DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Joint Powers Agreements With School Districts For On-Site Vaccinations Clinics
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of joint powers agreement (JPA)s with school districts for on-site vaccination clinics.
SUMMARY
Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 375A.04, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is, and performs the duties and exercises the powers of, a community health board under Minn. Stat. ch. 145A, including the responsibility to prevent disease and to promote and protect the public health of Dakota County residents.
Dakota County Public Health (PH) has over a decade of working with local school districts in Dakota County on various health initiatives. Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in the community, but many school districts in Dakota County are seeing lower rates of immunization post-COVID-19 pandemic. State law requires a set of immunizations for entry into kindergarten and beyond, and school-based vaccine clinics help ensure that students have received the necessary vaccinations and are in compliance with these requirements.
School-based vaccine clinics reinforce the importance of immunizations and raise awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases. They provide an opportunity to educate parents, students, and the community about the benefits of vaccinations, dispel myths or misinformation, and address concerns. PH will enter into a contract with Homeland Health Specialists to provide onsite vaccination clinics at various school districts throughout the County. PH will provide on-site District vaccination clinic services in the event Homeland Health Specialist, Inc. is unable to provide services and the County agrees to perform such services, based on its capacity and resources. By hosting on-site vaccination clinics, PH will be able to increase vaccination coverage and reduce disparities among students and families in the community.
Under Minn. Stat. § 471.59, subd.1, two or more governmental units may enter into an agreement to cooperatively exercise any power common to the contracting parties, and one of the participating governmental units may exercise one of its powers on behalf of the other governmental units. Staff requests authorization to enter into separate JPAs with Independent School Districts (ISD) 191, 196, 197, 199, and South St. Paul Special School District (SSD) No. 6, for onsite vaccination clinics (Attachment: Joint Powers Agreement).
OUTCOMES
How much: In 2025, Dakota County Public Health staff administered 2,803 immunizations to 910 school-aged youth (5-18 years of age).
How well: What is your overall rating of the services you received at today’s immunization clinic? (track the percent of Good, Very Good, or Excellent responses)
o Excellent: 85.2 percent
o Very Good: 10.9 percent
o Good: 3.0 percent
Is anyone better off: 2025 Survey Question: If you or your child didn’t come to our clinic today, would you or your child have gotten vaccinated somewhere else? (Yes, No)
• No: 55.1 percent
• Percent of Dakota County kindergartners fully vaccinated for the following vaccines (24-25 school year):
o DTaP: 87.9 percent
o Polio: 88.2 percent
o MMR: 86.5 percent
o Hep B: 93.0 percent
o Varicella: 86.6 percent
• Percent of Dakota County seventh graders fully vaccinated for the following vaccines (24-25 school year):
o DTaP: 95.4 percent
o Polio: 95.1 percent
o MMR: 95.2 percent
o Hep B: 95.6 percent
o Varicella: 94.2 percent
o Tdap: 88.3 percent
o Meningococcal: 87.2 percent
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to execute separate JPAs with ISDs 191,196, 197, 199, and SSD No. 6, for onsite vaccination clinics.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Funding is included in the 2026 Public Health budget including $11,786 UCare grant funding and a budgeted use of Fund Balance in the amount of $33,214 for a total cost of $45,000 to support school-based on-site immunization clinics. No money is exchanged between Dakota County Public Health and the school districts.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 375A.04, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners is, and performs the duties and exercises the powers of, a community health board under Minn. Stat. ch. 145A, including the responsibility to prevent disease and to promote and protect the public health of Dakota County residents; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County Public Health (PH) has over a decade of working with local school districts in Dakota County on various health initiatives; and
WHEREAS, vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in the community, but many school districts in Dakota County are seeing lower rates of immunization post-COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, state law requires a set of immunizations for entry into kindergarten and beyond, and school-based vaccine clinics help ensure that students have received the necessary vaccinations and are in compliance with these requirements; and
WHEREAS, school-based vaccine clinics reinforce the importance of immunizations and raise awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases; and
WHEREAS, they provide an opportunity to educate parents, students, and the community about the benefits of vaccinations, dispel myths or misinformation, and address concerns; and
WHEREAS, PH will enter into a contract with Homeland Health Specialists to provide onsite vaccination clinics at various school districts throughout the County; and
WHEREAS, PH will provide on-site District vaccination clinic services in the event Homeland Health Specialist, Inc. is unable to provide services and the County agrees to perform such services, based on its capacity and resources; and
WHEREAS, by hosting on-site vaccination clinics, PH will be able to increase vaccination coverage and reduce disparities among students and families in the community; and
WHEREAS, under Minn. Stat. § 471.59, subd.1, two or more governmental units may enter into an agreement to cooperatively exercise any power common to the contracting parties, and one of the participating governmental units may exercise one of its powers on behalf of the other governmental units; and
WHEREAS, staff requests authorization to enter into separate JPAs with Independent School Districts (ISD) 191, 196, 197, 199, and South St. Paul Special School District (SSD) No. 6, for onsite vaccination clinics.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes an Assistant County Manager, Community Services, to execute the joint powers agreements with Independent School Districts 191, 196, 197, 199, and South St. Paul Special School District No. 6, for onsite vaccination clinics for the period of date of execution of the joint powers agreement through March 31, 2027, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Assistant County Manager, Community Services, is hereby authorized to amend said agreement to extend the 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.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Joint Powers Agreement
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Gina Pistulka
Author: Cortney Gillum