How Does the Joint Leadership Team Fit into Minnesota's Public Health Ecosystem?

Public Health System Transformation Update Newsletter
April 27, 2026 | View all system transformation newsletters

Representative leadership from across Minnesota

The Joint Leadership Team for Public Health System Transformation (or just "Joint Leadership Team") is a shared leadership group made up of members from local public health, local elected officials, and the state health department, who guide the long-term transformation of Minnesota’s public health system without centralizing control in a single agency.

Members rotate onto the team from three groups:

• Local Public Health Association
• State Community Health Services Advisory Committee
• Minnesota Department of Health

Change works better when we create it together

This shared approach recognizes that public health decisions happen at both the state and local levels, and that changes work better when they are created together.

The Joint Leadership Team and its sectors are intentionally building and sustaining relationships with Tribal public health leaders, recognizing that until recently (and for too long) Tribal governments have not been included in the statewide public health system. 

Public health system growth and transformation is only possible with all governmental public health partners at the table.  

Focused on the future, with an understanding of the past

The Joint Leadership Team works together, planning how to build a stronger public health system—one that is easier to navigate, responds quickly to community needs, and has public support. This includes helping Minnesota’s entire public health system move toward more modern tools and practices, sustained funding, and shared leadership.

Team members stay connected to their own organizations. They bring back ideas, challenges, and feedback to the group, helping make sure changes happen in a coordinated and consistent way across the state. The Joint Leadership Team relies on staff and leadership from state, local, and Tribal public health, and local elected officials, to be the eyes, ears, and hands to strengthen and transform the public health system. This happens along with Tribal Nations, many non-governmental partners, and communities who care about their health. People within each sector of the public health system are the builders and project managers of specific pieces of work that make the Joint Leadership Team vision a reality, and also help shape governance through SCHSAC.

Collaboration and connection, horizontally and vertically

The team also helps bridge differences between these groups, which may have different ways of making decisions. This helps ensure that changes to public health are thoughtful, coordinated, and collaborative no matter where they happen.

These strong relationships help public health systems work well in good times, and help them stay strong when funding or resources are limited.

Who are the team's current members?

See a roster of members and dig into the Joint Leadership Team’s roadmap toward a transformed public health system: Joint Leadership Team.