Item Description:
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Endorse a workgroup to develop a plan to address placement options for county-connected youth with complex needs
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WHEREAS:
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WHEREAS, in 2023 Minnesota Session Law, Chapter 62, Article 2, ? 119, the Minnesota Legislature established a working group on youth interventions "to develop recommendations on the design of a regional system of care for youth interventions, sustainable financing models, and alternative to criminal penalties," and "to evaluate coordinated approaches to youth with high behavioral health needs with the goal of reducing and eliminating touchpoints with the justice system as well as identifying community-based services to address youth needs and identifying gaps in services"; and
WHEREAS, the Working Group on Youth Interventions delivered its report and recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature in February, 2024; and
WHEREAS, youth with complex needs are often served by multiple systems, including human services and juvenile justice systems; and
WHEREAS, youth of color with complex needs are disproportionately represented in human services and juvenile justice systems; and
WHEREAS, youth found incompetent to proceed in delinquency matters may be referred for services to human services systems; and
WHEREAS, data shows that county-connected youth with complex needs are more likely to demonstrate poor outcomes across health, education, employment, justice, and other disparity domains- with lifelong implications; and
WHEREAS, at this time, there is interest in a metro-wide plan to build and improve the system of care, focused on county-connected youth with complex needs using a whole person, cross-system approach rather than solely a juvenile justice specific response; and
WHEREAS, the State has critical roles in licensure, certification, funding, and other areas that are outside the authority of counties, and State level leadership is needed to ensure necessary change and financial resources to buil...
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