About Us

About Us

Our Story

Health Counseling Services was created amidst the deinstitutionalization movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s. As psychiatric hospitals closed, discharged individuals needed places to live. Group homes were designed to provide care in the least restrictive environment and to integrate individuals with disabilities into the community, reducing stigma and improving quality of life. Since 1976, Health Counseling Services (HCS) has been providing nursing expertise to human service organizations that support people with disabilities in residential and day services settings.
Health Counseling Services is built on the core values of:
  • Empowering people with disabilities
  • Empowering our professional and unlicensed workforce
  • Being customer focused
  • Honesty, integrity, commitment, and caring
Health Counseling Services excels at:
  • Addressing community-based health needs
  • Ensuring compliance to applicable rules and regulations
  • Integrating quality assurance in all that we do
  • Supporting underserved populations
  • Providing diverse and specialized services
  • Supporting nurses in independent community-based practice

Leadership Team

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DIRECTOR OF CONSULTATION SERVICES

Ruth Toner, RN, MSN
Ruth Toner has over 20 years of nursing experience and has worked extensively in both acute care and community health settings. She has a thorough knowledge of the state regulatory requirements for provider organizations and is experienced at customizing nursing services to meet both the regulatory requirements as well as the general health service needs of an organization. Contact Ruth if you are interested in nursing consultation services for your organization.
612-345-8522 ext. 101
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DIRECTOR OF TRAINING

Karen Lilla, RN, MSN, PHN, CDDN
Karen Lilla manages the training department at HCS and is the American Heart Association Training Center Coordinator. She is a knowledgeable, articulate, and skilled instructor. Karen is a certified instructor of Mental Health First Aid and teaches youth and adult focused courses. In addition to these courses, she also teaches a variety of HCS courses including, DISCUS, Medication Administration, and CPR/First Aid. Contact Karen if you have questions about any of our courses or would like an HCS course presented at your facility.
612-345-8522 ext. 102
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PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS

Karen Finck APRN, CNS
Ms. Finck lectures throughout Minnesota on a variety of psychiatric and mental health topics. She has extensive experience in community nursing consultation, designing models of nursing care, and developing healthcare policies and procedures. Ms. Finck currently has a private psychotherapy practice through Mental Health Counseling Services.
612-345-8522 ext. 102
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BILLING MANAGER

Steve Smith
Steve is responsible for the internal accounting for Health Counseling Services. Contact Steve with billing questions.
Jane

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Jane Merle
Jane is responsible for administrative support and assisting with day-to-day operations. Contact Jane for assistance with course registrations or general questions.
612-345-8522 ext. 103
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OFFICE MANAGER

Donna Reme
Donna is responsible for office management, administrative support, and overseeing day-to-day operations. Contact Donna for assistance with billing questions, general questions or assistance with course registrations.
612-345-8522 ext. 104

Nurse Managers

Ruth Toner, RN, MSN Director of Consultation Services

Ruth Toner has over 20 years of nursing experience and has worked extensively in both acute care and community health settings. She received her Master’s Degree in Community Health Nursing from Valparaiso University. She has a thorough knowledge of the state regulatory requirements for provider organizations serving individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Ruth is experienced at customizing nursing consultation services in order to meet both the general needs and state regulations of provider organizations and the individuals that they serve. Contact Ruth if you are interested in nursing consultation services for your organization.
Ruth Toner
Karen Lilla

Director of Education

Karen Lilla, RN, MSN, PHN, CDDN Director of Education

Karen Lilla manages the education department at HCS, developing new courses to meet the community’s ever changing needs. She received her Master’s Degree in Nursing Management and Leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Karen is the American Heart Association Training Center Coordinator for HCS. An experienced instructor, she teaches CPR and First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, and Medication Administration courses at HCS. Karen adeptly manages the recruitment and orientation of HCS nurse consultants, providing them with technical and clinical support, as well as specific training on state regulatory requirements. Contact Karen if you are interested in becoming a nurse consultant with HCS, if you have questions about any of our courses, or you would like one of our courses presented at your facility.

Office Manager

Janet Glenn

Janet is responsible for office management, administrative support, and overseeing day-to-day operations. Contact Janet for assistance with course registrations or general questions.

Janet
Ms. Finck

Professional Workshops

Karen Finck APRN, CNS

Ms. Finck lectures throughout Minnesota on a variety of psychiatric and mental health topics. She has extensive experience in community nursing consultation, designing models of nursing care, and developing healthcare policies and procedures. Ms. Finck currently has a private psychotherapy practice through Mental Health Counseling Services.

Billing Manager

Steve Smith

Steve is responsible for the internal accounting for Health Counseling Services. Contact Steve with billing questions.
Steve

Location

Health Counseling Services
7851 Metro Parkway, Suite 250 Bloomington, MN 55425

Below is a link to Google Maps. Please call our office at 612-345-8522 if you would like more detailed assistance with directions.
Click below for directions.

Parking Instructions

If you are coming from northbound or southbound I-35W or Hwy 77, take I-494 eastbound to 34th Ave (exit 1B). Go right onto 34th Ave and take the next right onto American Blvd. Turn right onto Metro Drive and follow around. Go right onto Metro Parkway and 7851 will be the first building on the right. Park in the lot behind the building and enter from the rear lot (see map below).

If you are coming from the east, take I-494 westbound to 34th Ave (exit 1B). Go left onto 34th Ave and take the next right onto American Blvd. Turn right onto Metro Drive and follow around. Go right onto Metro Parkway and 7851 will be the first building on the right. Park in the lot behind the building and enter from the rear lot (see map below).

When you enter the building from the parking lot, go up the stairs and through the door. Walk straight ahead to reach our training space.

For disability accessible parking and entrance, please park in the front of the building. Enter through the main doors and turn left at the elevator to reach our training space.

Parking Instructions