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dote:May 16, 199i <br />for Immediote releo/e <br />COrttOOlj Marcy Shapiro <br />920- 5533 <br />WEST HENNEPIN HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING BOARD <br />CHANGES NAME TO <br />SUBURBAN ALLIANCE <br />On May 16, after more thnn 20 years of being known as the West Hennepin Human Services <br />Planning Board, WHHSPB will'change its name to SUBURBAN ALLIANCE. <br />" To reflert the true nature of the organization we have become in the 20 years of operation, our <br />Board of Directors decided, last FaU, to change the oiganization's name", said Dale Woodbeck, <br />Chairman of the Suburban Alliance Board of Directors," Our new name, Sub^ban Alliance, is <br />based on being rooted in the suburban experience and able to bring that experience to whatever <br />level we work at such as in state coalitions, in metro, state or federal advocacy. <br />Established in 1973 by a joint powers agreement between Hennepin County and seven suburban <br />municipah'ties, the agency's initial focus was health care needs for residents in the western suburbs. <br />As the populations of suburban communities grew and changed. West Hennepin conducted studies <br />for the County to determine the need for and design of new and decentralized services for mental <br />illness, developmental disabilities, chemical dependency, foster care and community-based <br />corrections. <br />As community needs changed, the agency changed as well. By the late 1970’s West Hennepin had <br />established or was operating several emergency service programs such as the Energy Ass^tance <br />Program, food and clothing distribution and evolved into a community based advocacy organization <br />in the areas of housing and employment as well as health and social services. At the same time, <br />additional municipalities entered into the joint powers agreement so that now we have 21 member <br />cities. <br />"Today, we’re an organization that promotes inclusiveness and the opening of the public decision­ <br />making processes to all citizens in our community, and we’re an agency that acts as a conneaor, <br />a partner and a networker to improve the life of all people in the suburban commumty, ';o we feel <br />that the name Suburban Alliance much better describes who we are and what we do , said <br />Woodbeck. <br />uj€/l hcnncpifi humon ploonlng boo#d