Van
    Wright County
    The Wright County Human Services’ Wellness on Wheels (WOW) Program focuses on health promotion and community outreach. Wellness on Wheels is a program where services go to the communities – the van visits 15 of the 17 cities in Wright County every month – thus eliminating consumer transportation concerns. From the van, people get health care information and 64 percent of the people who use the van have no insurance or are under-insured. Some of the services provided to adults include: Immunizations, health screening, blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes screening. Families with young children are offered child immunizations, as well as car seat safety checks and information, pregnancy screening and information, information about childbirth, parenting, child health, growth, development, reproductive health and family planning.