Mental Health Advisory Council

This advisory coucil is established pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 245.466, subd. 5. It has the following responsibilities:

1. To review, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding the local mental health system

2. Annually arrange for input from the regional treatment center review board regarding coordination of care between the regional treatment center and community-based services

3. Annually arrange for input from local system of care providers regarding coordination of care between services

4. Identify for the County Board the individuals, providers, agencies, and associations to receive information on predictors and symptoms of emotional disturbances, where mental health services are available in the county, and how to access the services 

The Mental Health Advisory Council is appointed by the County Board and consists of no less than 15 and no more than 25 members.  Committee members, other than mental health professionals, are residents of Washington County. Membership is from the following:

• Consumer(s) of mental health services
• Family members(s) of a mentally ill person
• Child mental health professional
• Adult mental health professional
• Other mental health professional - outside community support services representative
• Five commissioner representatives, one from each district
• Human Services, Inc., Board representative
• Children's Mental Health Collaborative representative
• Alliance for the Mentally Ill representative
• Staff member of Community Services
• Chaplaincy representative
• Law Enforcement Representative

The County Board designates one commissioner to serve as a contact to the advisory council.

Applicants for County Commissioner representative membership must complete the required county application and submit any background information requested. Interested applicants for all other categories of membership are solicited by the Department of Community Services, who provides a recommendation for appointment to the Washington County Board. The County Board, at its discretion, may interview any applicant seeking appointment to the Mental Health Advisory Council.

The Mental Health Advisory Council may, from time to time, establish additional task forces or subcommittees to study a special issue or conduct special projects.  The membership shall serve only for the time necessary to study and report on such issues or to complete the assigned project. Additional community representation may be sought for participation in the task force or subcommittee to provide expertise or resources needed for successful completion. These additional representatives are considered ad hoc and do not have voting privileges in the task force or subcommittee.

Members serve for a term of three years from the date of their appointment and are eligible for a total of two terms (total of six years of service).  Terms are staggered to provide continuity on the advisory council.

Even though a member may be appointed (or reappointed) to a term on the Mental Health Advisory Council, the County Board, at its discretion, may replace the member at any time, when, in the opinion of the County Board or County Commissioner appointing the member, it is in the best interests of the county to do so.

Meetings of this council are held every two months or at such times and places as designated by the department. The Mental Health Advisory Council normally meets the second Tuesday of the month from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Members are eligible to receive meeting per diem and mileage reimbursement at the rate established by the County Board.

This advisory council operates in accordance with the operating procedures established by the county.