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 are provided on-site in partnership with Independent School District 197; and
WHEREAS, Nexus Family Healing is requesting an additional reimbursement for year one expenditures in the amount of $181,000 for items that were not covered in the initial per diem rate; and
WHEREAS, this includes added food cost, new hire expenses, building and grounds maintenance, and outpatient therapy services that were incurred in 2023; and
WHEREAS, the additional reimbursement amount is being proposed to our partner, Washington County Social Services, to pay one third of the cost, which would be the following payment if agreed upon:
• Dakota County Social Services: $60,333.50
• Dakota County Community Corrections: $60,333.50
• Washington County Social Services (if agreed upon): $60,333.00
; and
WHEREAS, a contract amendment is requested to the Nexus Family Healing contract adding an additional reimbursement payment of $181,000 and increasing the per diem rate by $102.68 beginning January 1, 2024 increasing the rates to the following:
• Dakota County and Washington County: $481.08
• Other Counties (+35%): $649.46
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WHEREAS, the current not to exceed amount for the full term of the contract, July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024, is $2,196,908, which is sufficient to cover the requested amendments noted above.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute an amendment to the Nexus Family Healing contract adding an additional reimbursement payment of $181,000 and increasing the per diem rate by $102.68 beginning January 1, 2024; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the contract shall contain a provision that allows the County to immediately terminate the contract in the event sufficient funds from county, state, or federal sources are not appropriated at a level sufficient to allow payment of the amount due.
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