Sponsor: Social Services
Title
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Joint Powers Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services for Technical Assistance
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the Joint Powers Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, 540 Cedar Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101, for technical assistance and coordination of Women Recovery Services Grantee meetings for the period upon execution through June 30, 2026.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the Joint Powers Agreement.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County has been a recipient of the Women in Recovery Services (WRS) block grant distributed by Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) since 2002. Ramsey County has utilized this grant to serve women who are pregnant and raising children under the age of one. Mothers First Program (Mothers First) is a preventative voluntary program offered to families who reside in Ramsey County who are struggling with substance use or have recently discontinued substance use and need additional support remaining free of substance use. The mission of Mothers First is to help families live a substance use free life.
In April of 2023, Ramsey County submitted a proposal to provide technical assistance to the other recipients of the Women in Recovery Services Grant. There are 12 grantees who receive the Women in Recovery Services Grant distributed by DHS. The Joint Powers Agreement would allow Ramsey County to host trainings, provide continuing education credits, provide meals, and provide venues for these grant related learning opportunities. Ramsey County will be providing three years of technical assistance to WRS grantees. This is to include three trainings each year, speakers to subject matter expertise to women in recovery, cost of space rental, food, and continued education credits.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Mothers First serve families from all of Ramsey County. This Joint Powers Agreement gives the opportunity for Ramsey County to partner with DHS to provide the WRS grantees with learning opportunities to best serve the diverse communities served with the Women in Recovery Services Grant. Of the 43 women served in the Mothers First program from May 2022-May 2023, 28% identified as African American/Black, 5% identified as American Indian/ Alaskan Native, 9% identified as Asian American/Pacifica Islander, 42% identified as white, 14% identified as Biracial/Multiracial and 2% identified as other.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Ramsey County’s Mothers First will work to utilize local event venues to host the grantee meetings. Ramsey County will also look to work with small, local, food vendors to offer meals at the training events that are community owned.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Ramsey County is to provide three years of technical assistance to WRS grantees. This is to include three trainings each year, to cover the cost of space, trainers, food, and continued education credits. DHS will provide Ramsey County with an annual budget of $62,370. In total for three years the total amount for the technical assistance will be $187,110. The Mothers First staff will work to secure vendors for food, space, and speakers for these events in partnership with the Department of Human Services.
Last Previous Action
On September 26, 2023, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the personnel complement increase in the Social Services department 1.0 Full Time Equivalent Certified Peer Recovery Specialist position and 1.0 Full Time Intern position for the duration of the grant (Resolution B2023-160).
Attachments
1. Joint Powers Agreement