Organizational Development

 

“We were tasked with providing training to our maintenance departments and our organization was utilizing a company out of Atlanta Ga. With the Idea Circle [through the Minnesota Innovation Initiative] we were able to tailor our training around our own work schedules and not have a negative impact in our business by either shutting down for training or sending our members all the way down south to attend the training. We have been able to use the mechatronics program to help us develop potential maintenance candidates and also to further our existing maintenance personnel in their skills. It has also helped to cross train our existing members in both mechanical fabrication and hydraulics as well as electrical skills."

The North Country Accountable Communities for Health is a collaborative of North Country Community Health Services, comprised of the local public health organizations in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard and Lake of the Woods counties.  The Idea Circle acted as the grant manager for a two year grant with the goal to improve the region’s capacity to support mental health for at risk youth and youth in crisis. Together, we worked to fulfill this goal through four key objectives based on the Rice County Public Health Model for Mental Health Promotion: Prevention, Promotion, Crisis, and Care/Advocacy.  We employed methods informed by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) research, linking toxic stress early in life with negative health outcomes later in life.  Accomplishments of the grant include: building upon best practice models, improved communication across the region amongst providers, and increased capacity to serve youth through staff development.