DEPARTMENT: Employee Relations
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Renew Contract with The Sand Creek Group, Ltd. For Employee Assistance Program Services For 2025-2027
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the purpose of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is to offer support services to address employee’s personal and work-related concerns outside the office with trained professional counselors; and
WHEREAS, The Sand Creek Group, Ltd. has provided the County’s EAP since December 1, 1993; and
WHEREAS, The Sand Creek Group provides EAP services for 81 counties under a contract with the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT), as well as Dakota Counties; and
WHEREAS, employee feedback and participation continue to be positive regarding the services provided by The Sand Creek Group, Ltd.; and
WHEREAS, after six years of rates held, The Sand Creek Group monthly rate increases to 2.72 percent; and
WHEREAS, the three-year (2025-2027) proposed rate increases from $27.55 to $28.30 per employee, for an estimated annual cost of $69,000; and
WHEREAS, the County’s utilization rate has remained strong with a projected utilization rate over 9 percent; and
WHEREAS, specialty services including special request subject oriented trainings, conflict resolution, organization development, grief group facilitation and critical incident stress response are billed separately at $325- $450 per hour, substance abuse professional services are offered at $600/incident.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Employee Relations Director to execute a contract with The Sand Creek Group, Ltd., for Employee Assistance Program services at the rate of $28.30 per employee per year for January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2027, and for specialty employee assistance services at $325 - $450 per hour; subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form and execution.
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