DEPARTMENT: Employment and Economic Assistance
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Submit Biennial Service Agreement, Accept Funds For Minnesota Family Investment Program With Minnesota Department Of Children, Youth, And Families, And Execute Contract With Avivo For Employment Services
end
PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize submission of the Biennial Service Agreement (BSA), acceptance of biennial funding from the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), and execution of contract with Avivo for MFIP employment services.
SUMMARY
Minn. Stat. §142G.76, subd.4, requires counties to have an approved biennial service agreement with DCYF to receive consolidated funds. The primary purpose of this service agreement is to assess statewide efforts toward the goal of “economic stability for low-income families” under MFIP. The agreement assesses the ongoing needs of families and children within program areas, the resources available to address these needs, budgeting of allocated resources, and community participation and review in the planning and development of the service agreement.
The 2026-2027 BSA (Attachment: Biennial Service Agreement) builds upon existing efforts by counties to serve the needs of families and children, and to assess how well current efforts are leading to better outcomes for Minnesota families. Counties use the MFIP Consolidated Fund to administer MFIP financial assistance, the Diversionary Work Program (DWP), deliver MFIP and DWP employment services, and provide emergency assistance. As required by law, Employment and Economic Assistance provided an opportunity for public comment through an online public posting on Dakota County’s website, available for comment for thirty days prior to the submission of the agreement to DCYF. Dakota County did not receive any public comments as a result and the announcement closed for comments on October 30, 2025.
Staff recommends authorization to submit the BSA for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, and accept funds in a total not to exceed amount of $8,812,654 ($4,406,327 for each year). This is a decrease of $232,796 (-2.6%) from the funding received in the prior biennium.
Staff recommends authorization to execute a contract with Avivo for MFIP employment services in a not to exceed amount of $1,390,406 for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. This is an increase of $190,406 (15.9%) from the prior year and is increasing as individuals previously enrolled in DWP will now be moving to the MFIP program.
OUTCOMES
See Attachment: Outcomes.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorize submission of the BSA, accept funds from MFIP with DCYF in an amount not to exceed $8,812,654 for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, authorize execution of the BSA, and execute contract with Avivo in an amount not to exceed $1,390,406 for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
end
EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
This resolution will authorize the County to accept grant funds in the amount of $8,812,654. This grant supports the income maintenance, MFIP employment services, and emergency assistance programs in the Employment and Economic Assistance department. This resolution authorizes the County to execute a contract with Avivo for MFIP employment services in an amount not to exceed $1,390,406 for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. This grant funding and the contract expense will be included in the County Manager’s Recommended 2026 budget. This contract shall contain a provision that allows the County to immediately terminate the contracts in the event sufficient county, state, or federal funds are not appropriated at a level sufficient to allow payment of the amounts due.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☒ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. §142G.76, subd.4, requires counties to have an approved biennial service agreement (BSA) with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to receive consolidated funds; and
WHEREAS, the primary purpose of this service agreement is to assess statewide efforts toward the goal of “economic stability for low-income families” under Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP); and
WHEREAS, the agreement assesses the ongoing needs of families and children within program areas, the resources available to address these needs, budgeting of allocated resources, and community participation and review in the planning and development of the service agreement; and
WHEREAS, the 2026-2027 BSA builds upon existing efforts by counties to serve the needs of families and children, and to assess how well current efforts are leading to better outcomes for Minnesota families; and
WHEREAS, counties use the MFIP Consolidated Fund to administer MFIP financial assistance, the Diversionary Work Program (DWP), deliver MFIP and DWP employment services, and provide emergency assistance; and
WHEREAS, as required by law, Employment and Economic Assistance provided an opportunity for public comment through an online public posting on Dakota County’s website, available for comment for thirty days prior to the submission of the agreement to DCYF; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County did not receive any public comments as a result and the announcement closed for comments on October 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends authorization to submit the BSA for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027, and accept funds for a total not to exceed amount of $8,812,654 ($4,406,327 for each year); and
WHEREAS, this is a decrease of $232,796 (-2.6%) from the funding received in the prior biennium; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends authorization to execute a contract with Avivo for MFIP employment services in a not to exceed amount of $1,390,406 for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, this is an increase of $190,406 (15.9%) from the prior year and is increasing as individuals previously enrolled in DWP will now be moving to the MFIP program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes Dakota County to submit the Biennial Service Agreement for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 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 authorizes the Community Services Director to accept funds from the Minnesota Family Investment Program with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in an amount not to exceed $8,812,654 for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027; 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; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute a contract with Avivo for Minnesota Family Investment Program employment services in a not to exceed amount of $1,390,406 for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to amend said contract, consistent with the amount budgeted, to alter the contract amount and the contract term up to one year after initial expiration date, consistent with County contracting policies, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; 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.
end
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Outcomes
Attachment: Biennial Service Agreement
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Mark Jacobs
Author: Jill Pittelkow