DEPARTMENT: Public Health
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Ratification Of Minnesota Department Of Health Grant Application For Additional Strong Foundations Funding And Authorization To Accept Grant Funds, Execute Grant Amendment, And Amend 2025 Public Health Budget
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Ratify Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) grant application for additional Strong Foundations funding, and authorize acceptance of grant funds, execution of grant amendment and amendment to the 2025 Public Health Budget.
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.
By Resolution No. 22-436 (October 18, 2022), the Board approved the application and acceptance of the MDH Strong Foundations grant funds for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2027. The Strong Foundations grant funds support the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home Visiting (MECSH) evidence-based home visiting model at Dakota County. Funding allocations are determined annually and are expected to be stable.
In November 2024, Public Health was notified by MDH that they were awarded $1,694,916, in Strong Foundations grant funds for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
By Resolution No. 24-612 (December 17, 2024), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized acceptance of the Strong Foundations grant funds in the amount of $1,694,916 for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, which is $194,001 over the 2025 County Manager’s Adopted Budget. In addition, MDH informed counties to apply for additional Strong Foundations grant funding for professional development. Dakota County applied for and was awarded up to $98,000 in additional funding through Strong Foundations for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
The proposed amendment to the 2025 Public Health Budget reflects an increase of $292,001 which exceeds the amount allocated in the 2025 County Manager’s Adopted Budget.
OUTCOMES
How Much?
The number of families and home visits has increased since the pandemic and is projected to continue to increase in 2025.
• 2022 families served: 642
• 2023 families served: 742
• 2024 families served: 819
The professional development funds will provide 36 public health nurses (PHNs) over 2000 hours of training in attachment theory, child development, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing and evidence-based interventions.
How Well?
Incremental change in important maternal and child outcomes for families who are enrolled in the
family home visiting program:
• In 2022, 92 percent of children were up to date with immunizations. In 2023, 93 percent of children were up to date, up one percent from 2022.
• In 2022, 59 percent of children had their nine-month well-child checkup completed before one year of age. In 2023, 90 percent of children in family home visiting had a 9-month well-child check by one year of age, up 31 percent from 2022.
Increasing PHNs skills empowers home visitors to work collaboratively with parents, setting realistic goals, addressing challenges effectively, and building parental self-efficacy. This collaborative approach increases the likelihood of successful outcomes for families.
Are we better off?
In 2023, the percent of singleton babies born at healthy weight by mothers seen prenatally by the family home visiting program was 98 percent, which exceeds the county target of 90 percent.
The improved skills and knowledge of PHNs fosters stronger parent-child bonds, improves communication within families, improves parent engagement and increases overall family well-being which leads to better outcomes.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends ratification of the MDH grant application for additional Strong Foundations funding, and authorization to accept the grant funds, execute the grant amendment and amend the 2025 Public Health Budget in the amount of $292,001.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
There is a $0 net county cost anticipated as a result of this action. The 2025 Public Health Budget is requested to be amended by an additional $292,001 to equal the grant award of $1,792,916.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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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, by Resolution No. 22-436 (October 18, 2022), the Board approved the application and acceptance of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Strong Foundations grant funds for the period of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2027; and
WHEREAS, the Strong Foundations grant funds support the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home Visiting (MECSH) evidence-based home visiting model at Dakota County; and
WHEREAS, funding allocations are determined annually and are expected to be stable; and
WHEREAS, in November 2024, Public Health was notified by MDH that they were awarded $1,694,916 in Strong Foundations grant funds for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 24-612 (December 17, 2024), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized acceptance of the Strong Foundations grant funds in the amount of $1,694,916 for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, which is $194,001 over the 2025 County Manager’s Adopted Budget; and
WHEREAS, in addition, MDH informed counties to apply for additional Strong Foundations grant funding for professional development; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County applied for and was awarded up to $98,000 in additional funding through Strong Foundations for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendment to the 2025 Public Health Budget reflects an increase of $292,001 which exceeds the amount allocated in the 2025 County Manager’s Adopted Budget.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Service Director to accept the Minnesota Department of Health Strong Foundation grant funds in the amount up to $98,000 for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Community Service Director to amend the Minnesota Department of Health Strong Foundation grant agreement to add up to $98,000 in funds for the same period, 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 the current 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 authorizes the Community Service Director to amend the 2025 County Manager’s Adopted Budget to reflect an increase of $292,001 for the combination of the Strong Foundations core home visiting award, caseload expansion funding, and MESCH trainer award of $194,001 and $98,000 for professional development; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the 2025 Public Health Budget to be amended as follows:
Expense
Program Expense $ 98,000
Total Expense $ 98,000
Revenue
Grant Revenue $292,001
Fund Balance (Funding Existing Salary) ($194, 001)
Total Revenue $ 98,000
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
22-436; 10/18/22
24-612; 12/17/24
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: None
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Coral Ripplinger
Author: Tracy Howard