Anoka County, Minnesota, United States, October 2025 — Anoka County has announced the appointment of Kate Heffernan Carson as its new Chief Human Services Officer, marking a new chapter in her accomplished public service career spanning over two decades in human services leadership, policy, and strategic transformation.
Kate has been with Anoka County since 2023, serving as Deputy Director of Human Services, where she provided executive oversight of the Economic Assistance Department, Job Training Center, Community Corrections, Community Social Services and Behavioral Health, and Public Health & Environmental Services. In this role, she was instrumental in developing infrastructure to support countywide human services operations, strengthening data-driven decision-making, and leading digital transformation initiatives such as Caseworks and Data Depot to enhance operational efficiency.
Before joining Anoka County, Kate spent nearly 24 years at Hennepin County, where she held several key leadership positions, including Senior Department Administrator, Human Services Area Manager, and Program Manager. She led large-scale initiatives to expand public assistance access, advance equity-driven policy reform, and drive community engagement. During her tenure, she managed multimillion-dollar budgets, directed service delivery across a workforce of more than 600 employees, and oversaw transformative projects to improve the customer experience and streamline digital service delivery—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier in her career, Kate worked as a Research Associate at Wilder Research, contributing to federally funded studies and program evaluations for public health and human services organizations. Her experience across research, program design, and policy implementation underscores a lifelong commitment to improving systems that serve communities with compassion and accountability.
In her new role as Chief Human Services Officer, Kate will continue to lead Anoka County’s human services division, focusing on advancing equitable access to social support systems, strengthening community partnerships, and aligning strategic goals with data-informed, citizen-centered governance.
About Anoka County
Founded in 1857, Anoka County has a long history of serving Minnesota residents with a focus on public welfare, infrastructure, and community development. From its early days as a fur trading settlement to its evolution into a thriving region of over 360,000 residents, the county remains dedicated to enhancing quality of life through innovative governance, transparent administration, and responsive human services. With facilities including libraries, parks, highways, and the Human Services Center, Anoka County continues to honor its heritage of community-driven leadership and public trust.
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