Item Description:
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Amds to 7 Agmts with local agencies to provide services to children at risk for truancy and/or educational neglect, ext end date 06/30/27 and revise total combined NTE to $2,365,000
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Amendments as noted to the following Agreements with local agencies to provide services to children at risk for truancy and/or educational neglect through the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, Be at School Program, extending the end date through June 30, 2027 and revising the not to exceed amount to a new total combined not to exceed amount of $2,365,000 be approved:
Amendment 4 to Agreement PR00005475 with Center for Multicultural Mediation increasing the not to exceed amount from $205,000 to $290,000
Amendment 4 to Agreement PR00005402 with Centro Tyrone Guzman increasing the not to exceed amount from $585,000 to $720,000
Amendment 3 to Agreement PR00005403 with Division of Indian Work increasing the not to exceed amount from $330,000 to $370,000
Amendment 5 to Agreement PR00005404 with Change, Inc. increasing the not to exceed amount from $182,000 to $270,000
Amendment 3 to Agreement PR00005409 with Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, extending the end date to June 30, 2027 with the change to the not to exceed amount of $240,000
Amendment 4 to Agreement PR00005407 with MN Care Partners, LLC doing business as Roots Wellness Center increasing the not to exceed amount from $145,000 to $235,000
Amendment 4 to Agreement PR00005412 with YMCA of the North increasing the not to exceed amount from $200,000 to $240,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the department will manage the contract expenditures within this funding allocation; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Amendments on behalf of the County; that the Controller be authorized to disburse the funds as directed; and that the County Administrator be authorized to sign future amendments for the above noted contracts on behalf of the County as long as the overall not to exceed amount for all contracts of $2,365,000 does not change.
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Background:
Be at School focuses on addressing barriers to school attendance. Hennepin County is committed to equitable academic outcomes across racial and cultural groups. This board action request aligns with Hennepin County disparity elimination efforts by supporting educational opportunities for all students residing in Hennepin County. The target population is students in kindergarten through grade 12. Contractors assess the barriers to school attendance with the family, monitor school attendance, and encourage school relationships and engagement. To address the barriers, contractors provide culturally responsive, voluntary services which are family focused. Contractors provide support to caregivers and assist in referrals to county and community resources.
The County Attorney’s Office is extending the end date of several of its community contracted agency contracts as part of its statutorily authorized truancy diversion work. Not all contracts are being extended, as the County Attorney’s Office shifts outreach and initial engagement work for its annual 10,000+ truancy referrals to the County Attorney’s Be at School staff, which has proven to be more effective. County Attorney staff will continue to refer to internal county partners as appropriate and to contracted agencies for case management.
This board action consists of 7 contracts with a combined “not to exceed” (NTE) amount of $2,365,000. The providers are the Center for Multicultural Mediation, Centro Tyrone Guzman, Division of Indian Work, Change Inc., Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Roots Wellness Center, and the YMCA of the North.
Compared to previous contract cycles, the number of contracts has been reduced to support a more intentional and geographically aligned provider network. This change is designed to improve coordination among service providers, align resources with identified community needs, and maximize the impact of county investments. The revised model will allow for more focused service delivery while continuing to provide culturally responsive support to students and families experiencing attendance and educational engagement challenges.
This request funds services that are: both mandated and core services
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval