Item Description:
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Agmt A2513161 with U.S. Dept HHS for year 3 funding for the Better Together Hennepin Communities Healthy Youth Project, 07/01/25-06/30/26, $1,972,000 (recv)
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A2513161 with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for year 3 funding for the Better Together Hennepin Communities Healthy Youth Project, funding period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 in the receivable amount of $1,972,000 be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the amendment on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to accept and disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that acceptance of grant funding for the program by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners does not imply a continued funding commitment by Hennepin County for this program when grant funds are no longer available.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that acceptance of this award in no way reflects acceptance of terms or conditions that are legally unenforceable against Hennepin County.
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Background:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded approximately $68.5 million through cooperative agreements in 29 states and Puerto Rico to support the evidence-based Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program.
The Better Together Hennepin (BTH) program has received TPP funding since 2010. In 2023, through HHS, BTH has been awarded an additional $9,860,000 through annual allocations of $1,972,000 throughout five years to support the Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Project (HCHYP). HCHYP’s goal is to improve sexual health outcomes and promote the wellbeing of young people and their families in Hennepin County. Year one and two funding was accepted through resolutions 23-0283 and 24-0349, respectively.
Through year 2 funding, Better Together Hennepin has been able to achieve the following:
• Implemented the Health Mentor Model (HMM) in 11 high schools, 3 clinics, and the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center (JDC).
o OPA funded communities include: Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Center, North and Central Minneapolis, Richfield, Hopkins, and the JDC.
• Health mentors reached 3,499 young people with evidence-based programming, including:
o Comprehensive classroom sexual health education.
o One to one interactions using motivational interviewing, focusing on sexual health, mental wellbeing and other topics identified by participants.
• Students highly rate health mentor programs.1,779 students surveyed reported:
o 91% feel better prepared to make decisions about their health after the program.
o 93% reported the information shared was helpful to them.
o 92% reported the educator created a comfortable environment to talk about sexual health.
• 1,806 youth and 946 youth serving professionals were engaged to inform programming.
• Health mentors provided 996 referrals to supportive services, with the largest number being referred to reproductive health services and the second largest to mental health services.
• 314 staff at implementation sites completed surveys and reported the following:
o 96% reported that having a health mentor is beneficial for their site.
o 86% reported the health mentor meets the needs of a diverse array of young people.
o 84% reported the health mentor increased access to sexual health services.
This action supports the county’s disparity elimination efforts in the health domain by developing and implementing services to meet the needs of community in need.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval