Meet Nina Arneson, the Goodhue County Health and Human Services (GCHHS) Director and our first GCHHS Employee Spotlight. Nina’s career at GCHHS started in 2010.
My journey began years ago when I was a young international student from Finland at Moorhead State University in Minnesota. Navigating college life in a foreign country, new language, new culture, new foods, and an entirely unfamiliar way of living - was both exciting and challenging.
During that time, fellow students, teachers, and staff showed me extraordinary kindness and support. Many were strangers who helped me overcome obstacles as I learned how to adapt and succeed in this new environment. Their compassion left a lifelong impression on me.
That experience sparked a deep sense of gratitude and a commitment to “complete the circle" by helping others in the same meaningful way I was helped. It became the catalyst for my desire to seek opportunities where I could offer kindness, guidance, and support to people facing challenges of their own. This calling ultimately led me to a career in Health and Human Services and public service. To this day, it remains my greatest privilege to serve others - every day, in every role, and in every way I can.
People might be surprised to learn how proud I am of the journey my family has taken and the commitments we share to public service. I am a proud American citizen and a mother of two sons who are both dedicating themselves to serving others.
My oldest son, Blake, recently graduated from Saint Mary’s University in Winona with both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and he is eager to begin his own path in public service. My younger son, Brady, has started his journey at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he is pursuing serving our country, education and continuing to play hockey for the USAFA. I am also deeply proud of my husband, Scott, who shares a strong commitment to helping others and serving the community. Our family’s values are rooted in service, and that is something I carry with me both personally and professionally.
The mission of Goodhue County Health and Human Services is to promote, strengthen, and protect the health of individuals, families and communities. Our vision is a safe and healthy Goodhue County, built on trusted services and strong community partnerships. Our values are compassion, collaboration, excellence and prevention. We are an integrated HHS agency with three service divisions – Social Services, Public Health and Economic Assistance - supported by Finance and Office Supports. In 2026, 133 HHS professionals serve Goodhue County residents and communities. Our integrated service model emphasizes prevention. Connections across divisions and the community - such as child support payments and family home visiting - help reduce child maltreatment and strengthen protective factors for families and individuals. GCHHS has been nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) since 2019 and applies PHAB’s foundational public health practices across the agency. We provide services across the lifespan, including public health education, child and adult protection, economic assistance, mental health case management, and support that help older adults and people with disabilities live independently.
The GCHHS Board is our agency’s governing board and serves as both the Community Health Board and the Local Social Services Agency. The board includes five county commissioners and two lay members.
When asked to explain GCHHS’s mission in a way everyone can understand, Nina breaks it down for us.
“Our mission is simple: we are here to help people and strengthen our communities. We do this by promoting, protecting, and supporting the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and neighborhoods throughout Goodhue County.”
Each month, we will be highlighting a different HHS professional across our department and the services/programs they provide to Goodhue County residents and communities. For more information about our programs and services, contact us Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, by phone at 651-385-3200 or in person at 426 West Avenue, Red Wing, MN 55066.
Visit our webpage, our social media at Instagram and Facebook and our Employment Opportunities.
