Sara Benson, Director
Renville County Public Health was established in 1916. The department continues today with the goal of “making a difference” to the people and communities we serve.
Hours and Location
Hours:
Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Address:
Government Services Center
105 South 5th Street, Suite 119H
Olivia MN 56277
Renville County Public Health provides a broad range of services to individuals, families and communities to:
- Promote a healthy and safe community,
- Prevent illness, disease and injury, and
- Protect and enhance the health of those who live, work, learn and play in Renville County.
Diseases & Immunizations
Promoting Family Health:
Renville County Public Health Services promotes healthy families and safe, nurturing environments for children. Offers home visiting and programs for parents and children’s health, Pregnancy and birth, Parenting education. Car seats. Concerns with child development.
Car Seats
Minnesota State Law requires that every driver who transports a child or children under the age of 18 in a motor vehicle have the child or children restrained in a child safety seat or seat belt. Any motor vehicle operator who violates this law may face fines and penalties per Minnesota Statute 169.685.
Visit the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety to learn about the car seat guidelines and which vehicle restraint your child should be in. If a child can be placed in more than one category of fit, then the child must be placed in the more protective category (with rear-facing being the most protective category).
Car Seat Education & Car Seats
Renville County Public Health provides free car seat education to all Renville County residents, as well as private car seat checks upon request. Car seats are available to PrimeWest members, Blue Plus members, and others who may qualify.
Car Seat Education for Foster Care and Daycare
Basic Education for Safe Travels (B.E.S.T.) is provided by Renville County Public Health. This education is approved to meet the required car seat training for licensing. The online education is done before meeting with Renville County Public Health staff to do an in-person skills test. The fee is $30 per person to complete the skills test.
To request car seat education or a car seat check, to see if you qualify for a car seat, or learn how to enroll in a B.E.S.T. class, call us at 320-523-2570 or email Public Health.
Steps for Securing a Child In a Car Seat:
- Strap placement: At or below the shoulder for the rear-facing seat, and at or above the shoulders for the forward-facing seat
- Pinch test: Straps need to be tight and should not be able to pinch any slack at the shoulders
- Retainer clip at armpit level
- Crotch strap: Close to crotch but not sitting on it
Infant seats only: Read the manual for correct handlebar placement when transporting
Booster seats: Lap belt on hip bones, shoulder belt across chest
To view a video for installing a car seat and safety tips, click here.
Para ver este video en inglés, haga clic aquí.
When is it safe to use the seat belt alone?
The 5-step test demonstrates how the seat belt fits correctly:
1) The child sits all the way back against the vehicle seat.
2) The child’s knees bend over the edge of the vehicle seat.
3) The lap belt fits snugly across the hips near the top of the child’s thighs, not the child’s abdomen.
4) The shoulder belt snugly crosses the center of the child’s chest and shoulder, not the child’s neck.
5) The child sits correctly, without slouching, for the duration of the ride.
*If the child is not able to pass all 5 of these steps, then the child still needs a booster seat with the lap/shoulder safety belt.
Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC)
Renville County Public Health provides outreach for the preventative healthcare program Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC). Child and Teen Checkups include well-child medical exams and dental care, at no cost to eligible children and teens. These checkups include specific screening components to improve the health of children and teens and limit long-term outcomes of undetected health problems.
Healthcare providers can be great resources during the parenting process. Child and Teen Checkups is a great way for providers to thoroughly determine if your child is growing and developing properly. Referrals from the provider to other professionals like an audiologist, special education teacher, dentist, or other health specialists as needed can help parents get the best possible outcomes for their children.
For more information about Child and Teen Checkups, you can call Renville County Public Health at #320-523-2570, or call your clinic for an appointment.
Follow Along Program
Family Health offers the Follow Along Program as a way for parents of children birth to age 5 to learn about their child’s healthy growth and development. The program is open to anyone and can call 320-523-2570 to enroll. Participating parents receive Follow Along questionnaires about the child’s growth and development. They can monitor the child’s progress to see if their child is playing, talking, growing, moving, and acting like other children the same age. If parents have concerns about their child’s development, a public health nurse will follow up and offer any available resources.
Help Me Grow
While all young children grow and change at their rate, some children experience delays in their development. Help Me Grow provides resources for families to understand developmental milestones and learn if there are concerns. This helps families take the lead in seeking additional support or referring their child for a comprehensive, confidential screening or evaluation at no cost. Early childhood specialists will work with eligible children and families to plan the services and support they need.
Help Me Grow is an interagency effort with the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health and Human Services.
New Baby Visit
A Public Health Nurse contacts all parents of newborns in Renville County to offer a home visit. A Public Health Nurse will visit with you about your baby’s weight, sleeping and eating patterns, breastfeeding and normal newborn characteristic. Other topics are well child check-ups, immunizations, car seat usage, bonding with your baby, and how to comfort your baby when fussy or crying. The nurse answers questions, connects parents to resources and offers home visits by a public health nurse if needed.
Nurse Family Partnership
For more information, please visit the Supporting Hands Nurse-Family Partnership website.
Renville County also partners with Supporting Hands Nurse-Family Partnership, a program for first-time mothers. This is a voluntary program for first-time moms that is offered at no cost thanks to funding support from a variety of other resources. Mothers will have a personal nurse visiting them at home, who can offer education and support during pregnancy and until your baby reaches two years of age.
Ongoing Family Home Visiting Program
Parenting is one of the most important jobs you will have, yet has the least amount of training. It can be very rewarding, but often challenging. Family home visiting can help to prepare parents for the challenges and provide ongoing support. Home visits are made to pregnant women, newborns/toddlers and their parents, and preschool children with physical or developmental conditions. The goal of the Family Home Visiting program is to foster healthy beginning. The relationships are often long-term visiting with the child and parents until about age three.
Emergency Preparedness
A key role of local health departments, along with health care partners, is planning. We must prepare and practice in order to respond to an event while considering the impacts to people in our community when public health, health care or behavioral health systems are compromised or unavailable during and after a disaster.
Be Ready: Prepare, Plan, Stay Informed. A public health emergency is anything that causes, or could cause, injuries or illness to a large number of people. Public health emergencies include the following:
- Emerging infectious diseases
- Health-endangering effects of severe weather, natural disasters and power outages
- Incidents resulting in mass casualties
- Toxic chemical or radiological releases
- Acts of bioterrorism
Contact us if you have non-emergency questions:
- Renville County Public Health
Main Phone 320-523-2570 – Email - Sara Benson, Director
Phone: 320-523-3831 – Email - Samantha Best, Emergency Preparedness
Phone: 320-523-3839 – Email - Pam Leach, MN Responds
Phone: 320-523-3719 – Email
If you have a Public Health Emergency to report, please visit our Emergency Reporting section for information, telephone numbers, and websites.
What can YOU do to be Ready?
Visit Ready to learn more! Resources include what to do before, during, and after an emergency, and how to prepare, plan, build a kit, and stay informed. There are also ways to learn about community preparedness, plan for and protect your business, get kids involved in preparedness, create special plans for various populations, and protect your pets.
CodeRED is a FREE emergency notification service provided to all residents within Renville County that will notify you of emergency information through phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media.
The Renville County Sheriff’s Department offers many Emergency Preparedness and Safety, including Project Lifesaver and File of Life.
Try out the American Red Cross mobile phone app, and access other resources through the American Red Cross.
Minnesota Responds
Volunteer for Minnesota Responds! Minnesota Responds is a partnership that integrates local, regional, and statewide volunteer programs to assist our public health and healthcare systems during a disaster. Major emergencies can overwhelm the capabilities of hospitals and clinics, particularly during the first 12-72 hours of a large-scale emergency. Volunteers during this critical time can play an important role in improving overall response capabilities. Local volunteer coordinators mobilize health and “non-health” volunteers to respond to emergencies within the community, or if the volunteer is interested, within the state. A wide variety of people and skills are needed, everything from answering the phones to providing immunizations. You may take the free online course Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps: an Online Orientation for Volunteers. Please consider registering with MNResponds.
Emergency Reporting
A public health emergency is anything that causes or could cause, injuries or illness to many people. Please use the following guidelines to figure out how to respond. If this is an emergency, call 911
Foodborne Illness
If you think you are ill from eating food in a public setting, call the Minnesota Foodborne Illness Hotline at:
Minnesota Department of Health Emergency Operations “After Hours” Number
Phone # 651-201-5735
Website: https://www.health.state.mn.us/about/emergency.html
Natural or Man-Made Emergencies
A natural or man-made emergency that may have public health consequences for the community, call your local Sheriff’s Department Dispatch:
Renville County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at #320-523-1161.
Pesticide Exposure
To address immediate Pesticide Exposure concerns and related complaints:
First: Any individual who believes they may have been exposed to harmful levels of pesticides should seek immediate medical attention.
Second: Call the Poison Control Center at #800-222-1222 for help with emergency first aid information.
Third: Individuals should report exposure or drift concerns to the Minnesota Duty Officer at #800-422-0798 (24 hours-a-day/7 days-a-week) or Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) complaint line at #651-201-6333 (Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm)
Fourth: Assistance with and information about acute or immediate pesticide exposure concerns, as well as chronic exposure concerns, can also be obtained from the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at #800-858-7378. The Center is staffed from 9am to 1pm (Central Time), Monday through Friday to assist with exposure and illness reporting, and to provide assistance related to the toxicology and symptomology of certain pesticide products.
And… For potential human or animal exposure MDA will contact the applicator to try to collect detailed information on the actual pesticide used for a potential exposure as soon as possible, and provide that information to the physician or the veterinarian as they relate to a course of diagnosis, or the care or treatment of a patient. The physician or veterinarian should call the MN Duty Officer at #800-422-0798 (24 hours-a-day/7 days-a-week) or MDA Complaint Line at #651-201-6333 (Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm) or submit to the MDA a request form available by clicking here. The MDA, working with the Minnesota Department of Health, is committed to providing all available information as soon as possible.
Physical Contact with a Bat
If you have had physical contact with a bat, call your healthcare provider.
If you find a bat in your home, capture it. Wait until regular business hours to call the
Minnesota Department of Health for advice at #651-201-5414.
Visit the MDH website for more information:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/rabies/risk/humanbat.html
Physician Reporting
For diseases that require immediate reporting, please call the
Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division at
#651-201-5414 or #1-877-676-5414.
For more information, visit: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/reportable/index.html
Find a list of reportable diseases A-Z at the Minnesota Department of Health:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/reportable/rule/poster.html
Poisoning
For a poisoning emergency, call 911.
Have you got a poison question? Call the Minnesota Poison Control System at #1-800-222-1222.
Environmental Health Specialist
Joey Steidl
Phone: 320-523-2570
Email Joey
To report a suspected foodborne or waterborne illness:
Call the Minnesota Foodborne Illness Hotline at 1-877-366-3455.
Submit your report using the Foodborne and Waterborne Illness Report, a confidential online survey.
Or Email [email protected].
The Kandiyohi-Renville Community Health Board issues licenses for several establishments:
- Food, Pools, or Lodging Establishment Application for Renewal or New Ownership
- Food, Pools, or Lodging Plan Review Application
- Special Event Food Stand Application
- Special Event Camping Area Application
- Mobile Food Unit Application
- Mobile Food Unit Plan Review Application
- Mobile Home Park/Recreational Camping Area Plan Review Application
(Note: This link takes you to a Kandiyohi-Renville Community Health Board page to complete and submit your application).
Licensing for Food, Beverage, Lodging, Camps, Pools, and Manufactured Home Parks
A license is required annually for every person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of conducting a food and beverage service establishment, youth camp, hotel, motel, lodging establishment, public pool, or resort. Any person within to operate a place of business licensed in this section shall first make application, pay the required fee specified in this section, and receive approval for operation, including plan review approval.
Special Events Licenses
A special event food stand is a food and beverage service establishment which is used in conjunction with celebrations and other events -stands can operate for up to 10 individual days or a combination of events that total no more than 10 days. All stands must be operated in compliance with the Minnesota Food Code. A license is required prior to events.
Certified Food Manager
The State of Minnesota requires a Minnesota Certified Food Manager in most food establishments including small, medium, and large food establishments. Browse the Minnesota Department of Health’s web-page for courses in the state.
Plan Reviews
- All plans and specifications must be submitted to this office at least one month prior to starting construction.
- Construction may not begin until plans have been approved.
- Failure to submit plans and appropriate fees for new construction or remodeling will not prevent the fees from being collected.
- In addition, any construction not meeting code will have to be corrected prior to opening.
Tobacco License & Education
A retail tobacco sale license is required for each location at which tobacco is sold in Renville County. The Renville County Tobacco Ordinance requires annual training for each tobacco retailer and their employees. Please contact the Public Health office at 320-523-2570 for more information and to apply for a tobacco license
Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
Manufactured Home Parks Handbook
Laws & Rules
The Renville County Board adopted the following Minnesota Statutes and Rules by reference as part of the ordinance. These Minnesota Statutes and Rules can be found at www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us.
Food, Beverage, and Lodging Establishments, as defined in and governed by Minnesota Statues, Chapter 157 (with the exemption from the fee’s section 157.16) and Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 327, Minnesota Rules, parts 4626.0010 to 4626.2010, and Minnesota Rules, parts 4625.0100 to 4625.2200.
Manufactured Home Parks and Recreational Camping Areas, as defined in and governed by Minnesota Statues, Sections 327.14 to 327.28, and Minnesota Rules, parts 4630.0200 to 4630.2210.
Youth Camps, as defined in and governed by Minnesota Statutes, Sections 144.71 to 144.74, and Minnesota Rules, parts 4630.2300 to 4630.4700.
Public Pools, as defined and governed by Minnesota Statutes, Section 144.1222, and Minnesota Rules, parts 4717.0150 to 4717.3970.
Ordinances:
Renville County Meth (Clandestine Drug Lab) Clean-up Ordinance
This ordinance is intended to reduce exposure to chemicals used at clandestine drug lab operations in structures including dwellings, buildings, motor vehicles, trailers, appliances or the land where they are located. This ordinance also assists and guides appropriate public authorities, property owners, and occupants to prevent injury and illness to members of the public, particularly children.
Variances to Minnesota Rules for:
a. Lodging, as specified in Minnesota Rules, part 4717.7000, subpart 1(D)
b. Manufactured home parks and recreational camping areas, as specified in Minnesota Rules, part 4717.7000, subpart 1(E)
c. Youth camps, as specified in Minnesota Rules, part 4717.7000, subpart 1(F)
d. Food establishments, as specified in Minnesota Rules, parts 4626.1690 to 4626.1715.
Environments and Your Health
Renville County Licensing Ordinance
Helpful Information
Radon
Free Radon Test Kits are available to pick up at Renville County Public Health
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
Whether you want to increase your knowledge or refresh your memory, our health promotion programs can help you take better care of yourself and your family. Our focus is especially on behaviors that affect long-term health, such as tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and lack of or incorrect use of seatbelts and car seats.
Blood Pressure Clinics
Renville County Public Health offers FREE blood pressure clinics every Friday from 1pm to 3pm at the Public Health Office. No appointment necessary.
SHIP – Statewide Health Improvement Partnership
Local partnerships improving health at the local level.
Kandiyohi-Renville SHIP operates at the community level through the use of local partnerships. SHIP recognizes that local organizations know best how to positively impact health in their communities. SHIP’s work is directed by local community leadership teams that bring to the table expertise, strong relationships and connections in a variety of fields.
SHIP works in multiple settings including non-profits; city and county leadership; schools; workplaces; and local health care organizations. Healthy Eating, Active Living, Tobacco Reduction, and Well-Being are SHIP’s primary areas of focus. SHIP supports sustainable efforts to make systemic changes in policy, systems and environments. Click to learn more about the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (MDH).
For more information about SHIP or SHIP funding, contact Jeff Filipek at Renville County Public Health.
Links to other Healthy Living partners and resources
- RAPAD – Renville Alliance for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drugs
- Quit Partner – Free program to conquer your tobacco-use habits, including smoking, vaping or chewing
- Office of Traffic Safety – Learn about current Traffic Safety Laws
- Farm to School – Learn more about how to connect schools and farmers
Home Health Care
Renville County Public Health has been a Medicare-certified and Minnesota Department of Health licensed home care agency for over 45 years. Public Health Nursing, Home Health Aide, and Physical / Occupational / Speech Therapy services are provided throughout Renville County for eligible clients. Services are typically provided Monday through Friday from 8:00am until 4:30pm.
What is home care?
Home Health Care is a wide range of services provided to a person within their home, from helping to manage a long-term health problem to helping you return home while you recover from an acute illness. A Nurse will work with you, your family, and your doctor to plan your home care, set up to meet your individual needs. Services will not be provided for the things you would or could do for yourself, as this help you remain independent and helps you reduce costs.
How do I pay for home care?
Renville County Public Health Services can help you determine your payment sources and handle the billing. The rate is set every year by the County Commissioners. Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and the Veteran’s Administration may cover the cost of some home care services. You may also qualify for some governmental programs aimed to keep you in your community, or you may pay privately for the services.
CONTACT US to sign up for home care or if you have questions regarding home care.
If you are in a Hospital or Nursing Home, ask your Nurse, Doctor, or Social Worker to contact us.
Diseases & Immunizations
Infectious Diseases & Immunizations
Infectious diseases, from influenza to COVID-19 to pertussis to measles, affect all of us at one time or another. Public Health, on the state and local level, monitors the occurrence of infectious diseases, develops strategies for preventing and controlling those diseases, and works to put those strategies in action. Public Health strives to prevent disease occurrence in Renville County through immunizations and education of residents.
Drug Take Back Program
The Renville County Sheriff’s Office offers a Drug Take Back Program to safely collect and destroy expired or otherwise unused medications (prescription and/or over-the-counter). This program is part of a larger, comprehensive plan to reduce drug crimes and addiction and to keep our children safe by reducing the changes of accidental overdoses. Medications collected by the Sheriff’s Office are destroyed at an approved incinerator.
Information on Diseases and Conditions
For information about certain health diseases and conditions, visit Minnesota Department of Health’s List of Diseases and Conditions webpage
Infectious Diseases in Child Care Settings and Schools
Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools Manual is a comprehensive document on infectious diseases developed by Hennepin County. It informs parents and guardians, caregivers, childcare providers, administrators, and school health staff about specific infectious disease problems they may encounter in the childcare setting or in schools. The manual is maintained online, which allows for more frequent updates to ensure the most current information available.
Disease Reporting
By law, certain diseases that can affect the public’s health must be reported to public health agencies from healthcare providers and laboratories in order to keep the disease from spreading. Visit Minnesota Department of Health’s Infectious Disease Reporting webpage for details.
Immunizations
Immunizations protect us from many serious diseases. Recommended immunizations are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, certain medical conditions, travel locations, and previous immunizations. An annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older. Ask your healthcare provider or contact Renville County Public Health for more information. Review the information below to find out what vaccines you need. It’s never too late to catch up on immunizations!
Vaccine Schedules
Keeping Track of your shots
You can use Docket and Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC)
to access your immunization records.
Sharps Disposal
Renville County Public Health offers that if you would like to dispose of your sharps (used medical syringes/needles), you can pay $10 to receive a 5-quart red biohazard sharps container and have your container disposed of. Click here to view our information as well as other ways in which you can safely dispose of your sharps.
Tuberculosis
The Minnesota Department of Health has a Tuberculosis (TB) Prevention and Control Program, which collaborates with clinicians and local health departments throughout Minnesota to ensure that persons with TB receive effective and timely treatment, and that contact investigations are performed to minimize the spread of TB.
What is Tuberculosis?
TB is a serious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB can attack any part of the body, but most often affects the lungs. There are two phases of TB: latent TB infection and active TB disease. Both phases can be treated with medication. Only persons with active TB disease can spread TB germs to others. TB can spread when someone with active TB of the lungs or voice box coughs, yells, sneezes or talks and others breathe in the bacteria. People are most likely to become infected with TB if they spend many hours in close contact with someone who has active TB disease. NOTE: Brief contact usually does not lead to infection. People with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) have dormant tuberculosis bacteria in their body. They usually do not feel sick and cannot spread the infection to others. However, people with LTBI need to receive treatment to prevent the disease from becoming active.
For more information about tuberculosis, visit Minnesota Department of Health’s Tuberculosis (TB) webpage.
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING
Kandiyohi-Renville Community Health Board (CHB) is the “governance structure” for many public health activities. The CHB functions to assess the community health needs and assets, and set local priorities. The members of the Kandiyohi-Renville CHB include from each county: two appointed County Commissioners; one community member as well as an additional community member at large for both counties; County Administrators; and the Public Health Directors and Community Health Services Administrator serving both counties. Kandiyohi-Renville CHB Meeting Minutes
All Community Health Boards (CHBs) in Minnesota are required to engage in assessment and planning to yield local public health priorities and focus local resources. These plans guide the work of the CHB and can be used to advocate for resources, work toward visible results, and demonstrate accountability and efficiency.
Community Health Assessment is one of the core functions of public health. Local Community Health Boards use National, State, and Local data to assess the community’s health status and identify ongoing and emerging health issues. The Kandiyohi-Renville Community Health Board has prepared the following Community Health Assessment for 2024. The purpose of this community health assessment of both Kandiyohi and Renville Counties is to collect and analyze data in a way that educates the community of important health priorities and mobilizes them to leverage resources, and create a plan of action to improve the community’s health.
Kandiyohi-Renville Community Health Assessment -2024
Kandiyohi-Renville Community Health Assessment Summary -2024
Linked here is the Minnesota Statewide Health Assessment conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health, with which our Kandiyohi-Renville community health assessment aligns.
Community Health Improvement Plan is a plan completed and implemented in conjunction with others in the community. Public Health acknowledges that to improve the health of the public, we cannot do it alone. Community partners, from health organizations, service clubs, schools, government agencies, etc. will work together to address the identified top three health issues:
- Obesity and Nutrition
- Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
- Mental Health
Kandiyohi-Renville Community Health Improvement Plan
Strategic Plan is an internal working document of the Kandiyohi-Renville Community Health Board. The strategic plan outlines the vision, goals and values of the Public Health departments as well as action plans for the next five years: Kandiyohi-Renville Strategic Plan
The 2023 Southwest Region Adult Health Survey was conducted to learn about the health and health habits – – nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco use — of residents living in 16 counties in southwest Minnesota (Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Renville, Swift, and Yellow Medicine Counties). Wilder Research conducted the survey in 2023.
The Minnesota Student Survey is conducted every three years among populations of students in Minnesota public schools. The survey asks questions about activities, experiences, and behaviors. Topics covered include tobacco, alcohol and drug use, school climate, physical activity, violence and safety, connections with school and family, health, and other topics. Questions about sexual activity are asked only of high school students. The survey is administered jointly by the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health, Human Services, and Public Safety.
Leading Health Indicators: Healthy People 2030 provides a comprehensive set of 10-year, national goals and objectives for improving the health of all Americans. The indicators identified are used to assess the health of the Nation, facilitate collaboration across sectors, and motivate action at the national, State, and community levels to improve the health of the U.S. population.
