Northern St. Louis County Mental Health Court celebrates fifth anniversary

The Northern St. Louis County Mental Health Court will celebrate its 5th anniversary on Tuesday, July 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the Hibbing Courthouse. The event will feature graduates, who will share recovery stories, and justice partners who will offer words of encouragement.

“We are so excited to celebrate this milestone with the community,” said Sixth Judicial District Assistant Chief Judge Rachel C. Sullivan. “The Hibbing Mental Health Court has changed the lives of more than 23 graduates over the past five years—that is something not only to celebrate but also to be exceptionally proud of.”

Hibbing was the last courthouse in the Sixth Judicial District to implement a formal treatment court program, developing the second mental health court in the district—and just fourth of its kind in Minnesota—to serve the rural region with mental health court programming and resources.

In 2019, the Northern St. Louis County Mental Health Court received formal sanctioning by the State of Minnesota and secured funding through the Department of Human Services. More importantly, the district established a multidisciplinary team—probation officers, law enforcement, treatment specialists, attorneys, case managers, peer support volunteers—without whom the program never would have been possible.

Mental Health Treatment Court is a voluntary 15-to-18-month program in which a judge leads a multidisciplinary team of professionals to collaboratively assist the offender with an array of services—from emergency financial assistance, to chemical dependency and mental health/trauma counseling, to employment training assistance and temporary housing. Participants may be removed from the program if they do not comply with program requirements or if they reoffend while in treatment.

“The program is far from easy,” Judge Sullivan said. “Although we focus on holistic treatment, we absolutely hold participants accountable. The goal is treatment so that they do not reoffend.”

The Northern St. Louis County Mental Health Court anniversary celebration is open to the public. The Hibbing Courthouse is located at 1810 E. 12th Ave.