The Behavioral Health Department oversees efforts to engage the community in issues related to mental health. The staff provides information and resources to the community and other professionals and supports the following community collaborations:

Mental Health Local Advisory Council (LAC): The Carver County LAC is comprised of mental health consumers, family members of consumers, and providers. Its mission is to advise Carver County commissioners regarding mental health policies, programs, and needs. Members review and evaluate existing services and listen to mental health consumers, providers, and organizations in order to determine unmet needs within the county. The LAC meets the second Tuesday of every month from 4-6 p.m. at the First Street Center in Waconia. Meetings are open to the public, people interested in mental health issues and services are encouraged to attend.

For more information, please contact Kelli Brenny (Co-Chair) at kellibrenny@icloud.com or Derek Gunderson (Co-Chair) at  derekgunderson38@gmail.com. 

Carver County Adult Mental Health Initiative:

Mission and Purpose:   The Carver County AMHI is dedicated to improving the mental health of it's community, through intentional planning and partnerships across the region, and is grounded in the following principles:

• Lived experienced with mental illness guides the governance and services.
• We develop and provide an array of person-centered services that builds on personal and cultural strengths.
• The AMHI brings together people with lived experience, providers, counties, managed care organizations and the Department of Human Services to fully utilize all available resources to meet regional needs.
• The AMHI assures access, early intervention, coordination and application of resources through creative partnerships.
• The AMHI utilizes a data driven model to evaluate the impact of services on health outcomes.

The Adult Mental Health Initiative invites residents who have received mental health services and/or their family members to give their input at meetings and help shape the development of Adult Mental Health Services.  AMHI meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month from 2 to 3 p.m.  More information is available by calling the Adult Mental Health Program Supervisor at 952-442-3010.