DEPARTMENT: Social Services
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Update On Mental Health Crisis Services Continuum Expansion
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Update on mental health crisis services continuum expansion.
SUMMARY
Communities across Minnesota face unprecedented mental health needs. An integrated, high-quality mental health crisis response system supports wellness, promotes safety for all people, and reduces reliance on emergency departments and law enforcement. Dakota County has responded to community need by expanding the County's continuum using the national best practice framework for transforming crisis care systems with the goal of helping people experiencing a mental health crisis in Dakota County to foster resilience, support long-term recovery, and strengthen communities.
By Resolution. No. 21-461 (September 21, 2021), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized adding 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) supervisor and 9.0 FTE social workers to the Social Services budget to expand Dakota County's existing 24/7 mobile crisis response unit (CRU). With additional staff capacity, CRU is available to answer a high volume of calls, including transfers from Dakota 911, and provide on-site response and assessment quickly, frequently, and effectively. Increased staff capacity also enables co-location of CRU staff at police departments to facilitate timely mobile response and community connection. Initial phone and mobile response are critical in providing access to the right service at the right time during a time of crisis, at the first call for help.
The continuum approach ensures follow-up and stabilization after a crisis. Crisis follow-up may include referral to community resources and intensive crisis stabilization service for education, skill-building, and connection to longer-term services. By Resolution No. 21-618 (December 14, 2021), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved using American Rescue Plan (ARP) Coronavirus...
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