In the summer of 2020, Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health adopted a new community engagement model that partnered with local organizations to share COVID-19 related health resources with communities who are most impacted by health inequities. Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health's Trusted Messenger Initiative partners with community organizations to expand residents' access to accurate, culturally specific, and linguistically appropriate health information and healthcare services.
Trusted Messenger organizations reach populations that are most affected by health inequities and address community needs in the following public health areas:
- Clinical services.
- Environmental health.
- Family health.
- Health protection.
- Healthy communities.
- WIC (Women, Infants Children).
Applications closed on May 14
The 2025 - 2026 Trusted Messenger Initiative grant applications closed on May 14, 2025. Check back for future program updates.
How we work together
Trusted Messenger organizations share Ramsey County health resources and information with community through culturally-appropriate and language-specific outreach strategies. Resources and information are provided based on community-identified needs. Public Health supports the work of Trusted Messengers by offering health experts, supportive services and other health resources in addition to grant funding to each organization. For the 2024-2025 program, eleven grants were awarded to local organizations supporting work through June 30, 2025. Learn about the grantees.
Funding
The advancement of racial and health equity and effective community engagement are integral to public health at Saint Paul – Ramsey County. Funding for the Trusted Messenger Initiative has been provided by the Minnesota Department of Health Infrastructure Grant. Funding from the Minnesota Department of Health began in April 2022 and is applied for annually.
