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Kandiyohi County approves Healthy Kids Minnesota joint powers agreement to test children's exposure to chemicals
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Summary
The board approved a fully funded joint powers agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health for the Healthy Kids Minnesota program (not to exceed $13,954.53), which will recruit children through school screenings with parental consent and provide participant incentives and well-test kits; regional results will be shared within a year.
Public health manager Jody Ammerman told the county board that Kandiyohi County may join the Minnesota Department of Health's Healthy Kids Minnesota program under a joint powers agreement and budget that is fully funded by MDH and capped at $13,954.53. The program aims to better understand children’s exposure to chemicals that may harm development.
Ammerman described the outreach and consent process: school districts in the region will receive separate joint powers agreements; the Wilmer School District is participating and will include the study as part of early childhood screening days. Parents will receive advance letters; if interested, they will complete a survey and consent form, and then collect a urine sample in private with the child and the parent providing the sample to the nurse. Participants receive a $40 gift card and a free well-test kit; Ammerman said the region will receive results within a year and that parents would be notified sooner if concerning results were found.
Commissioners asked about timelines and communication; Ammerman said the MDH expects to issue regional results within a year and will notify families promptly about concerning findings. The board approved the joint powers agreement.
