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Rice County highlights community corrections, treatment court results and recovery supports
Summary
County staff detailed community-based coordinators, the treatment court program and related recovery supports, citing program metrics such as 229 community referrals (189 opened), 14 current treatment court participants and distribution of naloxone via 71 access boxes.
Rice County community corrections staff on Sept. 23 presented updates on the behavioral health unit, Community‑Based Coordinators (CBCs) and the county’s treatment court, emphasizing outreach, cross‑agency coordination and measurable outcomes.
Toby Anderson and colleagues described how CBCs — embedded with local police departments and the sheriff’s office — provide crisis de‑escalation, connect residents to housing and mental‑health resources and refer people to community partners. Anderson said CBCs handle a mix of one‑time contacts and long‑term case management: “One of the things I'm gonna go over... our numbers, over the past year, we've got 229 community referrals. Of those, 189 have been opened,” he said.
Staff outlined treatment court operations and outcomes. Amber, the treatment court coordinator, said the program requires a minimum 18‑month commitment and currently serves 14 participants; the county has recorded 46 commencements and 114 total participants since the program began. The team detailed services including intensive monitoring, chemical testing, case management and connections to sober‑living providers. Amber described community events and supports such as Recovery in the Park and partnerships with regional recovery initiatives.
Presenters also highlighted harm‑reduction work: the Mobile Opioid Support Team (MOST) has worked with 247 community participants and naloxone access boxes (71 locations across Northfield, Faribault, Lonsdale and Dundas) have distributed approximately 810 nasal naloxone kits and 119 fentanyl test strips, according to staff.
Board members praised the work and asked questions about program recidivism, naloxone shelf life and referral volume. Staff said they will continue collaborating with community partners and encouraged commissioners to support treatment‑court and recovery activities that reduce barriers to care.
