Human Services Division History

The Human Services Division was established in 1974 when the Fond du Lac Reservation first contracted with the Indian Health Services for the Community Health Representatives program. In 1978, the State of Minnesota contracted with the Reservation Business Committee (RBC) for Chemical Dependency education and prevention. By 1978, the RBC had established the Division of Health, which became the Health and Social Services Division in 1980. The division grew to nearly forty employees until it was divided into the Health Division and the Social Services Division in 1985. Both divisions grew until 1988 when an administrative re-organization blended them into the Human Services Division and placed several of their programs into other divisions. Since then, the Human Services Division has grown from fifty to over one hundred sixty employees who provide a wide variety of health and social services.

In 1988 the Center for American Indian Resources (CAIR) opened in Duluth. The field offices of Public Health Nursing, Social Services and Chemical Dependency are located at this site. In 1992 an outpatient medical clinic was established at the CAIR office.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Fond du Lac Human Services Division is to elevate the health and social well-being of Indian people living in the service area through the provision of services, research, education and employment opportunities.

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