At the Jan. 15 Health and Human Services Board meeting, staff announced multiple operational updates and recent grant awards.

Translation devices: Staff said the county purchased two translation/interpretation devices on behalf of public health and behavioral health divisions using grant funds. The devices were described as double-sided tablets with voice-to-text and multi-language translation capabilities; staff said the purchase cost about $3,000 for a three-year subscription that includes the device and software support and that the county is testing the devices in the field.

Family treatment court grant: Staff announced Children's Services was awarded a competitive grant to develop a family treatment court model in St. Croix County. The award was described as $125,000 per year for three years; staff said they are still waiting for the state contract to be returned. A supervisor in Children's Services, identified in the meeting as Jessica Dodge, authored the successful proposal and will report more at the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council meeting.

Training for abuse-in-later-life grant: Staff said a group including the deputy sheriff, the district attorney, APS staff and a community partner attended required orientation training in New Orleans for the county’s newly awarded abuse-in-later-life grant and would return the following day to share lessons learned.

Reform Medicine clinic: Staff announced Reform Medicine will open a New Richmond clinic one day a week at the county services center, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 4. The clinic will use the public health exam rooms and a small waiting area; Reform Medicine already provides services at other county locations.

Harm-reduction vending machine: Staff said a vending machine stocked with free harm-reduction supplies — including naloxone (Narcan), drug disposal kits and safer-use supplies — arrived in late December and will be installed in the services center vestibule once IT completes a Wi‑Fi connection. The machine will let the public discreetly obtain supplies without entering the building.

Ending: Staff said they will return with demonstrations and additional details as testing and contracts are finalized.