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Blue Earth County Human Services reports higher caseloads, lower no‑show rate after clinic changes
Summary
Human Services Director Angela Youngerberg reported on mental‑health services during May (Mental Health Month): the county saw about 1,200–1,500 unduplicated clients in 2024, ~617 monthly appointments, reduced a targeted no‑show rate from ~25% to 18% after communication changes, and reported increases in referral and civil‑commitment screening activity.
Angela Youngerberg, Human Services, gave the board a broad update focused on mental health services and system pressures.
Youngerberg said Blue Earth County’s mental health center provides psychiatry regionally and therapy locally; for 2024 the clinic served roughly 1,200–1,500 unduplicated patients and averaged about 617 appointments per month with roughly 28 new patient intakes each month. She highlighted a persistent no‑show issue among persons with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI), noting the county’s no‑show rate historically around 25 percent; a business‑practice intervention piloted in September 2024 reduced that to about 18 percent.
She reported adult case management averages at 31 cases per case manager (state guideline ~30) and said referrals increased 63 percent; staff are seeing greater case acuity and more dual‑diagnosis (mental health and substance use). On civil commitment the county handles pre‑petition screenings (about 80–90 requests typical) and reported 33 full commitments and 21 stays in the year noted. Youngerberg also described a county effort to seek payment relief from Direct Care and Treatment when state hospital stays meet certain criteria; Blue Earth County has recouped about $130,000 over multiple years using that review process.
The presentation also covered children’s mental health case management (total caseload year‑to‑date 193; average caseload ~18.8 after recent hires) and regional work on a children’s crisis stabilization center with Rice County leading the effort. Commissioners thanked staff for the detail; no board action was required.
