Social Services - Crisis Response
Authorization To Apply For Funds From Minnesota Department Of Human Services, Accept Grant Funds, Execute Grant Addendum, And Amend 2021 Social Services Budget To Add 9.0 Grant-Funded FTE Crisis Response Social Workers And 1.0 Grant-Funded FTE Supervisor
Dakota County’s Crisis Response Unit (CRU) was established in 1993 to respond to increasing County costs related to child placements by law enforcement. The County was later required by Minn. Stat. § 256B.0624 and Minn. Stat. § 256B.0944 to have its own mental health crisis response, and CRU evolved to also meet that requirement. The CRU provides a centralized response to crisis needs across departments and programs. CRU is available 24/7 to residents, service providers, or law enforcement personnel seeking crisis response and intervention by telephone and face-to-face assessment. The unit receives upwards of 1,500 calls every month and completes approximately 400 site visits annually. The CRU is also the after-hours entry point across all County social service programs, including vulnerable adult protective services; child protection; parent/child conflict; and many others.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted community mental health as evidenced by increasing numbers of calls to crisis lines and 911 and increases in requests for high acuity mental health services. Partner and community expectations for the County to serve as a primary or first responder to mental health crises have also increased. During the 2021 legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $16 million to expand County adult mobile crisis services. These funds will be awarded through a competitive application process administered by DHS (Attachment A). Recognizing the significant impact of the pandemic on mental health, the federal government identified behavioral health services, and specifically crisis services, as a designated use with American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) under the reporting category of Mental Health Services.
To meet service demands resulting from the pandemic and changing community expectations, Social Services recommends increasing CRU staffing by 9.0 FTE grant-funded social workers and a 1.0 FTE grant-funded supervisor. Staffing costs will be covered by crisis services funding awarded by DHS and Dakota County’s ARP- CLFRF funds. See Appendix B for a description of current CRU functions and proposal for expansion. DHS funding may be available thru state fiscal year 2024. ARP- CLFRF could be utilize thru December 31, 2026. The duration of the 10 requested grant-funded FTE positions and funding sources beyond 2021 and 2022 will be determined by the County Board.