DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Ratification Of Grant Application For New And Emerging School-Based Health Center With Minnesota Department Of Health, And Authorization To Accept Grant Funds, Execute Grant Agreement, And Amend 2024 Public Health Budget
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Ratify the grant application for New and Emerging School-Based Health Center with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and authorize acceptance of grant funds, execution of grant agreement, and amendment to the 2024 Public Health Budget.
SUMMARY
Dakota County Public Health (PH) has over a decade of experience working with local school districts in Dakota County on various health initiatives. Most recently, PH has been working in partnership with Independent School District 192 (Farmington) on exploring the development of a school-based health center (SBHC) for their district. SBHCs encompass primary medical care including, preventive health care, chronic medical condition management, including diabetes and asthma care, mental health care and crisis management, acute care for illness and injury, referral to a specialist, medical home, or hospital for care, and immunization and vaccines. The need for these services with a new service delivery model has become more pertinent as the Minnesota Community Care Primary Care Clinic in Farmington closed on December 15, 2023, creating a greater need for primary pediatric care in the community.
In addition, PH has been partnering with Independent School District 197 (West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan) on exploring opportunities for a SBHC model for their district.
The MDH’s Adolescent and School Health Unit, Community and Family Health Division opened an opportunity for local health departments and school districts to apply for the Minnesota New and Emerging School-Based Health Center Grant. The goal of this grant program is to facilitate the growth of SBHCs through establishing new or expanding existing SBHCs in Minnesota. The grant provides up to 18 months of funding to assess the need for a new SBHC site, establish community support, identify, and secure operating partners, and open an operating SBHC site.
PH submitted an application for this grant prior to the deadline of December 27, 2023, and was awarded $273,157 on February 13, 2024. The grant period is March 4, 2024 through June 30, 2025, with the possibility to extend funding for two additional years.
PH plans to use this Grant to:
• Conduct a Readiness Assessment with school district partners using the MN School-Based Health Alliance’s Readiness Assessment, Needs Statement and Business Plan tools.
• Develop strategic priorities that align with the National School-Based Health Centers Core Competencies.
• Provide technical assistance to partner school districts and district-identified sponsoring healthcare organizations in the development of a sustainable operations, renovation, and outreach plan to enroll children and youth as SBHC site users.
• Provide grant funding opportunities to school districts and district-identified sponsoring healthcare organizations in implementing a SBHC.
• Offset current PH staffing costs related to existing school partnership work.
• Learn from this funding opportunity on how to successfully implement and create a sustainable SBHC in our community beyond our initial partners.
OUTCOMES
• Provide technical assistance to identified partner school districts to develop a SBHC including conducting a needs assessment, health organization partnership, business plan and establishing the physical clinical site.
• By the end of the funding period, have at least one SBHC site established and prepared to open.
• The SBHC will be a space for students to access healthcare in a safe and supportive environment.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends ratification of the grant application for New and Emerging School-Based Health Center with MDH, and authorization to accept grant funds, execute the grant agreement in the amount awarded of $273,157 for the period of March 4, 2024 through June 30, 2025, and amend the 2024 Public Health Budget.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
There is a $0 net County cost anticipated as a result of this action. The 2024 Public Health Budget is requested to be amended to add the grant funds of $273,157 and will include any remaining funds in future Public Health budgets.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dakota County Public Health (PH) has over a decade of experience working with local school districts in Dakota County on various health initiatives; and
WHEREAS, most recently, PH has been working in partnership with Independent School District 192 (Farmington) on exploring the development of a school-based health center (SBHC) for their district; and
WHEREAS, SBHCs encompass primary medical care including, preventive health care, chronic medical condition management, including diabetes and asthma care, mental health care and crisis management, acute care for illness and injury, referral to a specialist, medical home, or hospital for care, and immunization and vaccines; and
WHEREAS, the need for these services with a new service delivery model has become more pertinent as the Minnesota Community Care Primary Care Clinic in Farmington closed on December 15, 2023, creating a greater need for primary pediatric care in the community; and
WHEREAS, in addition, PH has been partnering with Independent School District 197 (West St Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan) on exploring opportunities for a SBHC model for their district; and
WHEREAS, MDH Adolescent and School Health Unit, Community and Family Health Division opened an opportunity for local health departments and school districts to apply for the Minnesota New and Emerging School-Based Health Center Grant; and
WHEREAS, the goal of this grant program is to facilitate the growth of SBHCs through establishing new or expanding existing SBHCs in Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the grant provides up to 18 months of funding to assess the need for a new SBHC site, establish community support, identify, and secure operating partners, and open an operating SBHC site; and
WHEREAS, PH submitted an application for this grant prior to the deadline of December 27, 2023, and was awarded $273,157 on February 13, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the grant period is March 4, 2024 through June 30, 2025, with the possibility to extend funding for two additional years; and
WHEREAS, PH plans to use this grant to:
• Conduct a Readiness Assessment with school district partners using the MN School-Based Health Alliance’s Readiness Assessment, Needs Statement and Business Plan tools
• Develop strategic priorities that align with the National School-Based Health Centers Core Competencies
• Provide technical assistance to partner school districts and district-identified sponsoring healthcare organizations in the development of a sustainable operations, renovation, and outreach plan to enroll children and youth as SBHC site users
• Provide grant funding opportunities to school districts and district-identified sponsoring healthcare organizations in implementing a SBHC
• Offset current PH staffing costs related to existing school partnership work
• Learn from this funding opportunity on how to successfully implement and create a sustainable SBHC in our community beyond our initial partners
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby ratifies the submission of the grant application for New and Emerging School-Based Health Center (SBHC) with the Minnesota Department of Health for the period of March 4, 2024 through June 30, 2025, in a total amount up to $300,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to accept the grant funds awarded in the amount of $273,157 for the period of March 4, 2024 through June 30, 2025, and execute the grant agreement for the same period, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; 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 2024 Public Health Budget is hereby amended as follows:
Expense
SBHC Grant Expenses $273,157
Total Expense $273,157
Revenue
SBHC Grant Revenue $273,157
Total Revenue $273,157
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
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: Coral Ripplinger
Author: Lia Roberts