Sponsor: Community Corrections
Title
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Amendment to Single Source Agreement with Youthprise for Youth Services
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the Selection of and Single Source Amendment to Agreement with Youthprise, 3001 Broadway Street NE, Suite 330, Minneapolis, MN 55413, to administer funds for youth services that reduce out-of-home placements for the period of December 5, 2024, through June 30, 2027, in a not to exceed amount of $1,300,000 for the term of the agreement.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the agreement.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County’s 2024 Legislative Platform included two priority areas to align with the county’s Centering Community and Wellness strategic priority. The first was to develop wellness-centered, culturally appropriate, and community-based placement homes for justice involved youth. The second was to develop wrap around services for justice involved youth and families, such as creating of family support groups, developing resources to support families when a young person is involved in the justice system, creating community-based respite options for conflict or crisis de-escalation, or establishing additional meaningful employment opportunities. These priorities included partnerships from various departments that resulted in $5 million in appropriations from the Department of Public Safety, which the board accepted via Resolution B2024-078. Funds have been used to conduct community engagement listening sessions with the Youth Advisory Council and other community stakeholders. Based on this feedback, the agreement with Youthprise was identified as one option to support the identified needs and ongoing work.
On November 5, 2024, the board approved a single source agreement with Youthprise to administer funds for youth services. This Request for Board Action is to amend the current agreement by adding $425,000 of violence prevention grant funds and to extend the term through June 30, 2027. Youthprise’s approach is rooted in its ability to manage complex grant portfolios, maintain relationships with culturally specific grassroots providers, and center youth voice in programs. This amendment will enable the contractor to serve more youth and families, broaden programming to address needs identified through the community engagement sessions, and give departments wider access to individual-services funding.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Community Corrections’ partnership with Youthprise is rooted in Youthprise’s mission to increase equity for Minnesota’s Indigenous, low-income, and racially diverse youth, where outcomes are no longer predictable by race, geography, or socioeconomic status. This collaboration strengthens Community Corrections’ ongoing commitment to preventing the disproportionate confinement of youth within the justice system and to building robust family support systems that position families as active partners in the process. By recognizing and confronting the deep-rooted barriers of institutional and structural inequalities, this approach creates proactive solutions that allow youth to remain safely in their communities, rather than in detention or institutional settings.
Community Corrections’ partnership with Youthprise is grounded in the principles of positive juvenile justice and systemic change, focusing on ensuring fair treatment and opportunities for all youth, regardless of race. Through services that build power through learning and leadership, advance ownership and wealth through economic opportunity, and promote healing through health and safety, Community Corrections aims to foster accountability and long-term stability for justice-involved youth and their families. Therefore, this work is crucial in breaking the cycle of recidivism within the justice system and equipping youth with the support and resources they need to thrive beyond expectations.
Community Participation Level and Impact
In 2024, the county received State Miscellaneous funding for the Violence Prevention initiative. As part of the effort multiple community engagement listening sessions were held, during which information and recommendations were gathered and compiled. Based on this input, the existing agreement with Youthprise was identified as one option to support the identified needs and ongoing work in a more immediate and direct route to community members.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The current agreement has a not-to-exceed amount of $875,000 from the approved 2025 Community Corrections budget. In 2024, the county was awarded grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety in the amount of $5,000,000. A portion of these funds, in the amount of $425,000 have been allocated to expand upon the structure and projects of the existing Youthprise agreement. This amendment would bring the total amount to $1,300,000 and extend the term through June 30, 2027. No additional budget impacts have been identified.
Last Previous Action
On November 5, 2024, the Ramsey County Board approved Community Corrections the agreement with Youthprise to administer funds for youth services that reduce out-of-home placements and promote racial equity for Ramsey County youth and families (Resolution B2024-210).
Attachments
1. Professional Services Amendment to Agreement with Youthprise