DEPARTMENT: Social Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Ratification Of Minnesota Department Of Human Services Adult Mental Health Initiative And Community Support Program Grant Application, And Authorization To Accept Grant Funds, Execute Grant Agreement, And Add 8.0 Grant-Funded Full-Time Equivalents
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. § 245.465 states the County Board shall use its share of mental health funds allocated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) according to the mental health plan approved by the Commissioner of DHS; and
WHEREAS, the DHS Adult Mental Health Initiative (AMHI) and Community Support Program (CSP) grants provide funding to support Dakota County residents with mental illness to live healthy, thriving lives in community settings; and
WHEREAS, AMHIs are regional organizations that oversee adult mental health services and funding; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County is its own AMHI; and
WHEREAS, according to Minn. Stat. § 245.466, each local plan for an AMHI must be developed under the direction of the County Board as the local mental health authority; and
WHEREAS, the planning for each AMHI shall include, but not be limited to, people with lived experience, families, advocates, local mental health providers, and other system partners; and
WHEREAS, staff works closely with Dakota County’s Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council (LAC) on an ongoing basis to identify unmet needs and priorities; and
WHEREAS, state funding for AMHIs remained largely unchanged from the early 1990s through calendar year (CY) 2024; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 22-346 (September 23, 2022), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved Dakota County’s CY 2023 and 2024 AMHI and CSP grant application; and
WHEREAS, effective for AMHI grants starting in CY 2025, a new AMHI funding formula was implemented that factors in population, per capita spending, and social determinants of health; and
WHEREAS, the new, ongoing, funding formula significantly increases Dakota County’s AMHI allocation; and
WHEREAS, under the new formula, Dakota County’s AMHI portion of the allocation increases by $1,844,007, from $482,776 in CY 2024 to $2,326,783 in CY 2025; and
WHEREAS, DHS communicated that funding amounts will remain consistent through, at least, CY 2035; and
WHEREAS, in preparation for the allocation of additional grant dollars in CY 2025 and opening of the Crisis and Recovery Center, Dakota County conducted adult mental health system needs assessment and data analysis; and
WHEREAS, stakeholder engagement and needs analysis informed Dakota County’s CY 2025 and CY 2026 AMHI and CSP proposed spending plan; and
WHEREAS, the CY 2025 and CY 2026 spending plan prioritizes investments in staffing for effectively delivering, managing and overseeing a large and complex adult mental health system of care; and
WHEREAS, AMHI funding will be used for system coordination, clinical supervision, staffing for the Crisis and Recovery Center, core County mental health operations, and expanded community-based service options; and
WHEREAS, staff prepared and submitted the CY 2025 and CY 2026 AMHI and CSP application and budget forms by the September 9, 2024, submission deadline.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby ratifies the Adult Mental Health Initiative and Community Support Program grant application to the Minnesota Department of Human Services for calendar year (CY) 2025 and CY 2026 for a total grant amount of $6,126,582; 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 Adult Mental Health Initiative and Community Support Program grant agreement for the period of January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026 for a total grant amount of $6,126,582, 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 the Community Services Director to add 8.0 grant-funded, full-time equivalent positions; 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.
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