DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Children & Family Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
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Update On Aspen House And Authorization To Execute Contract Amendment
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 22-105 (March 8, 2022), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized the purchase and renovation of a property in Mendota Heights to be used as a children's residential facility providing short term housing and supportive services; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 22-110 (March 22, 2022), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved Nexus Family Healing, a non-profit with nearly 50 years of experience providing mental health and residential services to children and families, to operate this facility; and
WHEREAS, this project began in 2019, when Washington and Dakota counties partnered to address the gap in services created when Harbor Shelter closed its Hastings youth shelter; and
WHEREAS, the counties sought to replace this resource for children and families in crisis and enhance the therapeutic programming provided at the facility; and
WHEREAS, the purchase and remodeling of the Aspen House property was funded by approximately $2,150,000 in American Rescue Plan funds with $1,750,000 from Dakota County and $400,000 from Washington County; and
WHEREAS, Aspen House, which opened in October 2022, provides short-term housing for up to 90 days for up to 12 residents, ages 12-18; and
WHEREAS, county mobile crisis response, juvenile justice, child protection, and children's mental health teams utilize this program when youth temporarily need a safe place to stay away from home while service professionals (social workers, probation officers, therapists) work on reunification or longer-term solutions for the family; and
WHEREAS, the services and programming at Aspen House include family engagement, maintaining family and cultural connections, family therapy, transition planning, and psychoeducation; and
WHEREAS, educational services a...
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