Public Health Home Family Health Home & Community Based Services Healthy Communities Safe Communities Health & Environment Emergency Preparedness Public Health Data Opioid Settlement Information

Public Health Home

Houston County Public Health & Human Services offices are currently open to the public.

While we are open to the public, the majority of our services can still be provided using alternate contact and interview methods.

If you need assistance in accessing services or have questions, please contact 507-725-5811. Thank you for your cooperation with us as we work together to keep Houston county residents safe and healthy.

Houston County Public Health Logo

Stay Safe MN

Houston County Public Health is committed to providing reliable health information and access to services that promote the health of the community. Staff is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to respond to your inquiries.

This website is here to provide rapid, convenient access to health related information. If the information you seek is not listed on these webpages, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email or phone for more information. We are passionate about linking people to the health information and services. Allow us the privilege of serving you!

Houston County Local Resources

Jordan Knoke
Public Health Supervisor
P: 507-725-5810
F: 507-725-3990

Family Health

Services are designed to promote and optimize children’s growth and development. The focus is on support, prevention, and education to promote and maintain a high level of wellness for individuals and families in Houston County.

Parent/Child Health
Parents and children can benefit from the following services available through Houston County Public Health:

Car Seat Programs/Safety Information - Contact the Public Health Office for more Information
Child and Teen Checkup Program (C&TC)
Family Home Visiting
Follow Along Program (FAP)
Online enrollment available
Home Safety Checks
Immunizations
WIC (Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program)

Jordan Knoke
Public Health Supervisor
P: 507-725-5810
F: 507-725-3990

Home & Community Based Services

MnChoices Information

MnCHOICES is a comprehensive web-based application that integrates assessment and support planning for Minnesotans who need long-term services and supports. MnCHOICES is for people of all ages who have any type of disability or need for long-term services and supports. MnCHOICES embraces a person-centered approach to ensure services meet each person's strengths, goals, preferences and assessed needs.

Jordan Knoke
Public Health Supervisor
P: 507-725-5810
F: 507-725-3990

Healthy Communities

Safe Communities

Health & Environment

MN Environmental Health Division

Radon

Radon and well water testing kits are available at Houston County Public Health.

Is Your Drinking Water Safe?

Nitrates in Drinking Water

Click the link and enter city or township to find your well

Lyme disease in Minnesota and in Houston County

Jordan Knoke
Public Health Supervisor
P: 507-725-5810
F: 507-725-3990

Emergency Preparedness

Public Health Data

To improve the health of all the residents of Houston County, Houston County Public Health partners with other key organizations such as hospitals, medical clinics and schools.

Public health data represent important indicators and are significant because they track measures of health over time, allowing one to compare the local results with state and national goals and show where there are gaps in health status within the population as a whole as well as within specific groups.

Below are some links that allow you to see some of the most recent health indicators for the population of Houston County and to compare them to other MN counties and the state as a whole.

Links to Public Health Data

Minnesota Health Data and Statistics

This includes a great deal of information for diseases and health conditions in Minnesota and by county including Houston. A few select topics are selected and short cuts are provided below.

Reproductive and Birth Outcomes (click on MS Excel under Natality)

For a table of all the counties (including Houston) in MN birth statistics click on link below and you can see the 2015 Houston County rate (compared to all the other counties) for C/S rate, birth rate, fertility rate, teen pregnancy rate and socioeconomic factors related to birth outcomes.

MDH Environmental Health Data

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

Click on link and put Minnesota in and then Houston County in search field. Choose a variety of health outcomes and health factors to see how Houston County stands.

2019 Minnesota Student Survey

In 2019 the Minnesota Student Survey was administered to public school students in Grades 5, 8, 9 and 11 statewide. This information is very interesting and reveals information about mental health, substance use, physical and social conditions of our youth. Click here for the results of this survey for Houston County students.

United Way COMPASS Data

Department Review

2017 Department Review
2016 Department Review
2015 Department Review

Jordan Knoke
Public Health Supervisor
P: 507-725-5810
F: 507-725-3990

Opioid Settlement Information

Houston County Opioid Settlement Funds

Background

Minnesota has joined a broad multistate coalition in reaching nationwide settlements with the three largest opioid distributors – AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson – and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. The settlements resolve investigations and lawsuits against these companies for their role in the opioid crisis. If the settlements are fully adopted nationally, the distributors will pay $21 billion over 18 years and Johnson & Johnson will pay $5 billion over 10 years.

In April Houston County stakeholders began monthly meetings to discuss the usage of opioid settlement funds because of various lawsuits with pharmaceutical companies. These funds will be distributed over the span of 18 years and are to be used to develop an opioid crisis response within a designated jurisdiction. To decide how opioid settlement funds are spent a collaborative group of key stakeholders are required to vote on spending. Prior to voting on spending decisions our stakeholders determined that a community needs survey was necessary to determine what were the most critical responses to opioid use and/or prevention.

As a result of our community needs survey, we have created a mini-grant application process through a request for proposals.

The details of this proposal can be found here.

If your agency is interested in housing an AED or Naloxone Wall Box, the application can be found here.

John Pugleasa

PHHS Director
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Public Health Office

611 Vista Drive
Caledonia, MN 55921
P: 507-725-5810
F: 507-725-3990

Public Health

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