DEPARTMENT: Community Corrections
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Accept Allocations From State Of Minnesota’s First Judicial District, Dakota County District Court, And Execute Cooperative Agreements For Drug Treatment Court Programs
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize acceptance of the state Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 allocations from the State of Minnesota’s First Judicial District, Dakota County District Court, and execution of cooperative agreements between State of Minnesota’s First Judicial District, Dakota County District Court, for Adult, Juvenile, and Family Dependency Drug Treatment Court Programs.
SUMMARY
The Juvenile Drug Treatment Court is a collaborative, multidisciplinary initiative designed to improve outcomes for justice-involved youth experiencing substance use disorders (SUD).
The primary Drug Court Team includes the client’s defense attorney, the County Attorney, the presiding Judge, the assigned Probation Officer, a Probation Supervisor, and the Wraparound Program Services Coordinator. This team meets regularly to monitor substance use progress, review treatment engagement, address barriers to sobriety, and ensure consistent and informed decision-making throughout each participant’s involvement in the program.
The Juvenile Drug Treatment Court integrates a comprehensive array of programming designed to address substance use and support lasting recovery. Services include chemical dependency treatment and aftercare, Habilitation Empowerment Accountability Therapy (H.E.A.T.) 4 Youth (a culturally specific cognitive-based therapy program), Wraparound services, Family Peer Support groups, Community Coaches, and other culturally grounded supports. Together, these interventions help youth reduce or eliminate illegal drug use, build prosocial skills, strengthen family engagement, and establish long-term stability.
The Adult Drug Treatment Court Program is a collaborative, multidisciplinary initiative designed to improve outcomes for justice-involved adults experiencing substance use disorders and reduce felony-level recidivism through treatment, accountability, and intensive supervision.
The primary Adult Drug Court Team includes the County Attorney, Public Defender, presiding Judge, Treatment Court Coordinator, and assigned Probation Officer. Individuals charged with felony-level drug offenses are referred by the County Attorney’s Office to the Adult Drug Court Team for consideration and determination of eligibility. Participants appropriate for Adult Drug Treatment Court are evaluated as high risk for recidivism and chemically dependent.
The Adult Drug Court Team meets regularly to review participant progress, treatment engagement, compliance with program expectations, and any violations or barriers to success. The team utilizes a combination of incentives, accountability measures, and judicial oversight to support participant progress and recovery. Participants advance through program phases based on established criteria and approval of the Drug Court Team.
The Adult Drug Treatment Court Program incorporates intensive supervision, treatment participation, and frequent drug testing requirements to support long-term recovery and reduce future criminal behavior. Funding supports drug testing costs, transportation, training, contracted services, and offsets approximately $50,000 in salary costs associated with operating the program.
The average length of participation in Adult Drug Treatment Court is approximately 24 months. Since the program began in 2007, 154 participants have successfully graduated from Adult Drug Treatment Court and 69 participants were terminated from the program prior to meeting graduation requirements. During State Fiscal Year 2025, 38 participants participated in Adult Drug Treatment Court, including eight successful graduates in 2025.
The Family Dependency Treatment Court (FDTC) is a voluntary problem-solving alternative court process for families involved in child protection court due to substance abuse by a parent. All parents enrolled in FDTC have an addiction involving stimulants (methamphetamine/cocaine), opiates (heroin/fentanyl), or chronic and severe alcohol use.
The current FDTC team includes the Judge, Assistant Dakota County Attorney, two Parent Attorney’s, two Guardian ad Litems, a Coordinator, three treatment court Social Workers, and a Recovery Specialist. In addition, the team consults with a contracted chemical dependency treatment provider and two certified peer recovery specialists from the community.
The FDTC team closely monitors selected parents’ progress toward sobriety and recovery through ongoing treatment, frequent drug testing, regular mandatory check-in court appearances, and the use of a range of immediate sanctions and incentives to foster behavior change. The goals of the FDTC program are to protect the safety of children and support their well-being while giving parents the tools they need to obtain long-term sobriety in order to provide a safe and stable home for their children, thereby meeting the overarching goal of public safety. By diverting selected cases away from the traditional child protection court processes and into the Family Dependency Treatment Alternative Court Process, parents are more likely to achieve long-term sobriety and stability resulting successful reunification with their children.
Community Corrections has been allocated $165,250 for the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program in FY2027, which is a $0 (0%) increase from the FY2026 allocation. Of that amount, $14,000 is paid directly by the State to a public defender for client legal representation, leaving $151,250 budgeted by Dakota County and eligible for reimbursement.
Community Corrections will receive $110,000 for Adult Drug Treatment Court Programs in FY2027, a $0 (0%) increase from the FY2026 allocation.
Social Services-Children and Family Services will receive $121,000 for Family Dependency Drug Treatment Court Programs in FY2027, a $0 (0%) increase from the FY2026 allocation.
To review the agreements, see Attachment: Treatment Court FY2027 Agreements.
OUTCOMES
Juvenile and Adult Drug Treatment Court Programs
How much? Dakota County receives $165,250 in juvenile drug court funding. Of that amount, $14,000 is paid directly by the State to a public defender for client legal representation, leaving $151,250 budgeted by Dakota County and eligible for reimbursement. This investment allows the program to expand culturally responsive, evidence-based services and strengthen coordination between treatment, supervision, and family supports. The funding supports adequate staffing, WRAP around services, community coach services, training, and other costs such as UA testing, GPS, and transportation for youth to treatment, court, and community programing. Dakota County receives $110,000 in state funding to support the Adult Drug Treatment Court Program. This funding supports drug testing costs, transportation, training, contracted services, and offsets approximately $50,000 in salary costs associated with operating the program.
How well? Since 2005, the juvenile drug treatment court has served 204 youth. During State Fiscal Year 2025, 38 participants participated in Adult Drug Treatment Court. Since the program began in 2007, 154 participants have successfully graduated from the program.
Is anyone better off? Youth are better off through increased access to culturally responsive treatment, skill-building interventions, and consistent mentoring supports that address the root causes of substance use and related behaviors. Families are better off through peer support and increased engagement in their child’s recovery and accountability process. The community and justice system are better off through improved public safety, more effective use of resources, and reduced reliance on deeper system involvement for youth who can be safely and effectively served in the community. Participants in Adult Drug Treatment Court are better off through increased access to substance use treatment, structured accountability, intensive supervision, and coordinated support services that address the underlying causes contributing to criminal behavior and chemical dependency. Participants who successfully complete the program demonstrate increased stability, reduced substance use, and improved community functioning. The community is better off through reduced recidivism, improved public safety, and more effective use of justice system resources by supporting long-term recovery and accountability.
Family Dependency Drug Treatment Court Program
How much? Dakota County receives $121,000 in State funding to support the Family Dependency Treatment Court Program. This funding supports a portion of our Recovery Specialist position, contracts with a community chemical dependency provider, training, drug testing, and transportation for participates to child visitation, court, treatment, drug testing, and sober supports. This funding also allows participants to receive the support needed to help them with ongoing sobriety, mental health, stable housing, reliable transportation, employment, and long-term sober supports.
How well? Since July 2006, 238 participants started FDTC and, of those cases, 228 are closed and 10 remain active: 6 participants are in FDTC, and the remaining 4 participants returned to Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS). Results of the FDTC Program since its inception:
• 112 participants graduated, reunified with children - 49%
• 100 participants returned to CHIPS - 43%
o Termination of parental rights: 60 participants - 60%
o Transfer of custody: 27 participants - 27%
o Reunified with children: 9 participants - 9%
o Active returned to CHIPS: 4 participants - 4% (pending permanency petitions)
• 20 participants agreed upon dismissal - 8%
o Reunified with children: 16 participants - 80%
o Transfer of custody: 4 participants - 20%
In summary, of the 228 cases closed, 137 of the participants or 60% were reunified with their children.
Is anyone better off? By successfully reunifying parents with their children, there are significant cost savings to the county and state by preventing the need for long-term payments to caretakers. More importantly, there are significant, unquantifiable benefits and cost savings to society. Children belong with their families. Children who remain in foster care and are not able to be successfully reunified with their parents have long-term consequences of increased homelessness, mental health instability, criminal activity, and substance use addiction.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to accept the allocation funds and execute cooperative agreements with the State of Minnesota’s First Judicial District, Dakota County District Court, for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the combined, total amount of $396,250.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The grant revenues and associated expenditures are included in the 2026 Community Corrections and 2026 Social Services budgets.
Program 21300153 Adult Drug Court
|
Fund |
Department |
Funding Source |
2026 Amended Budget |
2026 Available Budget |
|
General Fund |
Community Corrections |
State Grant |
$110,000 |
$103,380 |
|
Total |
|
|
$110,000 |
$103,380 |
Program 21300329 Juvenile Drug Court
|
Fund |
Department |
Funding Source |
2026 Amended Budget |
2026 Available Budget |
|
General Fund |
Community Corrections |
State Grant |
$151,250 |
$110,003 |
|
Total |
|
|
$151,250 |
$110,003 |
Program 20900140 Family Dependency Treatment Court
|
Fund |
Department |
Funding Source |
2026 Amended Budget |
2026 Available Budget |
|
General Fund |
Social Services |
State Grant |
$121,000 |
$47,940 |
|
Total |
|
|
$121,000 |
$47,940 |
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court is a collaborative, multidisciplinary initiative designed to improve outcomes for justice-involved youth experiencing substance use disorders (SUD); and
WHEREAS, the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court integrates a comprehensive array of programming designed to address substance use and support lasting recovery; and
WHEREAS, services include chemical dependency treatment and aftercare, Habilitation Empowerment Accountability Therapy (H.E.A.T.) 4 Youth (a culturally specific cognitive-based therapy program), Wraparound services, Family Peer Support groups, Community Coaches, and other culturally grounded supports; and
WHEREAS, together, these interventions help youth reduce or eliminate illegal drug use, build prosocial skills, strengthen family engagement, and establish long-term stability; and
WHEREAS, the Adult Drug Treatment Court Program is a collaborative, multidisciplinary initiative designed to improve outcomes for justice-involved adults experiencing substance use disorders and reduce felony-level recidivism through treatment, accountability, and intensive supervision; and
WHEREAS, the Adult Drug Treatment Court Program incorporates intensive supervision, treatment participation, and frequent drug testing requirements to support long-term recovery and reduce future criminal behavior; and
WHEREAS, funding supports drug testing costs, transportation, training, contracted services, and offsets approximately $50,000 in salary costs associated with operating the program; and
WHEREAS, the Family Dependency Treatment Court (FDTC) is a voluntary problem-solving alternative court process for families involved in child protection court due to substance abuse by a parent; and
WHEREAS, all parents enrolled in FDTC have an addiction involving stimulants (methamphetamine/cocaine), opiates (heroin/fentanyl), or chronic and severe alcohol use; and
WHEREAS, the goals of the FDTC program are to protect the safety of children and support their well-being while giving parents the tools they need to obtain long-term sobriety in order to provide a safe and stable home for their children, thereby meeting the overarching goal of public safety; and
WHEREAS, diverting selected cases away from the traditional child protection court processes and into the Family Dependency Treatment Alternative Court Process, parents are more likely to achieve long-term sobriety and stability resulting in successful reunification with their children; and
WHEREAS, the FY2027 allocation for the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program is $165,250, which reflects a $0 (0%) increase from the FY2026 allocation; and
WHEREAS, $14,000 of the FY2027 allocation is paid directly by the State to a public defender for client legal representation, leaving $151,250 budgeted by Dakota County and eligible for reimbursement to Dakota County; and
WHEREAS, Community Corrections will receive $110,000 for Adult Drug Treatment Court Programs in FY2027, a $0 (0%) increase from the FY2026 allocation; and
WHEREAS, Social Services-Children and Family Services will receive $121,000 for Family Dependency Drug Treatment Court Programs in FY2027, a $0 (0%) increase from the FY2026 allocation; and
WHEREAS, staff is requesting cooperative agreements be executed for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes an Assistant County Manager, Community Services, to accept the allocated funds from the State of Minnesota’s First Judicial District, Dakota County District Court for the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program and execute a cooperative agreement in the amount of $165,250 for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board acknowledges that $14,000 of the total allocation is paid directly by the State to a public defender for client legal representation, and therefore the amount budgeted by Dakota County and eligible for reimbursement to Dakota County under the agreement is $151,250.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes an Assistant County Manager, Community Services, to accept the allocated funds from the State of Minnesota’s First Judicial District, Dakota County District Court for the Adult Drug Treatment Court Program and execute a cooperative agreement in the amount of $110,000 for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes an Assistant County Manager, Community Services, to accept the allocated funds from the State of Minnesota’s First Judicial District, Dakota County District Court for the Family Dependency Drug Treatment Court Program and execute a cooperative agreement in the amount of $121,000 for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Treatment Court FY27 Agreements
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Suwana Kirkland
Author: Danielle McNamara