History
It was over a year in the making, when three local governmental agencies merged on January 1, 2014 to create Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services (DVHHS), setting Jackson and Cottonwood Counties on a path in providing public health and human services throughout both counties for years to come.
In July of 2011 the Jackson and Cottonwood County Boards made a decision to study a joint health and human services agency. The prevailing motivations were the need to explore new ways to become more efficient and effective in the delivery of services in a fiscally constrained environment. Both County Boards recognized that as fiscal challenges continue, the need for services will “likely grow” thus the importance of exploring new and innovative ways to deliver these critical services.
In March of 2012, the Jackson and Cottonwood County Boards adopted a resolution with the intention of forming a joint health and human services agency. At that time, several critical decisions were made to develop and implement a transition plan and to implement that plan effective on January 1, 2014. Four goals were also set for the merger, including Long Term Stability, Improved Outcomes, Improved Efficiencies and to Build Staff Capacity.
In December of 2012, the Jackson and Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners entered into a Temporary Joint Powers Agreement for the purposes of facilitating and providing policy leadership to the planning and implementing of the consolidation of three separate public agencies: Jackson County Human Services, Cottonwood County Family Services, and Cottonwood-Jackson Community Health Services.
On January 1, 2014, the merged agency had approximately 90 staff and additional contracted staff in four separate and distinct ‘service centers’ to meet the needs of Cottonwood and Jackson county residents. This staff facilitates approximately 90 different human services programs and 77 public health programs.
Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services is the public health and human services agency for Jackson and Cottonwood Counties with locations in Jackson and Windom, Minnesota.