County services are provided holistically when families have their needs met regardless of department, program, or service structures. Families should only have to know their needs, not county policies, systems, or funding sources. Ensuring families have access to appropriate resources leads to better educational outcomes; greater generational economic prosperity, and wealth-building; and stronger, healthier communities.
Our strategies are based on transforming internal processes and culture to holistically support families, building community capacity in a self-sustaining manner, and strengthening internal and community infrastructure. This is necessary to ensure that children are well-cared for, parents have the knowledge to nurture their children, and the community has access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods that support a healthy, active lifestyle. Additionally, our racially and ethnically diverse communities, as well as working poor and low-income families, are also more likely to experience food insecurity.
Racial equity and shared power
Ramsey County is committed to uplifting traditionally marginalized voices through community engagement and shared decision-making. The county partners with the Health and Wellness Service Teams’ Family and Youth Equity Committee, Food Security Team, and local community organizations to execute the strategies outlined in this priority.
Strategic priority goals
- Families have access to family coaching services through trusted community organizations that help parents identify and achieve their goals for their families.
- Implementation of the 2024/2025 Food Security Strategic Plan, focused on expanding urban agriculture, enhancing information and resource sharing with community and increasing food access points in the Ramsey County enterprise and food rescue opportunities.
- Implementation of a one-stop, automated referral system that recommends county programs and benefits for which families may be eligible and connects them to resources.
Actionable strategies
- Coordinate and promote partnerships of food security related organizations and internally to build referral processes to address immediate food needs and identify policy improvements to advocate for change, this can include staff trainings, appropriate referrals and satellite food distribution sites, and aligning within legislative platforms.
- Partner with community organizations, local government entities and internal Ramsey County departments to expand and enhance local food growing spaces to build resiliency and food security and identify food rescue opportunities.
- Implement a basic needs screening process for staff and residents to use at entry points into the Ramsey County benefit system to connect Ramsey County benefits and services to those may need them.
- In partnership with community, identify internal Ramsey County partners to expand and sustain family coach services. Conduct an outcomes and process evaluation of family coach services to understand impacts and ensure sustainable growth.
- Provide training and resources to employment counselors to increase their awareness of early childhood care and education programming so they can holistically support parents of young children on their path to economic prosperity and meaningful careers.
- Support the American Indian Economic Mobility Hub through evaluation and research in-kind services.
