Caroline Khan, Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services Director, asked the board on July 1 to approve a purchase-of-service contract with Creating Communities Consulting to continue the county’s Family Resource Center (FRC) explore-and-assess work funded by a Sauer Family Foundation grant.

Khan told the board the grant pays for a locally led process to determine whether an FRC model (a community hub offering no- or low-cost family services) fits Kandiyohi County’s needs. She said Creating Communities will assist with results‑based accountability, community mapping and engagement workshops, a standards‑of‑quality assessment, ongoing coaching for a hub‑and‑spoke model, and community‑of‑practice sessions.

Khan said the county is coordinating regionally with other nearby counties that selected the same consultant to leverage shared resources. "We did strategically try to select the same partner to leverage each other because we do have shared resources," she said.

Commissioners asked whether each county in the regional group has an independent grant and contract; Khan said yes, each county holds its own grant award and contract with the consultant. The board voted to approve the contract as presented.

Khan said Creating Communities will present initial assessment findings in July and that the explore-and-assess phase will produce recommendations about the model that best fits Kandiyohi County, with a recommendation expected by the end of the grant period.

The contract was approved by motion and voice vote; Khan noted the county is serving as one of several regional partners but that individual grant awards and contracts remain separate.