DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute A Contract Amendment With Lionheart Wellness And Recovery Using Opioid Settlement Funds And Amend 2026 Public Health Budget
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RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, Opioid settlement funds are distributed and governed by the Amended Minnesota Opioid State-Subdivision Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”) which sets forth authorized strategies in MOA Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 25-032 (January 21, 2025), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized the Community Services Director to execute a contract with Lionheart Wellness and Recovery in a contract not to exceed amount of $75,000 using opioid settlement funds for MOA Exhibit A strategies A.1, A.3, and A.6, for the term of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the County amended the contract to extend the term through December 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, a second amendment is proposed for Lionheart Wellness and Recovery to continue to provide trauma-responsive, evidence-based, co-occurring treatment for adolescents, increase accessibility to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder for adolescents, and provide holistic support to adolescents with Opioid Use Disorder and/or Mental Health conditions and their families, in accordance with the previously-authorized MOA strategies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the County Manager, or delegate, to execute a second contract amendment with Lionheart Wellness and Recovery to add $75,000 for a new not to exceed amount of $150,000 and extend the term through December 31, 2028, to provide services in accordance with the Amended Minnesota Opioid State-Subdivision Memorandum of Agreement Exhibit A strategy items A.1, A.3, and A.6, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the 2026 Public Health Budget is hereby amended as follows:
|
Expense |
Amount |
|
Opioid Contract Expense |
$75,000 |
|
Total Expense |
$75,000 |
|
Revenue |
Amount |
|
Opioid Fund Balance |
$75,000 |
|
Total Revenue |
$75,000 |
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BACKGROUND
Minnesota was part of a multi-state $46.6-billion-dollar lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors. Dakota County (the “County”) will receive $9,127,527.20 in the first settlement and $7,429,374.49 in the second settlement over a 19-year period. Pursuant to the Amended Minnesota Opioid State-Subdivision Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”), the County may use the opioid settlement funds when the Dakota County Board of Commissioners passes a resolution authorizing the expenditure of a stated amount of funds connected to specific strategies the County intends to fund by identifying the item letter and/or number in the MOA.
Fiscal decisions made by federal and state government have impacted our Dakota County communities and caused financial consequences for the opioid contractors. Working on remediation, prevention, treatment, and recovery, the opioid contractors have been doing exceptional work in our communities despite this new reality. Additionally, Operation Metro Surge greatly impacted the opioid contractor’s ability to deliver services in the way they had planned.
MOA Exhibit A includes the following authorized strategies which will be funded through this contract amendment:
• Strategy A.1: Expand availability of treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (“OUD”) and any co-occurring Substance Use Disorder or Mental Health (“SUD/MH”) conditions, including all forms of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (“MOUD”) approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including by making capital expenditures to purchase, rehabilitate, or expand facilities that offer treatment.
• Strategy A.3: Expand telehealth to increase access to treatment for OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions, including MOUD, as well as counseling, psychiatric support, and other treatment and recovery support services.
• Strategy A.6: Provide treatment of trauma for individuals with OUD (e.g., violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or adverse childhood experiences) and family members (e.g., surviving family members after an overdose or overdose fatality), and training of health care personnel to identify and address such trauma.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to execute a contract amendment with Lionheart Wellness and Recovery to add $75,000 for a not to exceed $150,000 and extend the term through December 31, 2028.
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FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPACTS
The original contract was included in the 2025 Public Health budget. A budget amendment is being requested in the amount of $75,000 funded by Opioid Fund Balance to cover the extension of the contract.
|
Fund |
Department |
Program |
Funding Source |
Requested Budget |
|
Opioid Fund |
Public Health |
Contracts |
Fund Balance |
$75,000 |
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
25-032; 01/21/25
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: RBA Contract Summary Sheet
CONTACT
Department Director: Gina Pistulka
Author: Jess Luce