Consolidated Human Services Agency now Health and Human Services

COLUMBUS—Polk County’s former Consolidated Human Services Agency will know be known as the Health and Human Services Agency. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and approved changing the name as well as amendments to the bylaws and operating procedures of the agency board. 

Commissioners heard from Health and Human Services Director Joshua Kennedy about the changes Monday night. 

Polk County consolidated its health and human service departments into one in 2016 and later hired Kennedy as the director. The board that oversees the department is made up of members of the department of social services board, area professionals, consumers and the public at large. 

The board oversees the department of social services, the transportation authority, the Meeting Place Senior Center, Veteran’s Services and now the newly created health department. 

Polk County recently broke off from the Rutherford Polk McDowell Health District and created its own district for health services as well as permitting, such as for water and septic systems. 

County commissioners make appointments to the health and human services board with Polk’s board allowing up to 20 members.