Overview

Minnesota is in the Midwestern region of the United States and has a population of 5.6 million people. While categorized as a decentralized state, Minnesota’s governmental public health system is best described as a state and local partnership. There are eleven federally recognized Tribal nations in Minnesota who each have their own public health authority. State, local, and Tribal health departments work together towards a vision of health equity in Minnesota, where all communities are thriving, and all people have what they need to be healthy.

Just like our COVID-19 response, transformation of the governmental public health system takes grit and grace among partners. Sarah Reese, Director, Polk County Public Health]

Key Highlights

In its 2021 session, the Minnesota Legislature recognized the important role of public health. In addition to other investments, the legislature provided $6M for local and Tribal public health projects to build public health capacity and pilot new organizational models. The first round of projects will focus on Foundational Capabilities in communications; data and epidemiology; community partnerships; and/or health equity and include deep rural, rural, suburban, and urban settings.

Minnesota is building health equity as a Foundational Capability and providing funding, training, and technical assistance to build knowledge, skills, and abilities across the state.

Minnesota is initiating a Tribal led process to define and build foundational public health infrastructure. Minnesota is also working to increase racial/ethnic diversity in the workforce.

Minnesota Foundational Public Health Responsibilities Model

Where you live should not determine your level of public health protection. This framework of foundational public health responsibilities represents the work governmental public health must do to meet communities’ unique needs statewide, grounded by this shared core value of equity.

Legislation and Advocacy

The Minnesota Local Public Health Act outlines the shared public health responsibilities of the state and local governments in Minnesota and establishes accountability for funding on statewide initiatives; provides guidelines for assessment and planning; requires documented progress toward the achievement of statewide goals; and assigns oversight of the statewide system to the commissioner of health. Learn more about the Local Public Health Act.