DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Children & Family Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Contract With Nexus Family Healing
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of a contract with Nexus Family Healing to provide youth shelter support services for youth referred by Dakota County Social Services and Dakota County Community Corrections.
SUMMARY
The Children and Families section in the Social Services department and the Juvenile Corrections section in the Community Corrections department require a vendor to provide services at a Dakota County owned facility, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for youth who are placed by county child protection, community corrections, children's mental health, crisis response teams, local law enforcement, or other applicable agencies.
Youth shelter support services are provided in a licensed Children's Residential Facility, known as Aspen House. They are defined in and are subject to the standards of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245A and Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.0010 to 2960.0710. Youth shelter support services provide a residential program offering short-term, time-limited placements of 90 days or less to residents who are in a behavioral or situational crisis and need out-of-home placement.
Aspen House provides short-term housing for up to 90 days for up to 12 residents, ages 12-18. County mobile crisis response, juvenile justice, child protection, and children’s mental health teams utilize this program when youth temporarily need a safe place to stay away from home while service professionals (social workers, probation officers, therapists) work on reunification or longer-term solutions for the family. The services and programming at Aspen House include family engagement, maintaining family and cultural connections, family therapy, transition planning, and psychoeducation. Educational services are provided on-site in partnership with Independent School District 197.
Nexus Family Healing has provided youth shelter support services for Dakota County since Aspen House opened in October 2022. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was released on July 23, 2024, for youth shelter support services and Nexus Family Healing was selected. They have demonstrated their willingness and capability to provide youth shelter support services through their current collaboration with Dakota County and the RFP process. Staff have determined a need for four guaranteed bed days (two for Dakota County Community Corrections and two for Dakota County Social Services) at the per diem rate of $512.38 per day.
Staff is requesting a contract with Nexus Family Healing for youth shelter support services for a not to exceed amount of $1,900,000, effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
OUTCOMES
How much?
2024 data through September 30, 2024:
• 65 youth served
• 1,727 bed days used by Dakota County
• Average length of stay = 23 days
How well?
• 100 percent Community Corrections youth placed on detention status made their initial appearance in court.
• 49 percent of youth re-unified with their parents following placement at Aspen House.
• 80 percent of residents rated their “care” at Aspen House as “favorable”.
Is anyone better off?
Quotes from youth staying at Aspen House:
• “I loved going to the outings and I loved the staff which made me feel like I belonged.” - Youth
• “Being in the community and having fun.” - Youth
• “Thank you for not giving up on me so fast, for real, and I know I have my bad days, but ya’ll never give up on me.” - Youth
• “I’m more myself at Aspen House - I feel accepted here for being queer.” - Youth
• “I don't know what you all are doing over there, but my daughter is getting back to the girl she
really is.” - Parent
• “This is like the first group of people I’ve been around where I can be myself.” - Youth
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorize a contract with Nexus Family Services to provide Shelter Care Services for youth in a not to exceed amount of up to $1,900,000 for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Funding for this service will be included in the 2025 County Manager’s Social Services Recommended Budget and the 2025 County Manager’s Community Corrections Recommended Budget for out-of-home placements. The contract will contain a provision that allows the County to terminate the contract immediately if sufficient funds from the county, state, or federal funds are no longer available at a level sufficient to continue services.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Children and Families section in the Social Services department and the Juvenile Corrections section in the Community Corrections department require a vendor to provide services at a Dakota County owned facility, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for youth who are placed by county child protection, community corrections, children's mental health, crisis response teams, local law enforcement, or other applicable agencies; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245A and Minnesota Rules, parts 2960.0010 to 2960.0710 state the requirement to provide services and the framework by which to provide those services for youth aged 12 to 17; and
WHEREAS, Aspen House provides short-term housing for up to 90 days for up to 12 residents, ages 12-18; and
WHEREAS, County mobile crisis response, juvenile justice, child protection, and children’s mental health teams utilize this program when youth temporarily need a safe place to stay away from home while service professionals (social workers, probation officers, therapists) work on reunification or longer-term solutions for the family; and
WHEREAS, the services and programming at Aspen House include family engagement, maintaining family and cultural connections, family therapy, transition planning, and psychoeducation; and
WHEREAS, educational services are provided on-site in partnership with Independent School District 197; and
WHEREAS, Nexus Family Healing has provided these youth shelter support services for Dakota County since Aspen House opened in October 2022; and
WHEREAS, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was released on July 23, 2024, for youth shelter support services and Nexus Family Healing was selected; and
WHEREAS, staff is requesting a contract with Nexus Family Healing for youth shelter support services in a not to exceed amount of $1,900,000, effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Services Director to execute a contract with Nexus Family Healing for emergency shelter with support services for youth funded in a not to exceed amount of up to
$1,900,000 for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026, subject to approval by the County Attorney's Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to amend said contract, consistent with the amount budgeted, to alter the contract amount and the contract 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; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the contract shall contain a provision that allows the County to immediately terminate the contract in the event sufficient funds from county, state, or federal sources are not appropriated at a level sufficient to allow payment of the amount(s) due.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Solicitation Summary
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Suzanne Tuttle
Author: Suzanne Tuttle