Sponsor: Social Services
Title
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Amendment to the Grant Agreement with Minnesota Department of Human Services for Mental Health Urgent Care for Youth in Crisis Pilot Project
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Recommendation
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1. Approve an amendment to the grant agreement with Department of Human Services for the extension of a pilot project to expand the Mental Health Urgent Care Facility for the period upon execution through June 30, 2025 in the amount of $814,525.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the amendment.
3. Authorize the County Manager to execute amendments to the grant agreement in the form approved by the County Attorney’s Office.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to the agreement in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of grant funding.
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Background and Rationale
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Children and youth who are experiencing a mental health crisis are often unable to find care. Unless they are a danger to themselves or others, they are not assigned to an open bed that may be needed for “critical care” patients. The shortage of beds for those who need intensive care leaves many waiting in the emergency room for hours or winding up in jail.
The 2022 Legislature passed a bill that required the commissioner of human services to establish a pilot project that would address emergency mental health needs for youth who experience a mental health crisis. Ramsey County was given the right-of-first-refusal to receive funding and operate the pilot project.
Ramsey County accepted the pilot project opportunity and since has been able to execute on several initiatives. The Adolescent Mental Health Urgent Care (Urgent Care) opened in early August 2024, starting to see youth clients. Through the funding the Urgent Care has been able hire 10 staff members, expanded hours of care to include evenings and weekends, and coordinated with other Crisis Units and interagency departments to ensure smooth transition to other mental health services. During the initial period of the pilot project, Ramsey County applied and was awarded a $100,000,000 federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that may be renewed for up to four consecutive years.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services has amended the original agreement for the extension of the pilot project that will run through June 30, 2025. The pilot project will not have any additional dollars added but will utilize the remaining $814,525 through June 30, 2025. The pilot project continues to provide an opportunity for the county to determine the level of community need and use of extended services for youth, the demographics of those served and whether the target population is served, and the actual cost of operations. A program evaluation at the close of the pilot project will determine actual revenues and costs and the feasibility of continuing operations without continued grant funding.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
African Americans are underserved and often experience limited access to mental health programs. The pilot project will not limit services to African American youth but will target this population that experiences disparities in mental health services.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Ramsey County staff conducted surveys with parents at schools and community events in Saint Paul during the first quarter of 2023 to determine how much they knew about children’s mental health issues, resources and county services. The survey was distributed in English, Spanish, Somali, Oromo, Hmong and Karen. There were 261 respondents, and most identified as Asian (45%) or Black/African American (24%). Survey results have been used to help design how grant work will be carried out and to inform staff on how to improve connections with parents, expand parents’ knowledge, and increase the children’s mental health resources requested by the community.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Grant funding will cover salaries and benefits for staff who will be shifted to provide this new service and new revenue streams. It will also cover contracted psychiatry, security, and no-denial beds required for children in crisis to stay up to 14 days. The pilot project ends on June 30, 2025, and funding will be included in future proposed department budgets to continue the work if the pilot project results in positive outcomes for youth who experience mental health crises.
Last Previous Action
On October 8, 2024, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners accepted a grant award and grant agreement with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for Adolescent Mental Health Urgent Care (Resolution B2024-200).
On June 27, 2023, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners accepted a grant award and grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services for Mental Health Urgent Care for Youth in Crisis Pilot Project (Resolution B2023-095).
Attachments
1. Amended Ramsey County Mental Health Urgency Care Contract