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Greetings! We hope our newsletter serves as a resource for
staying connected to Hennepin County activities and staying updated on county
news and services.
As always, please reach out with questions, comments, or to
learn more about how to get involved.
My best,
March 13
Innovation to House and Support Youth Currently In or Aging Out of County Services
The board received a grant to provide stable housing and services for youth ages 18 to 24 involved in or aging out of county services. This initiative will build on the success of similar county programs working with segments of the same population.
Read more about this initiative.
Grant-Funded Navigators Will Help Youth Experiencing Homelessness
The board accepted a grant to change the county's approach to assisting minors ages 15 to 17 experiencing homelessness. A Minnesota Department of Human Services grant will fund the work of two navigators who will help minors exit homelessness through family reunification and connections to benefits, housing and supportive services.
Read more about this project.
County Program Helps Cities Improve Building Energy Efficiency
The board approved funding to develop a building energy benchmarking program for cities across the county and region. Energy benchmarking helps building owners evaluate energy performance and identify conservation opportunities.
Local governments across the country, including the City of Minneapolis, have passed policies that require building owners to track their energy use. This new program will provide resources to cities interested in implementing these types of ordinances. Owners with multiple buildings across the county will have one reporting system and the same support to reach energy-saving goals.
The McKnight Foundation contributed to getting the program started.
Read more about this board action.
Read more about how the program works.
March 27
Funding Will Help Prevent Spread of AIS
The board awarded 11 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention grants, Organizations will use funding for early detection of AIS, inspections at public lake accesses, outreach and education, research, watercraft cleaning facilities and more.
Grant recipients include:
- CD3 General Benefit Corporation - to build upon a previously funded project that developed a waterless cleaning station at numerous boat launches last year in the county
- Three Rivers Park District - to purchase and install a watercraft cleaning station at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park
- Three Rivers Park District - to expand inspections at public accesses throughout the county
Read more about these grant awards.
Read more about how the county is preventing AIS.
Children's Theatre Company Bonding Request Added to Legislative Platform
The board approved my amendment to the state legislative platform that would add a $5 million bonding request for renovations of the Children's Theatre Company building. Since Hennepin County has an ownership interest in the building due to previous state bonding, it is the most appropriate entity to serve as fiscal agent for this bonding request.
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Lisa Fleming
Health and Human Services Communications
Cedar Manor, St. Louis Park
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Describe your work.
I tell stories about
the work we do in human services and public health, and these stories help
staff feel pride in their work and help connect residents to services. Human
Services alone sees one in four county residents annually. We help people put
food on the table, sign up for health care and protect children and vulnerable
adults.
What part of your job do you find most challenging?
County
human services provides a safety net when people are in tough situations, but
we have to follow many complex state and federal rules. It can be hard to
explain in plain English what kind of help is available under what
circumstances.
What do you find most enjoyable?
I
love writing articles about the work that goes on here. People in human
services really are passionate about making a difference, whether they’re
recruiting residents to become foster parents or working with landlords to house
teens who are homeless.
What is one thing everyone should know about the work you do?
There
are Hennepin County employees at the forefront of many national issues,
including health care, homelessness, mental illness, teen pregnancy, education
and many more things. I’m proud of these people who dedicate their lives to
solving some of society’s toughest problems.
You're invited. In addition to our regularly scheduled board meetings, the County Board often meets for updates on Thursday mornings. These are informal opportunities to discuss emerging issues. No decisions are made, and topics are subject to change. Board briefings occur in the board room on the 24th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center and are open to the public. Call my office to confirm briefing time and location.
Thursday, April 5
- 9:30am-11:30am: Public Safety Update
Thursday, April 19
Meet
Abshir Omar
A Hennepin
County Library community liaison, based at the Cedar Riverside Opportunity
Center in Minneapolis, was featured in a Hennepin County employee video profile. In it, he talked about the importance of his
work to make sure people know about the resources the library has to offer
families in the neighborhood.
Watch Abshir’s video.
Find a
new rhyme and meter during National Poetry Month
During
National Poetry Month in April, your library is a center for inspiration and
creativity with poetry-themed book lists, online resources and events.
Learn more about National Poetry
Month at the library.
Get car
care information from hclib.org
ALLDATA
automotive provides diagnostic and repair information for more than 30,000
vehicles, 1982 and newer. Patrons can access this valuable resource only in a
library building, logging in with your library cardon either a public computer
or your own device.
Learn more about this automotive
resource.
Get your free Hennepin County Library
card online.
New
Library Board members from District 3
The Hennepin
County Board has appointed two new members and reappointed a third to the
library’s advisory board. Sheila Letscher, of St. Louis Park, and Rahfat
Hussain, of southwest Minneapolis, will replace Sandy Johnson, who reached her
three-term limit, and Barb Fenton, who stepped down from the board after one
term. Adja Ann, of Maple Grove, will serve another three-year term.
Read a Q&A with Rahfat Hussain.
Contact us
Marion Greene
Commissioner, 3rd District
612-348-7883
Elie Farhat
Principal Aide
612-348-7125
Laura Hoffman
District Aide
612-348-0863
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