Sponsor: Workforce Solutions
Title
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Minnesota Family Investment Program Biennial Service Agreement for 2026-2027
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the 2026-2027 County Biennial Service Agreement for Minnesota Family Investment Program to the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Family for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant.
2. Accept a grant award and approve a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Family for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 in the amount of $18,534,057 annually.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreement as revised and approved by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.
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.
5. Authorize the County Manager to apply for and accept additional grant funds from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Family for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027.
6. Authorize the County Manager to sign the agreement as revised and approved by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.
7. Authorize the County Manager to make temporary transfers, as needed, from the County General Fund to Workforce Solutions to cover program expenses until program funds are received, with repayment to be made upon receipt of the funds.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County Workforce Solutions administers the employment services portion of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) through the state’s Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and Diversionary Work Program (DWP). Employment Services are provided through Workforce Solutions staff as well as by contracted community-based providers. Emergency and Crisis Services, Eligibility and Childcare Administration are provided by Ramsey County’s Financial Assistance Services department.
MFIP and DWP are intended to help parents meet their family’s basic needs and move toward financial stability through pursuing upward mobility opportunities and family sustaining employment.
MFIP and DWP are funded by the formula based MFIP Consolidated Fund, which is 8% state funded and 92% federally funded. To receive the funds, Ramsey County is required to submit a Biennial Service Agreement (BSA) every two years to the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Family (DCYF). The BSA summarizes the services available to families and strategies intended to meet program measures with the goal of increasing the economic stability of low-income families.
The Consolidated Funds will provide funding for the following services, as further described in the BSA:
• Diversionary Work Program (repealed effective March 1, 2026).
• MFIP employment services (60-month limit).
• Extension Services, post 60-month MFIP.
• Emergency and Crisis Services.
• Financial Assistance Services and Childcare Administration.
• Support Services.
• Paid and unpaid work experience.
• Career coaching and training.
• Incorporation of culturally specific services.
• Motivation driven, family-centered service delivery model.
Minnesota Statutes Section 256J.626, subdivision 4(d) requires that counties or nation/tribes must allow a period of at least 30 days for public comments on the contents of the BSA before approval. A proposed BSA was shared for public comment on August 21, 2025. No verbal or written comments were received by the deadline of September 21, 2025.
The 2026-2027 BSA is due to DCYF by October 15, 2025. Upon DCYF approval, Workforce Solutions will receive the consolidated funds allocation of $18,534,057 annually for program year 2026 and 2027. The potential exists for additional funding to be received. For example, MFIP/TANF supplemental funds, work experience funds, and MFIP/TANF funds targeted for innovations.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Once approved, the funding will be used for all individuals residing in Ramsey County who are eligible for the programs to better serve and support the whole family.
There are approximately 3200 families at any given time that receive these services in Ramsey County; families are at or below 200% of the poverty level and represented as:
• 80% single-parent households.
• 85% female, 15% male.
• 21% white, 50% African American, 10% Asian, 9% Hispanic/Latino, 4% American
• Indian, and 6% other/did not identify.
• 40% of individuals have a documented physical or mental health condition.
Ramsey County program outcomes have shown persistent disparities particularly for African American and American Indian participants. Therefore, Workforce Solutions continues to engage with community to co-create and deploy a series of additional efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities. Below are some examples:
• Workforce Solutions partners with culturally specific community-based organizations to deliver comprehensive, strength-based, and culturally specific family stability services to African American and American Indian families.
• Employment services continue to include partnerships and services that are culturally specific, where the services incorporate and build upon participant, family, community, and cultural assets.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Over the last few years, Ramsey County Workforce Solutions has hosted multiple community engagement opportunities to learn more about how families prefer to be engaged with employment counselors as well as their experiences with service delivery, customer service, and program design. Below are examples of community engagement activities for continuous improvement of MFIP service delivery:
• Hosting focus group conversations with families to inform service delivery.
• Strengthening partnerships with culturally specific organizations.
• Utilizing the feedback received from individuals who participate in training cohorts.
• Ongoing community engagement efforts with participants and stakeholders.
• Evaluating community-based projects and getting feedback from program participants & providers to ensure services and resources are directed in the most meaningful ways to families.
These initiatives underscore our commitment to enhancing our community participation level and elevating the overall impact of MFIP. Regular communication of these efforts ensures alignment with our mission and fostering meaningful involvement from the diverse populations and community groups that guide our collective growth and innovation.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Ramsey County is estimated to receive a Consolidated Funds allocation of $18,534,057 annually for 2026 and 2027. The previous allocation received in the 2024-2025 BSA was $18,554,034 annually resulting in a $19,977 (0.1%) decrease. The allocation will be distributed in accordance with the BSA between Workforce Solutions Department (70%) and Financial Assistance Services Department (30%). The 2026 & 2027 TANF Block Grant is included within the proposed 2026-2027 biennial budget and has no additional fiscal or personnel impact to the department.
Last Previous Action
On October 17, 2023, the Ramsey County Board approved the Minnesota Family Investment Program Biennial Service Agreement for 2024-2025 (Resolution B2023-181).
Attachments
1. 2026-2027 MFIP Biennial Service Agreement