WALKER — Change, both local and state, were themes last year for health services, human resources and veterans in Cass County.
Director Brian Beauman, along with Veterans Affairs Officer Christy Smart, presented the department’s annual report Tuesday, April 2, to the Cass County Commissioners.
Among the highlights for 2023 was the Minnesota Department of Human Services, which is in the process of splitting up to create an entirely separate Department of Children, Youth and Families. The past year has also brought staff changes with the retirement of Michele Piprude as principal and the newly created position of public health planner, who will oversee progress in the county’s response to the opioid crisis.
Smart informed the board that Cass County received $67,562 from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs State Trooper Assistance Program for grants for optical, dental, living expenses and veterans assistance. Currently, a veteran can receive assistance only once in a lifetime with a maximum of $5,000, Smart said, but consideration is being given to upgrading that to allow veterans to receive a total of $15,000 over their lifetime, which is a current total and is not one-time assistance.
Smart also said that in 2023, veterans were provided 126 rides for a total of 28,175 miles, which was less than normal. The department lost some drivers during the pandemic because they got older and didn’t want to be around other people, Smart said. Another reason for the lack of drivers is believed to be that they cannot physically help veterans because the veteran must be able to be mobile, she added.
Cass County processed payments for $143,035,056.49 in health care bills for people eligible for state and federal medical assistance in 2023.
Other services for qualified people and the average monthly benefits per person for 2023 are:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for Low Income Persons, $191.27.
- Minnesota Family Investment Program for Low-Income Families and Pregnant Women, $380.97.
- Diversionary Work Program for Families Seeking Work, $125.97.
- Child Care Assistance for Low Income Families, $378.21.
- Total assistance for adults who have little or no income and cannot return to work, $154.42.
- Emergency general assistance for low-income people in times of crisis who need food, shelter, utilities, $500.
- Group Residential Housing pays room and board for people age 65 or older and for people age 18 and older with disabilities or who are blind who live in permitted settings, $468.03.
- Minnesota Supplemental Assistance for Seniors Eligible for Federal Supplemental Security Income, $102.29.
Cass collected $2,312,267 and paid $2,249,450 to custodial parents in child support in 2023. The majority of child support continues to be collected through income withholding.
Public Health — Children, Youth and Families
In 2023, the Women, Infants and Children program continued to be served virtually until July, with the program transitioning to a hybrid model in August, offering in-person or telephone appointments. The program served an average of 552 participants. Participants redeemed a total of $327,725 in food aid between October 2022 and September 2023.
The Follow Along program had 96 new clients, 206 active families and five children referred to early intervention services. This program helps parents determine where their child is developmentally and provides ideas on “what to teach” and “at what age” to teach.
A total of 63 car seats were given out in 2023, Buhman said, and the department held its third annual Baby Shower event for pregnant women and is currently planning a fourth. He said other counties have contacted him to ask how they can start this program.
Public health — home health, long-term care, prevention
In 2023, two more community gardens were built in Cass County. All of these gardens received grants to help with improvements and expansion.
For the complete Health, Human Services and Veterans Affairs annual report, visit www.casscountymn.gov.
