Joint leadership team and subgroups

We envision a public health system in Minnesota in which state, local, tribal, and community health agencies work together as a system, sharing access to information, and making timely strategic decisions through shared power. Together, the Minnesota public health system prevents disease, protects well-being, and improves the health of all residents regardless of where they live.

We strengthen the state and local public health system so that it:

Builds cross-sector and community partnerships

• Developing solutions in collaborative relationship with community partners and those with varied lived experiences
• Engaging and partnering across sectors, and empowering communities in prevention, emergency response, and sustaining health
• Anticipating and adapting to changing needs of the community's populations

Advances health equity

• Supporting policies that confront the root causes of health inequities
• Operating with health equity as its core principle

Operates inclusively and sustainably

• Supporting policies and resources that enable recruitment, training, and retention of a diverse, strong, inclusive workforce that is representative of the communities served
• Establishing foundational public health capacities across the state
• Practicing both accountability and flexibility
• Leveraging stable and sufficient funding for state and local public health infrastructure that results in, alignment with community priorities

Leverages data

• Using timely, secure, interoperable data and technology systems to drive health improvement and policy

The joint leadership team meets twice per month, and conducts its work in a collaborative, co-created model. What does this mean?

• The core leadership team is facilitated independently (e.g., not facilitated by someone from the organizations listed above).
• All leadership team members develop meeting agendas together in consultation with the independent facilitators.
• The joint leadership team makes decisions collaboratively/by consensus.

This work of system transformation is not led by one single organization.

The team is responsible for:

• Defining and championing a new vision for Minnesota's public health system
• Developing a roadmap to create the public health system we need, and providing the leadership and oversight necessary to implement the roadmap
• Developing recommendations for its organizations, governmental public health leaders, and policymakers
• Engaging leaders, subject matter experts, consultants, and others to explore issues, provide insight, and inform recommendations
• Strategically engaging partners and allies

Local Public Health Association (LPHA)

• Sarah Grosshuesch (Wright), 2022 Chair
• Nick Kelley (Bloomington), Chair-Elect
• Kari Oldfield, Director
• Maggie Rothstein (Aitkin, Itasca, Koochiching), 2023 Chair
• More information: LPHA

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)

• Brooke Cunningham, Commissioner of Health
• Chelsie Huntley, Director, Community Health Division
• Kim Milbrath, Section Manager, Center for Public Health Practice
• Maria Sarabia, Assistant Commissioner, Health Improvement Bureau
• Halkeno Tura, Assistant Commissioner, Health Equity Bureau
• More information: About MDH

State Community Health Services Advisory Committee (SCHSAC)

• Tarryl Clark (Stearns), Chair
• Sheila Kiscaden (Olmsted), Past Chair
• De Malterer (Le Sueur-Waseca), Chair-Elect
• More information: SCHSAC

The following subgroups have been commissioned by the joint leadership team to focus on specific tasks:

Cost and capacity assessment subgroup

• Jason Orr, University of Minnesota
• JP Leider, University of Minnesota
• Annie Sieger, UMN consulting team
• Chelsie Huntley, MDH
• Kari Oldfield-Tabbert, LPHA
• Jim McDonough, SCHSAC
• Joshua Bunker, MDH
• Kristin Sweet, MDH
• Tom Hogan, MDH
• Marlee Marrison, LPHA
• Nicole Ruhoff, LPHA
• Amy Westbrook, LPHA
• Susan Palchick, LPHA
• Ann Stehn, LPHA
• Joanne Erspamer, LPHA
• Pam Kellogg, LPHA
• Sara Benson, LPHA

System assessment subgroup

• Richard Scott, LPHA
• Jody Lien, LPHA
• Tim Sumner, SCHSAC
• Janelle Lambert, MDH
• Tarryl Clark, SCHSAC
• Halkeno Tura, MDH
• Ann Zukoski, MDH
• Kari Oldfield-Tabbert, LPHA
• Michaela Samoudi, HEAL Chair, MDH
• Anne Barry, community
• Mary Wellik, community

Communications subgroup

• Nicole Brown, MDH
• Jenna Carter, SCHSAC
• Kristin Erickson, MDH
• Allie Hawley March, MDH
• Julie Kadrie, MDH
• Kim Milbrath, MDH
• Jenna Olson, LPHA
• Mandy Meisner, SCHSAC
• Allison Thrash, LPHA
• Scott Wasserman, LPHA
• Noya Woodrich, MDH

Based on the collaborative nature of this work, please direct any questions or feedback to one of the following. If you are from:

• Local public health staff and leadership: Please contact your LPHA representatives currently serving on the joint leadership team. You can find them listed above under "Members."
• MDH staff and leadership: Please contact the MDH staff currently serving on the joint leadership team. You can find them listed above under "Members."
• SCHSAC members and alternates: Please contact the SCHSAC representatives currently serving on the joint leadership team. You can find them listed above under "Members."
• General questions: Please contact the MDH Center for Public Health Practice at health.ophp@state.mn.us.