DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Adult Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
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Authorization To Execute Joint Powers Agreements With Dakota County Law Enforcement Agencies For Social Services Public Safety Embedded Social Worker Partnerships
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, cities and counties across the nation are exploring new approaches to working with people who experience a mental health crisis; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County and cities have been working together, for years, to develop partnerships and new models of response to a mental health crisis that promote safe, healthy communities and people receiving the right services at the right time; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County and public safety partners have been among the first in Minnesota to develop and implement crisis follow-up models, including through the Coordinated Response Pilot (the Pilot); and
WHEREAS, the Pilot, launched in 2019, was an innovative partnership aimed at providing a more effective, coordinated response to residents whose use of emergency services may indicate a need for a more integrated response from law enforcement and Social Services (SS); and
WHEREAS, the Pilot operated in four Dakota County cities -Apple Valley, Rosemount, South St. Paul, and West St. Paul - and was eventually expanded to all interested cities and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office; and
WHEREAS, in participating cities, a SS mental health social worker works closely with an assigned police partner to provide follow-up, service coordination and crisis stabilization services following a mental health crisis event; and
WHEREAS, crisis follow-up services link residents to other short- and long-term support services and are an essential component of an effective crisis services continuum; and
WHEREAS, partnerships have expanded to include co-location of mobile crisis services; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 20-449 (September 22, 2020), the County Board of Commissioners approved entering into joint powers agreements (JPA)s that outlined partnership roles and responsibilities of the Pilot; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 21-618 (December 14, 2021), the County Board of Commissioners approved using American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund dollars to expand the Embedded Social Worker Model to all Dakota County cities; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 22-164 (April 12, 2022), the County Board of Commissioners approved to expand the Embedded Social Worker Model to all Dakota County cities; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County’s mental health crisis services continuum, which includes the Embedded Social Worker model, was recognized with achievement awards from the Minnesota Association of Counties (2023) and the National Association of Counties (2024); and
WHEREAS, Dakota County is requesting authorization to renew JPAs with the following cities: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Rosemount, South Saint Paul, and West Saint Paul (“cities”), management control agreements with the cities and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, and to enter into JPAs with any additional Dakota County cities who may wish to partner in the future.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute joint powers agreements with the Cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Rosemount, South Saint Paul, and West Saint Paul (“cities”) effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026 (“Term”), including related management control agreements (“MCA”) with the cities and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office for the Term, substantially as presented to the Community Services Committee of the Whole on September 17, 2024, subject to approval by the County Attorney's Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That if resources are available for additional law enforcement agencies to be added to the Embedded Social Worker Model, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute joint powers agreements with other Dakota County law enforcement agencies effective upon the date of execution through December 31, 2026, including any related MCAs, substantially as presented to the Community Services Committee of the Whole on September 17, 2024, subject to approval by the County Attorney's Office as to form.
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