Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A newly retired Rochester School District employee has been honored as the Minnesota School Social Worker of the year.

The Minnesota School Social Workers Association says Hertha Lange has 30 years of experience as a social worker and worked for the Rochester Public Schools for five years before her retirement this year. The final four years of her career were spent at the School District’s Area Learning Center.

According to the Association, the long list of community partnerships initiated by Hertha include:

  • Programs on Sex Trafficking in collaboration with Victims Services
  • Youth Mediation Program in collaboration with Mediation &Conflict Solutions of Olmstead Outreach
  • Service learning projects through Builder’s Club in collaboration with Kiwanis of Rochester (i.e.Cardboard Box City, bell ringing for the Salvation Army, and cooking at the Dorothy Day House Homeless Shelter)
  • Sexual Violence Prevention Education classes and groups in collaboration with Victims Services
  • Instructional Classes on Healthy Living in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Extension
  • Co-Facilitating an Expectant/Parent Support Group in the evening RALC program in collaboration with
  • Olmstead County Public Health Center
  • Weekly social skills classes at the Von Wald Shelter with shelter staff
  • Collaboration with Olmstead/Dodge and Fillmore County Community Corrections and Olmstead County Social Services regarding transition plans from Von Wald Shelter and Juvenile Detention Center.

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