Item Description:
title
Amd 1 to Agmt A2211476 with the United States Department of Justice, to continue the 911 Alternative Mental Health Response Team, ext end date to 09/30/26, no change to amount
end
Resolution:
body
BE IT RESOLVED, that Amendment 1 to the Agreement A221476 with the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice to continue the 911 Alternative Mental Health Response Team (ART) extending the end date to September 30, 2026 with no changes to the agreement amount, be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and that the controller be authorized to accept and disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that sponsorship and acceptance of grant funding for this program by the Hennepin County Board of commissions does not imply a continued funding commitment by Hennepin County for this program when grant funds are no longer available.
end
Background:
On November 1, 2022, the Board approved the acceptance of a grant award from the United States Department of Justice for a 911 Alternative Mental Health Response Team Pilot. We are seeking Board approval for a one year, no cost extension.
This Department of Justice grant was a three-year funding opportunity in the amount of $549,205. Through this grant, Hennepin County successfully launched a pilot in Brooklyn Park to test a new alternative 911 response to calls for service involving residents experiencing mental health challenges and co-occurring mental health challenges and substance use disorders.
The 911 Alternative Response team funded by this grant is modeled after a successful program in Denver. The team includes 1 full-time exempt (FTE) senior social worker staffed by Hennepin County and 1 FTE community paramedic staffed by a contracted provider. In collaboration with the Brooklyn Park Police Department (BPPD) and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HSCO), ART responds to low-risk 911 calls involving Brooklyn Park residents experiencing mental health challenges, including co-occurring substance use disorders. Among the 39 suburban cities served by Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office 911 dispatch, BPPD has historically experienced the highest volume of mental health-related calls-peaking at 1,271 in 2021. Since the full implementation of ART, that number has declined significantly to 1,096 in 2023 and further to 745 in 2024, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness in reducing law enforcement involvement in behavioral health crises.
This board action request aligns with Hennepin County disparity elimination efforts in the health domain by improving access to culturally sensitive mental health services and increasing community well-being.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval