LWV Park Rapids presents: Mental Health Care Delivery in Minnesota: A System in Crisis

An increasingly discussed topic for schools, law enforcement, even in the workplace is our mental health services around the state and in Hubbard County.  Many of the service providers are caught in their own “silos” and people do not know how to navigate between the silos.  How can we bring all the stakeholders together to improve not only people’s lives but our community?  In 2016 The Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health was established to provide the Governor and Legislature with comprehensive recommendations to improve Minnesota’s mental health system. (to read the entire report visit: https://mn.gov/dhs/mental-health-tf/report/)

To find out about the conclusions and recommendations from the Task Force  and their impact on Hubbard County join League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area on May 23, 2017 at Riverside United Methodist Church in Park Rapids.  Sign in and coffee will start at 6 pm with the program starting at 6:30 pm.  

We will hear from Bruce Sutor, MD, is a Consultant and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  He has been Practice Chair for the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at Mayo since 2011 and in 2016 was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force For Mental Health.  He spent his summers at the family cabin on Lake Emma. Presently he and his wife Shari now have a vacation home on Big Sand Lake.

After Dr. Sutor’s presentation, we will hear from Danielle (Norby) Lien, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker  with A Better Connection Inc. in Park Rapids. Ms Lien will tell us what is the county’s current situation with mental health systems. She will also outline some of the plans being worked on by the Community Facilitation Task Force to improve the county’s response to mental health issues.

League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area  (LWVPRA), a non-partisan volunteer organization, whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government and influence public policy through education and advocacy.  Please direct any questions about LWVPRA activities, events or on how to join LWVPRA ( remember its not for women only) by emailing  lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. Follow our activities, events on our website: http://lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/

Report from 2017 League Convention

League of Women Voters Minnesota held its 2017 Convention on Saturday at Normandale Community College.  The main work of the convention was to elect new officers, directors and pass amendments to the By Laws so that they conform with our new operating systems.  We also ratified the League Program of policies which provides us with a working framework in knowing how to focus our lobbying and education efforts.

Park Rapids sent 3 delegates: Carolynne White, Florence Hedeen and Beth Baker-Knuttlia to represent LWVPRA.


All three of us also attended workshops on Friday afternoon: membership leadership development and a workshop on Action.  On Friday evening we heard a very good presentation by Professor Tim Johnson on the topic of Appointments of US Supreme Court. (about Timothy R Johnson)

We also got to hear Lorna Landvik, author of Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. during the Legacy Luncheon on Friday. Of course the best part of any convention is getting to know other League members and finding out what other Leagues are doing.

We also got to enjoy a walk in the Japanese Garden on the campus grounds.