Blue Earth County Human Services reports higher mental-health caseloads, civil-commitment activity and clinic statistics

Blue Earth County Human Services presented an extended informational report at the May 27 meeting outlining adult and children’s mental-health services, case management caseloads, civil-commitment screening activity and program developments including the county’s Second Step Clubhouse.

Human Services lead Angela Youngerberg told the board that the county’s mental-health center provides regional psychiatry services (to a 10-county South Central community-based initiative) and clinic therapy services for Blue Earth County residents. Staff reported about 1,200–1,500 unduplicated patients served annually, roughly 617 clinic appointments per month and about 28 new patients entering services monthly. Therapy wait lists were reported at 14 people; staff noted a regionally unusual clinic model that emphasizes medication services because of high local demand for prescribers.

Youngerberg said the adult mental-health case-management program faces growing complexity and volume. Average caseload per case manager was reported at about 31 (state recommendation cited as 30), with referrals up roughly 63 percent in recent reporting. Staff also manage civil-commitment pre-petition screenings: the county received about 82 screening requests in the reporting period and reported 33 full civil commitments plus 21 stays of commitment ordered during the period discussed. The county’s intake staff, who also perform pre-petition screenings, work closely with the county attorney and law enforcement because many cases involve co-occurring substance-use disorders and forensic involvement.

Youngerberg highlighted operational metrics and program responses: a historically high no-show rate for SPMI (serious and persistent mental illness) clients—about 25 percent—dropped to about 18 percent after a staff-led intervention to change communications and intake procedures. The county’s Second Step Clubhouse logged 3,873 in‑person visits in 2024 and had 107 in‑person participants and 13 Zoom participants; staff said the Clubhouse model and monthly outdoor activities (a “fishnik” program) are helping member engagement.

The report also described a county practice—pursuing review requests to Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) for payment relief when individuals are classified as "does not meet criteria" (DNMC) for state hospital days. Human Services said it has sought reviews since the 2017 statute change and reported approximately $30,000 in payments or savings for Blue Earth County between 2017 and 2024 from those reviews. Youngerberg and staff said a fifth statutory condition they have pursued previously—relief when no state-bed is available and a person remains awaiting placement—remains a policy priority but carries a large fiscal impact estimated by state officials and was not enacted at the time discussed.

Children’s mental-health case management also showed sustained demand. Staff reported a total caseload of 93 children year-to-date with an average caseload per worker of about 18.8; the county said that adding staff earlier in the cycle helped reduce pressure on workloads. County staff continue to work regionally on a children’s crisis stabilization model and to pursue reduced reliance on out-of-state placements.

No formal board action was requested; the presentation was informational. Staff asked commissioners to note rising demand, complexity and the operational impact on staff time and intake processes. Youngerberg said the county will continue quality-improvement work and regional collaboration on system-level solutions.