DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Aging & Disability Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Accept Grant Funds From Minnesota Department Of Human Services For Workforce Shortage Efforts, Execute Grant Agreement, And Amend 2024 Social Services Budget
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dakota County created a time limited Workforce and Provider Shortage workgroup from November 2022 through June 2023 to work collaboratively with stakeholders to address the shortage of workers impacting people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the workgroup was led by Commissioner Laurie Halverson and Commissioner Mary Liz Holberg along with Social Services Leadership and consisted of people with disabilities, their family members, state agency leaders and private sector leaders; and
WHEREAS, the workgroup focused on learning about the impact the workforce shortage is having on people with disabilities through listening sessions, learning about what others are doing at a local and statewide level to address the workforce shortage, and brainstorming potential solutions that Dakota County could implement; and
WHEREAS, as part of this work thirteen recommendations were identified; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County’s 2024 legislative priorities included a request for a direct appropriation to support the implementation of these recommendations; and
WHEREAS, during the 2024 legislative session the legislature approved MN Law Chapter 125; Article 8; Sec.2; Subd 14; paragraph b that awards Dakota County with the following: $500,000 in fiscal year 2025 is for a grant to Dakota County for innovative solutions to the disability services workforce shortage; and
WHEREAS, up to $250,000 of this amount must be used to develop and test an online application for matching requests for services from people with disabilities to available staff and up to $250,000 of this amount must be used to develop a communities-for-all program that engages businesses, community organizations, neighbors, and informal support systems to promote community inclusion of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, staff anticipates this grant will be executed in 2024 and the funds will be immediately available.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to accept the Minnesota Department of Human Services grant funds for a total amount up to $500,000 for Workforce Shortage efforts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute a grant agreement effective from date of execution through June 30, 2027, 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 Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby amends the 2024 Social Services Budget as follows:
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Expense |
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Program Expense |
$500,000 |
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Total Expense |
$500,000 |
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Revenue |
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Workforce Shortage Grant |
$500,000 |
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Total Revenue |
$500,000 |
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