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Cook County PHHS delays preliminary budget; signs crisis-response contracts and begins grant reviews
Summary
At its July 15 meeting the Cook County Public Health and Human Services board heard a director's report that postponed a final preliminary budget until August, announced contracts for mobile crisis and clinical supervision, and outlined a public-health grant review process covering $282,651 in requests against a draft $190,000 allocation.
Cook County Public Health and Human Services staff told the board on July 15 that the agency has delayed presenting a final preliminary budget until August because many state and federal allocations remain undetermined.
The director reported that the agency has signed contracts with two partners to support crisis services: a contract with the Human Development Center to provide mobile crisis response supervision and after-hours services, and a contract with Southwood Mountain Clinic to provide clinical supervision to agency staff. "Southwark Mountain Clinic and their staff have been long term partner[s] for our agency, and we appreciate the help and assistance with this," the director said.
Program updates included staffing and training for mobile crisis response. The director said Andre Orest, harm reduction and prevention specialist, is providing mobile crisis response services as part of a temporary, hour-class assignment and is working to build ongoing capacity; clinical supervision for those services is provided by the Human Development Center.
The board was also told that the agency received 11 applications to its public health grant fund for 2026, requesting a combined $282,651. The PHHS draft budget currently includes $190,000 for public health grant awards. The public health fund grant reviews subcommittee has begun interviewing applicants and will develop funding recommendations for the board at its August meeting.
The director described ongoing partnership efforts, including a meeting with Grand Portage Human Services led by Jackie Kozlowski, Grand Portage Public Health and Human Services director, and Anna Deshaun to "reiterate our partnership and cooperation." The director said the meeting aimed to set communication goals and coordinate services for clients in Cook County.
Other program notes included participation at regional events: PHHS staff will attend the Care Partners Brain Health event on July 19; Grace Gennager, public health supervisor, presented a mid-cycle community health assessment update on July 1; and Rocio Rivas, youth prevention specialist, attended the Montana Institute on Prevention.
Board members raised questions about the location of the Cook County Food Shelf; the director said she would confirm the location. Commissioners also discussed how the Cook County Council on Aging has been a major applicant and recipient of county grant funds. Advisory council members noted the council has requested a $150,000 line item in the county budget and submitted a separate grant application for just under $110,000; PHHS staff said these requests will affect grant recommendations and budget planning.
No formal board vote on the budget, grant awards or contracts was recorded at the meeting; the contracts and grant-review work were reported as operational activity and will return to the board when formal actions or recommendations occur.
