Item Description:
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Agmt A2311903 with North Memorial Health and the City of Brooklyn Center to establish alternative mental health response in Brooklyn Center, 01/01/24-12/31/25, $171,148 (recv), $367,289 NTE
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A2311903 with North Memorial Health and the City of Brooklyn Center to establish the 911 Alternative Response Team for the period January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025, in the receivable amount of $171,148, and an expenditure amount not to exceed $367,289 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 disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that sponsorship and acceptance of agreement funding for this program by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners does not imply a continued funding commitment by Hennepin County for this program if agreement funds are no longer available
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Background:
In 2022, Hennepin County launched a pilot in Brooklyn Park to test an alternative 911 response to calls for service involving residents experiencing mental health challenges and co-occurring mental health challenges and substance use disorders. The Department was awarded a federal grant to expand this test pilot in Brooklyn Center.
The City of Brooklyn Center will cover 60% of 1 full time exempt (FTE) senior social worker. The County will fund the remaining 40% of this position with federal grant funding. The North Memorial community paramedic position will be funded through the federal grant. In partnership with the Brooklyn Center Police Department and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the teams will respond to low-risk 911 calls for service involving Brooklyn Center residents with mental health, substance use, and social service needs.
Since 2014, Hennepin County’s Criminal Justice Behavioral Health Initiative (CJBHI) has implemented a variety of mental health and justice reform projects, following evidence-based guidelines from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Sequential Intercept framework. This framework is designed to reduce the negative impact experienced by people living with behavioral health conditions who are disproportionally represented in the justice system. Early results of the Alternative Response Team show that for over 800 referrals to the team resulted in more than 900 connections to community services.
This request supports the county’s identified priorities and goals for the disparity reduction Health domain by focusing on achieving health equity where every person feels they have the opportunity to attain their highest health potential, and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval