Item Description:
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Amd 5 to Agmt PR00001574 with the Indian Child Welfare Law Center (ICWLC) to provide legal representation to parents in child protection and family court cases, incr NTE by $85,000, no change to the contract dates
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Amendment 5 to Agreement PR00001574 with Indian Child Welfare Law Center (ICWLC) to provide legal services to individuals who are entitled to legal representation at public expense in the Hennepin County Fourth Judicial District Court during the period of December 31, 2023 through December 31, 2024, increasing the not to exceed amount by $85,000 for a new total not to exceed amount of $679,500, be approved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign this Agreement and Amendment on behalf of the County, and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
Adult Representation Services (ARS) is responsible for providing legal representation to parents in child protection and family court cases. When more than one parent is a party to the proceeding, and a conflict of interest is evident or likely, Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct require that those cases be sent to outside counsel if an internal conflicts panel is not otherwise established. ARS does not currently have an internal conflicts panel.
Additional experienced contractors are needed to meet the demands of ARS conflict cases. Hennepin County has a long-standing contract history with the Indian Child Welfare Law Center (ICLWC) to provide culturally specific representation to Native American parents in child protection proceedings to further the goals of the Federal Indian Welfare Act. ICWLC is willing to expand their services to provide conflict representation on child protection cases as their capacity allows.
This agreement is before the Board for approval because Hennepin County expenditures through other contracts with ICWLC in the past 12 months are more than $100,000.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval