DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Adult Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
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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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of joint powers agreements (JPAs) with Dakota County law enforcement agencies for Social Services Public Safety embedded social worker partnerships (hereinafter referred to as “Embedded Social Worker Model”).
SUMMARY
Cities and counties across the nation are exploring new approaches to working with people who experience a mental health crisis. 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.
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). 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). 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. In participating law enforcement agencies, a SS mental health social worker works closely with an assigned law enforcement partner to provide follow-up, service coordination and crisis stabilization services following a mental health crisis event. 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. Partnerships have expanded to include co-location of mobile crisis services.
By Resolution No. 20-449 (September 22, 2020), the County Board of Commissioners approved entering into JPAs that outlined partnership roles and responsibilities of the Pilot.
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.
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.
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).
Dakota County is requesting authorization to:
• Renew JPAs (Attachment: JPA - Embedded Social Worker Template) with the following cities: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Rosemount, South Saint Paul, and West Saint Paul (“cities”);
• Enter into associated management control agreements (MCAs) with the cities and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, as required by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy (Attachment: Management Control Template); and
• Enter into JPAs with any other Dakota County cities who may wish to partner in the future.
Additionally, Dakota County SS will renew the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office for the Embedded Social Worker Model.
OUTCOMES
The following is a summary of the 2023 outcome and impact data for the Embedded Social Worker program. Dakota County has a contract with a research and evaluation agency for continued impact analysis of Dakota County’s mental health crisis continuum, including the Embedded Social Worker model.
How much?
• 2,256 outreaches that led to engagement and/or service coordination
• 639 face to face outreaches or assessments
• 260 cases opened for intensive crisis stabilization services
How well?
• 10 of 10 participating public safety agencies have embedded social worker assignments
Is anyone better off?
• Adults, children, and families have better access to services to learn about symptoms, build skills, connect to long-term support, and build a long-term recovery plan
• City and County working in partnership to improve public service response in support of shared goals for healthy, safe communities for all
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to renew JPAs with Dakota County city law enforcement agencies for Social Services Public Safety Embedded Social Worker Partnerships and associated MCAs.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
There is a $0 net County cost as a result of this action. This Agreement may be terminated with or without cause by either Cities or County upon ninety (90) days' written notice to the other party to this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the above, Cities may immediately terminate their Agreement at any time if the health, safety, or welfare of any person receiving services or entitled to receive services under this Agreement is at risk because of the actions or inaction of the County.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
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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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
20-449; 9/22/20
21-618; 12/14/21
22-164; 4/12/22
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Joint Powers Agreement - Embedded Social Worker Template
Attachment: Joint Powers Agreement - Management Control Template
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Emily Schug
Author: Emily Schug