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A Mower County program was one of four recognized by the Association of Minnesota Counties with the organization’s County Achievement Awards recently.

Mower was honored for its Community Resource Navigator initiative, which was launched in 2023 with Alysha Carlisle as its first hire.

The position aims to reduce recidivism by equipping incarcerated individuals with skills, resources, and re-entry support. The program bridges Health and Human Services with law enforcement, addressing the challenges faced by individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community.

Highlights of the program include innovative support, impactful outcomes, future growth through a partnership with Riverland Community College and it is a replicable model. Carlisle’s leadership highlights the transformative power of one individual to drive meaningful change, improving public safety and quality of life.

Also recognized was the ReUse Center in Dodge County  utilized the Greater MN Recycling and Composting Grant to  establish the Renovation ReUse building, which was completed in June 2023.

The Primary Prevention Education and Communities Response to Opioids Program (CROP) featuring a combination of Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties is a collaborative  initiative formed in response to the  opioid crisis and was established in 2021

And finally, the Stearns County Family and Children’s Integrated Services Model focuses on preventing child maltreatment and criminal justice involvement proactively engaging at-risk youth and families early. It targets high-acuity youth with significant behavioral and mental health needs, who are at risk of being placed in hospitals, jails, or county buildings due to the lack of appropriate community services.

AMC is a voluntary statewide organization that assists the state’s 87 counties in providing effective county governance to the people  of Minnesota. It is the mission of the Association to assist in the provision of effective county governance for the people of Minnesota.  The association works closely with the legislative and administrative branches of government in seeing that legislation and policies  favorable to counties are enacted. In addition, the Association provides educational programs, training, research and  communications for county officials.