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1. What is Rice County doing to be ready for health emergencies?

Rice County Public Health is actively involved, along with the Minnesota Department of Health and other local public health agencies, in developing and testing health emergency response plans. Contact us at 507-332-6111 or visit our Emergency Preparedness page.

2. What is WIC and whom does it serve?

WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children and is a supplemental food and nutrition program for income eligible persons with nutritional need. WIC serves pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants up to one year of age and children up to 5 years of age. Contact Rice County WIC at 507-332-5906 or visit the Women, Infants, & Children page.

Women, Infants, & Children page.

3. How do I find health information in languages other than English?

Rice County Public Health may also be a resource for multi-lingual health information. You can also view these resources.

view these resources.

4. How do I get information about requirements and/or licensing for Special Event Food Stands?

A special event food stand is a food and beverage service establishment which is used in conjunction with celebrations and special events, and which operates no more than three times annually for no more than ten total days. All stands must be operated in compliance with the Minnesota Food Code.

With summer festivals, fairs and other special events that involve food underway, Rice County Community Health Services reminds residents about current requirements for food vendors.

For information on special events food stands including licensing requirements, location and construction of stand, food source, equipment, dishwashing facilities, hand-washing facilities, water source, waste disposal and insect control go to the Minnesota Department of Health website and search for 'food stands.'

For further information about requirements for food stands or to request an application, call 651-201-4500 (Environmental Health Services - Minnesota Department of Health) or Yolanda Larson 651-201-4505.

Ensuring that event organizers contact the health department early in their event planning process is perhaps one of the most effective methods of intervention. Proper organization of food concessions by the event promoter is very important to safe and successful food vending.
Visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.

5. Where can I pick up a National Association of Counties (NACo) Prescription Discount Card?

The Prescription Discount Card is available at the following official sites:

In Faribault: at the Rice County Government Services Building (Public Health, Social Services, and the Information Desk), District One Hospital (main lobby), the Welcome Center, the City Hall building, and Three Rivers Community Action Center

In Northfield: at the City Hall building (second floor, Rice County Satellite office), Northfield Hospital (main lobby), Northfield Community Resource Center (north lobby), and the Northfield Community Action Center; in Morristown, at the Community Center; in Lonsdale, at City Hall; and in Dundas, at City Hall.

For more information about the program, call 877-321-2652 or contact Deb Purfeerst at Rice County Public Health at 507-332-5914 or you can visit NACo Prescription Discount Card Program.

6. What do I do if I can't afford immunizations for my child?

Rice County offers immunization clinics for those unable to obtain them from a private provider. A donation of $21.00 is requested for each immunization, but immunizations are provided regardless of whether a donation is made. Visit the Immunizations page for more information.

our Immunization page for more information.