The Forest Lake Area Partnership for Families (FLAPF) has been addressing the health and well-being of youth and families since its early formation as a networking group in 1988. For the past three decades, the FLAPF and Washington County Public Health & Environment have worked collaboratively on numerous successful projects. FLAPF has focused on suicide prevention, early intervention with youth, and community campaigns on chemical health and tobacco.

FLAPF membership includes representatives from multiple sectors including schools, law enforcement, social services, youth-service agencies, healthcare organizations including general, mental, and chemical health providers, city and county government, faith communities, business, media, and community members, including parents and youth.

Much of the work of the partnership has been embedded in schools and other community institutions. The members of the partnership plan to reorganize to continue on a renewed community health mission. This is a celebratory milestone for the coalition.

Due to their longstanding success and Washington County’s history of partnership and collaboration with this group, the Washington County Board along with the Department of Public Health and Environment formally recognized this group at the Washington County Board meeting on February 11, 2020 and celebrated their many contributions to the community.