DEPARTMENT: Social Services-Children & Family Services
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Ratification Of Child Protection Opiate Epidemic Response Allocation From Minnesota Department Of Children, Youth, And Families And Amend 2025 Social Services Budget
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Ratify the 2025 child protection Opiate Epidemic Response (OER) allocation from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and amend the 2025 Social Services Budget.
SUMMARY
In 2019, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill which established an OER account, Minn. Stat. § 256.043. Annually, the state appropriates funds to DCYF to distribute proportional funding to county and tribal social service accounts based on intake data from the previous three calendar years related to substance use and out-of-home placement episodes where parental drug abuse is a reason for the out-of-home placement.
Current funding is designated for a three-year term (2025 through 2027) and is distributed to counties as an annual allocation. In 2025, Dakota County received $116,726 from DCYF (Attachment: 2025 Allocations). This is a $2,744 (2.3%) increase from the 2024 allocation. Ratification to the Board was delayed due to uncertainty in the budget forecast that required additional clarification prior to proceeding.
The OER funds must not be used to supplant current state or local funding received for child protection services for children and families affected by addiction. Use of the funds should promote optimal health, safety, and well-being for families and their children. Counties can target prevention interventions and work with at-risk families, which may include the following program areas: child protection, child welfare, Pathways to Prosperity, Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP), prenatal exposure cases, minor parents, truancy, children’s mental health, and juvenile justice.
Dakota County’s plan includes, but is not limited to, the following services: prevention, conventional, flexible spending, additional staff, and training. DCYF has approved this plan. Conventional services are services for families impacted by substance use disorder which may include, but are not limited to family recovery programs, Family Dependency Treatment Court, Family Group Decision Making, culturally specific services, parent support groups, and family out-of-pocket expenses related to treatment services.
OUTCOMES
How much?
The 2025 Opioid Allocation Plan includes funding to support Dakota County’s Child Protection Services (CPS) program by funding the salary for Social Services staff; funding for prevention services to Pathways to Prosperity and PSOP families; flexible spending funds for relative/kin emergency licensing and licensing incentives; flexible spending funds to meet housing and transportation needs for families; and flexible spending funds to support families in Family Dependency Treatment Court.
How well?
• 47% of funds for a child protection case management social worker
• 11% of funds for preventative services to Pathways to Prosperity and PSOP families
• 11% of funds for relative/kin foster care providers
• 11% of funds for housing and transportation needs for families
• 6% of funds to support families in Family Dependency Treatment Court
Is anyone better off?
Child protection case management staff provides case management services to families experiencing out-of-home placement as a result of parental substance use or abuse. Neglect due to parental substance use is a common reason for out-of-home placement.
Flexible spending funds used for:
• Pathways to Prosperity and PSOP families as an early intervention measure prevents child protection reports related to substance use concerns.
• Relative/kin emergency foster care providers to address barriers that delay or prevent children from placement with relative/kin. Additionally, incentives for relative/kin providers to increase the likelihood that licensing is completed timely, providing permanency to children sooner.
• Families experiencing housing barriers and transportation needs because of substance use disorder. Assistance with housing stabilizes housing for families, reducing and preventing homelessness and evictions.
• Families in the Family Dependency Treatment Court program need additional assistance and support around substance use disorder to stabilize families and help motivate families to complete the program and be reunified with their children.
Opioid allocation funds will be used to help stabilize low-income and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) families who are disproportionately more likely to be reported to child protection and/or experience out-of-home placement.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends the Dakota County Board of Commissioners ratify the 2025 allocation from DCYF for Child Protection Opioid Services in the amount of $116,726 and amend the 2025 Social Services Budget.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Authorization is requested to amend the 2025 Social Services Budget by $116,726 to reflect the revenues and expenses associated with the appropriation.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, in 2019, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill which established an Opiate Epidemic Response (OER) account, Minn. Stat. § 256.043; and
WHEREAS, annually, the state appropriates funds to the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to distribute proportional funding to county and tribal social service accounts based on intake data from the previous three calendar years related to substance use and out-of-home placement episodes where parental drug abuse is a reason for the out-of-home placement; and
WHEREAS, current funding is designated for a three-year term (2025 through 2027) and is distributed to counties as an annual allocation; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, Dakota County received $116,726 from DCYF; and
WHEREAS, this is a $2,744 (2.3%) increase from the 2024 allocation; and
WHEREAS, ratification to the Board was delayed due to uncertainty in the budget forecast that required additional clarification prior to proceeding; and
WHEREAS, the OER funds must not be used to supplant current state or local funding received for child protection services for children and families affected by addiction; and
WHEREAS, use of the funds should promote optimal health, safety, and well-being for families and their children; and
WHEREAS, counties can target prevention interventions and work with at-risk families, which may include the following program areas: child protection, child welfare, Pathways to Prosperity, Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP), prenatal exposure cases, minor parents, truancy, children’s mental health, and juvenile justice; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County’s plan, which DCYF has approved, includes, but is not limited to, the following services: prevention, conventional, flexible spending, additional staff, and training; and
WHEREAS, conventional services are services for families impacted by substance use disorder which may include, but are not limited to family recovery programs, Family Dependency Treatment Court, Family Group Decision Making, culturally specific services, parent support groups, and family out-of-pocket expenses related to treatment services; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends the Dakota County Board of Commissioners ratify the 2025 allocation from DCYF for Child Protection Opioid Services allocation in the amount of $116,726 and amend the 2025 Social Services Budget.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby ratifies the Child Protection Opioid Services 2025 allocation in amount not to exceed $116,726 ; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That unless the program requirements change, the Community Services Director is hereby authorized to accept the 2026 and 2027 annual allocations, and continue grant-funded full-time equivalents, consistent with County contracting policies, and inclusion of grant funds in future yearly Recommended and Approved Budgets; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby amends the 2025 Social Services Budget as follows:
|
Expense |
|
Program Expense |
$116,726 |
|
Total Expense |
$116,726 |
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
Opiate Epidemic Response |
$116,726 |
|
Total Revenue |
$116,726 |
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: 2025 Allocations
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: Nikki Conway
Author: Lawrence Dickens