DEPARTMENT: Social Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Ratification Of Minnesota Department Of Human Services Mobile Crisis Services Grant Application, And Authorization To Accept Grant Funds And Execute Grant Agreements
end
PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Ratify application for the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) calendar year (CY) 2025 and CY 2026 Mobile Crisis Services grant application, and if awarded, authorize acceptance of grant funds and execution of the grant agreements.
SUMMARY
Communities across Minnesota are facing urgent and unprecedented mental health challenges. Dakota County has responded by expanding the County’s continuum using national best practice guidelines.
Dakota County operates a crisis services continuum that meets the requirements of Minn. Stat.§ 256B.0944, Minn. Stat. § 256B.0624, and Minn. Stat. § 245I. These services include: 24-hour telephone screening and triage, dispatch of mobile crisis response teams, face-to-face crisis assessments, face-to-face crisis intervention, crisis stabilization and crisis follow-up and outreach.
Since at least CY 2019, Dakota County has directly applied for and received funding for crisis services through the State’s Mobile Crisis Services grant. State grant funding provides revenue for a portion of Dakota County’s crisis services continuum.
Given community needs, evolving system roles, and expected increased funding for crisis services, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners, by Resolution No. 21-461 (September 21, 2021), and by Resolution No. 21-618 (December 14, 2021), authorized adding 17.0 new FTEs to provide expanded access to the full continuum of adult and child crisis services. These added positions are funded using time-limited local American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. It was expected staff would apply for State grant and federal ARPA funding for service expansion as soon as DHS funds were available.
By Resolution No. 22-395 (September 20, 2022), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners ratified the combined CY 2023 and CY 2024, and State Fiscal Years (SFY) 2022, 2023, and 2024 grant application to DHS and authorized executing grant agreements with DHS for state and federal ARPA. Subsequently, grant agreements, and amendments for crisis services, were executed with DHS for CY 2023 and CY 2024, and SFYs 2022, 2023, and 2024 for a total State appropriation of $2,812,567 of which $1,599,224 were one-time federal ARPA pass-through funds.
On May 31, 2024, DHS notified Dakota County of CY 2025 and CY 2026 state funding awards for crisis services, including one-time State funding that will be added to the base allocation (Attachment: Appropriation Letter). For CY 2025, Dakota County has been allocated State funding in the amount of $702,287 and one-time State funding in the amount of $302,571 for a total funding amount of $1,004,858. For CY 2026, Dakota County has been allocated State funding in the amount of $687,525 and one-time State funding in the amount of $299,286 for a total funding amount of $986,811. DHS may also reallocate additional unspent funds to counties; therefore, staff requests authorization to apply for funding up to $2,500,000 for CY 2025 and CY 2026. DHS is expected to develop a new funding formula to be implemented for CY 2027 allocations.
Staff prepared and applied for CY 2025 and CY 2026 by the July 31, 2024, deadline. Dakota County’s funding application (Attachment: Grant Contract Budget) proposes funding for 7.0 existing full-time equivalents (FTEs) and purchase of services for crisis system coordination. The FTEs were approved by previous board actions, including Resolution No. 21-461 (September 21, 2021).
OUTCOMES
2023 Data Indicators
Someone to Talk To/Phone Response:
• More than 20,000 incoming calls to the 24/7 Crisis Response Unit (CRU).
• 13,174 intakes/service requests (intakes can include multiple calls), a 40 percent increase in intakes from 2021.
• 992 transfers of certain mental health calls from Dakota 911 to the CRU. More than 80 percent of 911 call transfers were handled without need for law enforcement response.
Mobile Response:
• 850 in-person site visits from the CRU, 142 percent increase from 2021.
• In-person response at the time of crisis from professionals trained and skilled in assessing needs and connecting to resources.
• Co-location of CRU social workers in 9 of 12 public safety agencies to build relationships and achieve 15-30-minute response time.
Embedded Social Worker, Crisis Outreach, Follow-up and Stabilization:
• 10 of 10 participating public safety agencies have embedded social worker assignments.
• More than 2,256 outreaches that led to engagement and/or service coordination, 639 face to face outreaches or assessments.
• More than 260 cases opened for intensive crisis stabilization services, 30 percent of referrals from people interested in services or from family members.
• Adults, children, and families have better access to services to learn about symptoms, build skills, connect to long-term support, and build a long-term recovery plan.
• City and County working in partnership to improve public service response in support of shared goals for healthy, safe communities for all.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends ratification of the DHS Mobile Crisis Services grant application in the amount of up to $2,500,000 for CY 2025 and CY 2026; and if the grants are awarded, staff requests authorization to accept the grant funds and execute the grant agreements, including amendments, with DHS.
end
EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The CY 2025 and CY 2026 State mobile crisis services grant allocation awards will be included in the 2025 County Manager’s Recommended Budget.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☒ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, Dakota County operates a crisis services continuum that meets the requirements of Minn. Stat.§ 256B.0944, Minn. Stat. § 256B.0624, and Minn. Stat. § 245I; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Human Services (DHS) administers State and federal funds through grant agreements for the provision of mental health crisis services in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 256B.0944, Minn. Stat. § 256B.0624 and Minn. Stat. § 245I; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 21-461 (September 21, 2021) and by Resolution No. 21-618 (December 14, 2021), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized adding 17.0 new full-time equivalents (FTEs) to Dakota County’s crisis continuum team to meet community needs in preparation for having an actionable plan when DHS funding was available; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 22-395 (September 20, 2022), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners ratified the Combined Mobile Crisis Services and Home and Community Based Services Medical Assistance Percentage Grant Application submission to DHS for calendar years (CY) 2023 and 2024, and State Fiscal Years (SFY) 2022, 2023, and 2024 for a total grant amount of up to $5,000,000 and subsequently, grant agreements were executed for CY 2023 and 2024 for a total of $2,812,567; and
WHEREAS, on May 31, 2024, DHS notified Dakota County of CY 2025 and CY 2026 funding allocations; and
WHEREAS, for CY 2025, Dakota County has been allocated State funding in the amount of $702,287 and one-time State funding in the amount of $302,571 for a total funding amount of $1,004,858; and
WHEREAS, for CY 2026, Dakota County has been allocated State funding in the amount of $687,525 and one-time State funding in the amount of $299,286 for a total funding amount of $986,811; and
WHEREAS, DHS may also reallocate additional unspent funds to counties; therefore, staff requests authorization to apply for funding up to $2,500,000 for CY 2025 and CY 2026; and
WHEREAS, DHS is expected to develop a new funding formula to be implemented for CY 2027 allocations; and
WHEREAS, staff prepared and submitted, by the July 31, 2024, deadline, a grant application for CY 2025 and CY 2026 for crisis services funding to meet DHS submission requirements, including a
proposal to fund 7.0 existing full-time equivalents, which were approved by previous board actions, including by Resolution No. 21-461 (September 21, 2021), and purchase of services for crisis system coordination.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby ratifies the Mobile Crisis Services Grant Application submission to the Minnesota Department of Human Services for calendar years (CY) 2025 and 2026 for a total grant amount of up to $2,500,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to accept the grant funds, and execute the mobile crisis grant agreements for CY 2025 and 2026, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That unless the grant program requirements change, the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to amend the grant to extend the grant term up to two years after initial expiration date, accept additional grant funds, and continue grant-funded full-time equivalents, consistent with County contracting policies, and inclusion of grant funds in future yearly Recommended and Approved Budgets, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
end
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
21-461; 9/21/21
21-618; 12/14/21
22-395; 9/20/22
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Appropriation Letter
Attachment: Grant Contract Budget
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Emily Schug
Author: Emily Schug