This Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant is a four-year funding opportunity, with Year One funding made available in the amount of $676,370.  Grant allocations for subsequent years are awarded on an annual basis.

Through this grant, Hennepin County will: (1) Expand the Family Response and Stabilization Services (FRSS) program; (2) Expand capacity for parent and youth engagement efforts; and (3) Establish a System of Care Governance Board.

Family Response and Stabilization Services (FRSS) respond to parent and caregiver stress and sense of urgency related to their child’s mental health and/or behavioral challenges. The goal of FRSS services is to prevent escalating tension and unwanted behaviors in the family that leads to out-of-home placement, ER visits, and law enforcement involvement while strengthening the parent/caregiver’s ability to support their child in the home and community. FRSS was first piloted in August of 2021 and served 158 families through July 2022. Through this funding, FRSS will expand its footprint by providing 72-hour mobile crisis Family Response services to 1,175 youth and families over the four-year grant period, in addition to providing 8-week Stabilization Services to support 470 youth and families to navigate systems, put supports in place, and reduce the need for emergency department visits and hospitalizations. To reach these goals, additional new staff are needed to expand services to new community partnerships including hospitals, schools, and 911 Embedded SW.

In addition to the FRSS expansion, grant dollars will be utilized to expand capacity to engage parent and youth voice in systems and policy level discussions and decisions.  A Lead Family Coordinator (.75 FTE) will be hired to develop and implement strategies to engage a diverse group of parents and youth in systems change efforts, to provide support to parents and youth, and to assist parents in system navigation.  In addition, grant dollars will be allocated to culturally specific organizations to enhance their ability to elevate the voices of BIPOC parents and youth.

Finally, a System of Care Governance Board will be established to oversee and guide the transformation of the children’s mental health system utilizing the system of care framework.  This Board will include the voices of parents and youth, community providers, community leaders, and key system stakeholders. The Board will review and advise on Hennepin County’s implementation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s System of Care framework for youth and family mental health care.

This board action request aligns with Hennepin County disparity reduction efforts in the health domain by supporting improved access to culturally sensitive mental health services and increasing community well-being.