PHHS begins implementing changes after consultant report
Cook County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) has already begun implementing changes following consultant Meghan Mohs’ presentation at the March board meeting.
“Meghan Mose has been working with our department since last fall,” PHHS Director Grace Grinager told WTIP. “While she’s been working on the report, she’s also been talking with myself., he’s been talking with Plamen [Dimitrov], the former Interim PHHS Director. She’s been talking with County Administrator, Kristin Trebil-Halbersma, and so together, we’ve been able to actually start some of the work that she proposed or suggested in that report.”
As Grinager noted in a previous conversation with WTIP, PHHS already had policies and procedures in place, but the department has recently worked to centralize them to better assess its needs.
“The first step has been to just put them in one place so that we can really inventory what we have, what we should develop,” Grinager said. “We’ve also been able to ask staff, what do you think the gaps are here that need to be immediately remedied?”
One of Mohs’ recommendations was to improve documentation of departmental work. Grinager agreed and said a small working group has been reviewing documentation policies from other counties to inform improvements locally. PHHS has already drafted a new documentation policy that will be presented for feedback.
“A lot of these recommendations are going to be long term projects, so we’ve started down the path of following through on some of these recommendations, but it’s going to be some time before I’d consider them to be complete,” Grinager said.
Grinager said she will continue updating the PHHS board on progress through her monthly director’s report.
Some recommendations may take longer to implement. Mohs suggested adding division supervisors within the department, a change Grinager said requires further evaluation.
“I think the end goal is to just make sure that we have leadership set up in a way that we can really be accountable for all the different work that happens in our department,” Grinager said. “The reason for pushing that out a bit is to just really be informed if and when we decide to make a change to how our department is structured with regards to leadership.”
Grinager said she hopes to discuss Mohs’ report with the public and is encouraging residents to attend a hybrid meeting scheduled for April 14 at 1 p.m. PHHS’ two advisory councils will attend, and the meeting will be open to the public, offering an opportunity for residents to share feedback with department leaders.
Those interested in attending can call PHHS at 218-387-3620 or email phhs@cookcounty.mn.gov. Additional information is available on the county website.
WTIP spoke with Grinager about department changes, grant funding and Gov. Tim Walz’s “Transforming Human Services” initiative. Audio of that conversation is available below.
Josh Hinke April 2, 2026
