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
Receive an update on expansion of Dakota County's mental health crisis services continuum.
SUMMARY
Communities across Minnesota are facing urgent and unprecedented mental health challenges. Dakota County has responded by expanding the County's continuum using national best practice guidelines.
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). By Resolution No. 22-395 (September 20, 2022), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners ratified an application to the Minnesota Department of Human Services requesting funds to continue the expansion of mobile crisis services. With additional staff capacity, CRU is available to answer additional calls, including transfers from Dakota 911, and provide on-site response and assessment more quickly, frequently and effectively. Increased staff capacity also enables co-location of CRU staff at police departments for purposes of timely co-response and relationship building. Initial phone or mobile response is critical to ensuring people have access to the right service at the right time during a time of crisis, at the first call for help.
An equally important part of the continuum is follow-up and stabilization after a crisis. This is especially important when a person has an acute crisis involving law enforcement response. Crisis follow-up may include referral to 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 Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds to add 5.0 new...
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