Olmsted County announces new director for its Family Support and Assistance department
Meridee Braun is continuing her career with Olmsted County as the next director of Family Support and Assistance (FSA). Braun will officially assume the role on Monday, September 12, 2022. This news follows the departure of former Olmsted County FSA Director Corrine Erickson.
As FSA director, Braun will direct the implementation of policies and programs to help provide basic needs to adults and families with children. The goal is to help these individuals and families improve their well-being and self-sufficiency as well as achieve financial stability.
Braun has been with Olmsted County since 2002, with 15 years of her tenure spent with FSA and the last five years spent in the Information Technology Solutions (ITS) department. She began her career at Olmsted County as an eligibility worker in Medical Assistance and Food Support and was in that role for two years before being promoted to an FSA supervisor position leading the Medical Assistance team. In 2017, Braun accepted a management position in Olmsted County’s ITS department. In that role, she was responsible for overseeing countywide technology projects as well as managing ITS project managers and business analysts.
In between Braun’s duties as assigned, she served as interim director of Family Support and Assistance from October 2017 - March 2018, and for two years, was activated to serve in the Olmsted County Emergency Response Center as part of the county’s COVID-19 command team. Braun has a bachelor’s degree in psychology/business from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
“In her variety of leadership roles across the county, Meridee has earned a reputation as an exceptional and motivated leader focused on developing and empowering teams,” said Olmsted County Division Administrator of Health, Housing, and Human Services James Johnson. “We are excited to see Meridee continue her public service as the director of Family Support and Assistance.”
“I am excited about this opportunity to lead the county’s FSA department and continue partnering with Information Technology Solutions,” said Braun. “Some of the things that energize me most as a leader are finding efficiencies, seeking innovation, and maximizing efforts and I am eager to work on those areas across all of Olmsted County’s Health, Housing, and Human Services division."
Braun’s move creates an ITS manager vacancy. That position will be posted and filled as soon as possible.