Winona County approves six-month contract with Hiawatha Valley for post‑incarceration care coordination

Winona County commissioners on a voice vote approved a short-term contract with Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center to provide post‑incarceration care coordination for people with substance‑use disorders.

County administrator Jill Holti said the agreement would allow the county “to provide that service during the time that they are in the jail,” enabling contact while individuals are incarcerated and improving the chances of connecting them with care after release. Commissioners asked how many people would be served, whether contacts begin in jail, and what funding would pay for the services. Staff and the county’s criminal-justice coordinator cited grant dollars—largely cannabis‑tax and wrap funds—and local RAP funds as the likely revenue streams.

Supporters pointed to county data on reduced recidivism from similar programs. Commissioner Meyer said the county’s RAP program “greatly reduces recidivism” and estimated a fiscal return on investment; others pressed that six months is short to change long‑term behavior. Several commissioners requested that staff and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) return with outcome metrics and utilization data at a future meeting.

The contract as approved is a one‑year pilot in administrative materials but was described by staff as effectively a six‑month funding window tied to state fiscal cycles; commissioners directed staff to track performance data, report back on client counts and clarify the long‑term funding outlook. The board’s action authorizes staff to execute the contract; specifics about enrollment limits and reporting cadence were requested for the next update.