Public Health System Transformation Update Newsletter
September 2025 | View all system transformation newsletters

Walk the timeline from innovation to regional data models

Minnesota’s first regional data models were built from the ground up. Rather than being mandated by a state or federal grant, these models sprang up organically from locally led innovation projects supported by the Minnesota Infrastructure Fund. This dedicated funding gives local and Tribal health departments the time and space to test new ways of doing foundational public health work, with lessons for the entire statewide public health system.

• 2021: The Minnesota Legislature appropriates $6 million annually to identify, test, and expand new ways of building capacity in foundational public health responsibilities.  SCHSAC and the Joint Leadership Team establish the Minnesota Public Health Infrastructure Fund to support locally led projects that improve, pilot, or strengthen approaches to building foundational capacity, and that can share implications and lessons for the entire state public health system.
• 2022: Locally led innovation projects start to explore regional data models in Southeast Minnesota and Northwest Minnesota.
• 2023-2025: Evidence grows, showing local, regional, and statewide benefits of working together regionally to build public health data capacity. The Minnesota Infrastructure Fund continues to invest in and learn from innovation projects supporting regional data collaboration.
• Summer 2025: SCHSAC amends recommendations for the Minnesota Infrastructure Fund, to dedicate up to $1.6 million annually for up to eight regional data models ($200,000 per region per year), on an ongoing basis.
• Today: Local and state staff are planning together where, when, and how to roll out regional data models. This includes hosting discussions at regional LPHA meetings and SCHSAC meetings, and in other spaces.
• Fall 2025: Local public health, along with support from state staff, engage in regional conversations assessing needs, interest, and facilitating planning conversations with partners.
• October 2025: Join regional data model representatives from Southeast and Northwest Minnesota regions to hear about their journeys and learn more about how the regional data models can build capacity statewide.
• Early 2026: Regions begin to form and implement regional models. 

Where can you jump into the timeline?

Join our webinar on regional data models on October 2 to learn more about how this opportunity can help us increase data capacity statewide. Listen in as staff from the Southeast Regional Data Model and the Northwest 8 Public Health Hub share their journeys and successes in developing their own regional data models. 

Regional Data Models Webinar
October 2, 2025
1:00-2:30 p.m. Central
Register: Regional Data Models Webinar

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