Sponsor: Social Services
Title
title
Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health for Pediatric Mental Health Training
end
Recommendation
recommendation
1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Minnesota Department of Health for Pediatric Mental Health Training for Social Services and Public Health staff.
2. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health for Pediatric Mental Health Training for the period upon execution, through May 31, 2028, in the amount of $265,000.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to agreements in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
end
Background and Rationale
body
Youth in Ramsey County receive mental health services at different points: the Mental Health Clinic, the Mental Health Urgent Care, or the Juvenile Detention Center. At all locations, services are most often provided to youth and families in crisis and those with involvement in multiple systems. Across the United States, primary care providers are often tasked with meeting the needs of individuals seeking medication management for a single symptom diagnosis. When community medical providers identify presenting concerns of more significant emotional disturbance, they often seek to refer clients for specific psychiatric care, with referrals going to partners with established relationships. With this grant funding, the aim is to strengthen these relationships with primary care providers and develop referral pathways. Of those living with mental health concerns in communities served, it is known that there can be engagement with other systems of care. Some of the most complex cases are youth and families with child protection involvement, youth leaving residential mental health placements, and youth who are wards of the state seeking services at our locations. With provider connections within Ramsey County, there has been an increase in the past year of youth leaving facilities on first-generation antipsychotics, where families and providers indicate other community clinics refuse to offer medication support for these youth. With this challenge comes the concern that the current system does not have the appropriate mental health training to work effectively with this population.
The trainings supported by this funding opportunity will include but are not limited to: Maternal/Fetal Mental Health and Early Attachment, 0-3 Development and Early Identification of Mental Health Concerns, Adolescent Psychiatric Care in Primary Care Settings, Pediatric Psychopharmacology, Trauma Informed Pediatric Mental Health Care, Integrated Care for Complex Pediatric Mental Health Needs, Psychiatric Care in Juvenile Detention & High Acuity Settings, and more. The trainings will be provided on a monthly cadence with recorded options available for providers who cannot attend the live session.
end
County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The Minnesota Department of Health Pediatric Mental Health Training grant supports training for prescribers who work directly with justice-involved youth, with the goal of improving clinical decision-making and reducing harmful or inconsistent prescribing practices. Strengthening prescriber knowledge in trauma-responsive, culturally informed care has a direct racial equity impact because it increases the likelihood that BIPOC youth receive appropriate, safe, and standardized treatment regardless of the facility or provider they encounter.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Having providers that are trained in pediatric mental health care will allow youth and families that reside in Ramsey County to receive well-informed care and treatment options.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
This Minnesota Department of Health grant will provide funding for employee development on critical skills for working with youth experience of mental health concerns that would be otherwise unavailable to staff or a cost to the operating budget.
The total funding amount for this grant is $265,000 and was not accounted for in the 2026-2027 budget. The funds will expire on May 31, 2028.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. Grant Agreement from the Minnesota Department of Health