Stearns County approves community outreach program for mental health support

The Stearns County Board of Commissioners convened on February 11, 2025, to discuss several key issues, primarily focusing on health and human services and environmental matters.

During the meeting, Melissa Huberty, the human services administrator, presented two items for approval. The first was a community outreach program grant agreement aimed at supporting mental health initiatives and assisting individuals experiencing homelessness. The board unanimously approved this grant, highlighting its importance in enhancing community support services. The second item discussed was related to claims paid on behalf of human services, which was noted as informational and did not require a vote.

Additionally, the board members engaged in discussions about a recent presentation on a mental health court initiative, referred to as GAP court. This program targets individuals who are not competent but do not meet the criteria for traditional mental health court. The commissioners expressed interest in potentially inviting the presenters to share more about this innovative approach in a future meeting.

The meeting also included a transition to environmental services, where Shelley Benson, the environmental services director, was set to present consent items. The board decided to address these items following the human services discussion, indicating a structured approach to the agenda.

Overall, the meeting underscored the board's commitment to addressing mental health issues and community outreach, while also preparing to tackle environmental concerns in subsequent discussions. The next steps include further exploration of the GAP court initiative and continued collaboration on environmental matters.