Patty Bowler

And, you know, we're one of the leaders in the country around school based health care. But but when those clinics first started, they were really focused on medical care, physical care, reproductive health care. Over time, we've really realized that mental health is a huge concern. So we're focusing in our school-based clinics.

And, you know, we're one of the leaders in the country around school based health care. But but when those clinics first started, they were really focused on medical care, physical care, reproductive health care. Over time, we've really realized that mental health is a huge concern. So we're focusing in our school-based clinics.

We do provide the medical care, but a big part of our portfolio of services is around mental health. So Stan, we are doing that because that's one of our direct services that we're providing. And I have to give a shout out to the mayor and the city council because

We do provide the medical care, but a big part of our portfolio of services is around mental health. So Stan, we are doing that because that's one of our direct services that we're providing. And I have to give a shout out to the mayor and the city council because

They provided some funding through ARPA dollars to help fund some therapists of color in our clinics and also through the through the general fund through property tax dollars to help us fund therapy. What we were finding is like November would roll around and our therapists would be full. And so we had to turn kids away, which is heartbreaking.

They provided some funding through ARPA dollars to help fund some therapists of color in our clinics and also through the through the general fund through property tax dollars to help us fund therapy. What we were finding is like November would roll around and our therapists would be full. And so we had to turn kids away, which is heartbreaking.

So we were able to get some resources through our city leadership in order to provide that one-on-one therapy through our school-based clinics. So I just wanted to mention that, but yes, clearly we're also in the realm of prevention and that's somewhat new work for us. I also want to say that we're embarking on a new community health assessment.

So we were able to get some resources through our city leadership in order to provide that one-on-one therapy through our school-based clinics. So I just wanted to mention that, but yes, clearly we're also in the realm of prevention and that's somewhat new work for us. I also want to say that we're embarking on a new community health assessment.

That's that every three year process where we try to understand community needs and our evaluation and research staff that are working with Hennepin County and the city of Bloomington to do this Hennepin County wide assessment. I know that mental well, they really want to dig into mental wellbeing and they want to focus on connectedness because we know that that's one of the factors.

That's that every three year process where we try to understand community needs and our evaluation and research staff that are working with Hennepin County and the city of Bloomington to do this Hennepin County wide assessment. I know that mental well, they really want to dig into mental wellbeing and they want to focus on connectedness because we know that that's one of the factors.

That's one of the assets that communities members can use to address mental wellbeing. So does that answer your question?

That's one of the assets that communities members can use to address mental wellbeing. So does that answer your question?

Yeah. I, yeah. You know, we like to be on the creative edge.

Yeah. I, yeah. You know, we like to be on the creative edge.

Regarding this work, I think we're, we're doing some catch up because we're a midsize city, but yet we, we want to play in the sandbox with the big cities and we're part of the big cities health coalition. And so when we first actually during the pandemic we, we really wanted to better understand what's happening across the country with what health departments are doing around mental health.

Regarding this work, I think we're, we're doing some catch up because we're a midsize city, but yet we, we want to play in the sandbox with the big cities and we're part of the big cities health coalition. And so when we first actually during the pandemic we, we really wanted to better understand what's happening across the country with what health departments are doing around mental health.

And so I initiated phone calls and interviews with four health departments. And big health departments learned that they were much bigger than we were. We've got like 150 employees. Some of those folks are seasonal techs, so they're not permanent employees. I was talking to New York City, Chicago, Seattle, King County. They have, honestly, thousands of employees.

And so I initiated phone calls and interviews with four health departments. And big health departments learned that they were much bigger than we were. We've got like 150 employees. Some of those folks are seasonal techs, so they're not permanent employees. I was talking to New York City, Chicago, Seattle, King County. They have, honestly, thousands of employees.

Um, so they have, their capacity is much greater than ours, but, um, certainly mental health is, it's a huge issue for everybody in every community. However, because we're Minneapolis and we had the civil and the murder of George Floyd, um, the civil unrest, I think that has really, um, we're struggling, uh, even more so. Um, and, uh, so.

Um, so they have, their capacity is much greater than ours, but, um, certainly mental health is, it's a huge issue for everybody in every community. However, because we're Minneapolis and we had the civil and the murder of George Floyd, um, the civil unrest, I think that has really, um, we're struggling, uh, even more so. Um, and, uh, so.