DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Children & Family Services
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
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Update On Aspen House And Authorization To Execute Contract Amendment
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Receive an update on Aspen House youth shelter and authorize an amendment to the Nexus Family Healing contract.
SUMMARY
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.
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.
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. The counties sought to replace this resource for children and families in crisis and enhance the therapeutic programming provided at the facility. 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. Aspen House opened in October 2022.
Aspen House provides short-term housing for up to 90 days for up to 12 residents, ages 12-18. 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. The services and programming at Aspen House include family engagement, maintaining family and cultural connections, family therapy, transition planning, and psychoeducation. Educational services are provided on-site in partnership with Independent School District 197.
Staff will summarize the first year of the project, including history, community engagement activities, and planned programming at Aspen House.
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. This includes added food cost, new hire expenses, building and grounds maintenance, and outpatient therapy services that were incurred in 2023. 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
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: Per diem rate of $481.08
• Other Counties (+35%): Per diem rate of $649.46
The current not to exceed amount for the full term of the contract is $2,196,908.00. The contract is dated July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024. This amount is sufficient to cover the requested amendments noted above.
OUTCOMES
How Much?
• 81 Youth Served
• 1,044 Bed Days Used by Dakota County
• Average Length of Stay = 26 days
How well?
• 100 percent Community Corrections youth placed on detention status made their initial appearance in court
• Fifty-one Percent of youth re-unified with their parents following placement at Aspen House
• Ninety-one percent of residents rated their “care” at Aspen House as “favorable”
Is anyone better off?
• “Thank you for not giving up on me so fast, for real, and I know I have my bad days, but ya’ll never give up on me.” - Youth
• “I’m more myself at Aspen House - I feel accepted here for being queer.” - Youth
• “I don't know what you all are doing over there, but my daughter is getting back to the girl she really is.” - Parent
• “This is like the first group of people I’ve been around where I can be myself.” - Youth
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to execute an amendment to the Nexus Family Healing contract.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Funding for this service is already included in the 2024 Social Services Adopted Budget and the 2024 Community Corrections Adopted Budget for out-of-home placements.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
22-105; 3/8/22
22-110; 3/22/22
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: None.
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Karen Sanness
Author: Suzanne Tuttle