Southeast Minnesota counties honored with County Achievement Award for regional public health innovation

December 10, 2025

Olmsted County, in partnership with 10 other counties in Southeast Minnesota, has received a County Achievement Award for its leadership in creating a regional population health data model. This award from the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) recognizes valuable innovations and improvements in county government; in this case specifically, it was for the region’s creative approach to improving public health systems and data sharing across county lines. 
 
In 2022, Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS) received the first of two grants through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Infrastructure Fund to pilot the data sharing model. In this model, Olmsted County used its health data analysis expertise to support smaller counties, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona. These counties gained access to real-time data, expert analysis, and important health information they didn’t have before. 
 
“This project is a powerful example of how regional collaboration can build capacity and improve public health outcomes for all,” said OCPHS Director Denise Daniels. “We’re proud to have helped create a model that others across the state are now replicating.” 
 
Major accomplishments from the southeast regional model include: 

  • Creating data-sharing agreements to protect the exchange of detailed health data. 
  • Hiring epidemiologists and adapting staffing models to meet regional needs. 
  • Building dashboards showing data on mental health, substance use, adolescent behavior, and more. 
  • Partnering with the MDH to improve access to timely data on suicide, overdoses, and other critical issues. 
  • Training local public health staff to understand and use data to guide decisions and policies.  
  • Providing counties with access to real-time health data, including trends within Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

“This regional population health data model provides access to local trends. That, in turn, helps us make better decisions to help improve the health and well-being for residents in our region,” said Wabasha County Public Health Director Tammy Fiedler. “It is an ideal example of how counties can collaborate to build capacity for all.” 

The AMC award highlights the power of regional collaboration to overcome resource limitations that impact public health decision-making. By turning data into actionable insights, the southeast region is better equipped to respond to emerging health trends and improve outcomes for communities across Minnesota.   

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Media contact: Emma Diercks, Communications Specialist, 507-328-6166