Stearns County Human Services Wins State Innovation Award for Second Year in a Row

(KNSI) – For the second straight year, Stearns County Human Services has earned the 2025 County Achievement Award for innovation in service delivery from the Association of Minnesota Counties.

The department was recognized in the Enhancing Human Services Delivery Through Innovation and Accountability category for its response to unprecedented demand following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials say the pandemic led to a surge in the number of people seeking public assistance. Applications for help jumped 41% and scheduled interviews rose 39% compared to pre-COVID levels. In 2024 alone, staff processed more than 294,000 documents, approximately 40,000 more than the previous year.

Stearns County administrators stated, to handle the extra workload without paying for extra staff, the department turned to technology. Most notably, Stearns County launched Electronic Virtual Assistant (Eva), the state’s first AI-powered helper in a county human services office. The county says the new tool has saved staff more than 600 hours by handling client interviews and phone inquiries. According to a press release, Microsoft Teams and electronic signatures have also helped streamline the administrative processes.

“This project is a strong reflection of our team’s innovation, resilience, and strategic thinking,” said County Administrator Mike Williams. “By thoughtfully applying technology and keeping client experience at the forefront, we’ve been able to respond to extraordinary demand, without increasing staff levels.”

Stearns County will be presented with the award at the Association of Minnesota Counties annual conference on December 9th.

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