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If you could choose your boss, and Crystal Peterson was among the candidates, she would likely be your preference. Her manner is direct, and her caring and competence are evident. And her wisdom is apparent when she states that improved communication is a very high priority for her.

Crystal is completing five years as Director of Health and Human Services for Mower County, a position she never envisioned for herself. She has worked for Mower County for 12 years and has worked at all the other levels of service for this department. She started as a social worker working with families and children, with an emphasis on prevention, a passion of hers. Then she worked with SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Partnership), promoting healthy habits in school and workplaces. Next, as a supervisor, she oversaw child and family services. Due to a reorganization situation, she was then promoted to Human Services manager for a brief time before the director position came open and she felt called to apply to support the team with which she had been working. She greatly misses direct contact with clients. However, she has come to understand that her role of supporting those in her department is critical to the care of clients. Having worked at all levels of this organization gives her unique insights. When she was hired for this job, it was the beginning of the COVID epidemic, so she had to learn rapidly and be creative. It was an intense time.

Crystal credits the county board with being very supportive in guiding her work for the people of Mower County. She is aware that all county boards in the state are not as supportive. Crystal Is responsible for 107 employees. Her method of operation is to work collaboratively with her strong, 10-member leadership team. They bring together their knowledge and skills to make consensus decisions.

Not many people know in detail what this county department does. Here is a general list of the services they provide:

• Accounting

• Health and Human Services budget management and reporting

• Managing fees for service

• Adult Services

• Adult Protection, Waiver Services for those with disabilities

• Aging Services

• Care Coordination for those 65 and over

• Partnerships to support our aging population

• Child and Family Services

• Child Protection, Children’s Mental Health, Child care/Foster care licensing

• Child Support

• Child support payment enforcement

• Community Health

• Disease prevention and control, Family Health Services, Public Health Emergency Preparedness

• Financial Assistance

•Medical assistance, Child Care assistance, SNAP, Emergency Assistance

To acknowledge her priority, Crystal works constantly to facilitate communication among all these areas under her responsibility. Each Friday she sends out five “hot topics,” which might be as mundane as new recycling bins or as important as information about available grants. Since many of her staff work remotely, she is aware they do not always hear information they might get informally if working on site. Each six months, feedback is solicited by survey and rigorously followed up on. Another system of communication is an annual “year in review” meeting with each employee with Crystal, herself, or the deputy director, to ensure there is a time to receive direct feedback from employees if they so choose. These conversations then feed into setting the agency priorities for the following year.

Crystal states that she is passionate about the services her department provides. She is learning every day and has the best of intentions, even though she knows she makes mistakes. She has learned to accept mistakes and move on to find a better way. Her words of wisdom are “Your comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing grows there.”

Mower County is lucky to have Crystal Peterson in this leadership position!

For more information about the Austin Branch of AAUW, contact Sue Grove  sue.grove@riverland.edu or Carolyn Bogott csbogott@gmail.com. The American Association of University women, now AAUW is open to anyone who has completed a two-year degree or beyond. AAUW welcomes men who support our objectives and there are student memberships available. Since 1881 AAUW has been supporting equity and education for women. Scholarships are offered as well as help with litigation in cases dealing with sex discrimination. We are the most important and highly respected research and lobbying organization dealing with women’s issues.