Item Coversheet

Board Action Request
17-0387

Item Description:
Agmt A177700 with MN Dept of Human Services to accept Innovations grant funds for Pathways contracted services, 1/1/17-6/30/18, $380,041 (recv)
Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A177700 with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to accept grant funds for the Pathways program, in the amount of $380,041, for the period January 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse the funds as directed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that sponsorship and acceptance of grant funding for this program by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners does not imply a continuing funding commitment by Hennepin County for this program when grant funds are no longer available.

Background:

History: Hennepin County responded to an RFP and was selected by the MN Department of Human Services (DHS), Transitions to Economic Stability Division, Youth Parent Education Initiative. Hennepin County was awarded $240,041 for each of three years, 2014, 2015 and 2016.  Hennepin County contracted out the work to Minnesota Visiting Nurses Association (MVNA-now HHS). DHS has extended the Innovations grant funding for another calendar year, $240,041 for 2017, and has added an additional $140,000 for the period 7/1/17 through 6/30/18 for services for clients in HIRED’s PACE program.

PACE is designed to meet the needs of 18-25 year old MFIP participants living in Hennepin County, particularly North Minneapolis and the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, with focus on participants who are exiting HHS Teen Hope program, but wish to complete their high school diploma/GED or engage in postsecondary training. Many of these young parents see the need for further education and training, but lack the skills and confidence to do it on their own. Returning to school often means encountering the same academic and emotional challenges they experienced as teens. However, barriers are exacerbated by their age and increased pressure to work following the transition to regular MFIP.

Hennepin HealthCare Systems, Inc. (HHS) has developed a framework for increasing the number of County Involved Youth who complete high school/GED and go on to postsecondary training. The Pathways Project will focus on rapid engagement, remediation, relevant career training and retention services for these youth. The program will serve an estimated 120 participants with goals of 50% of those enrolled in the GED Intensive Services attaining their GED, 70% of those enrolled in a Certificate Sector or FastTRAC training program successfully earning a certificate or credential, and 80% of those enrolled in Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) earning passing grades on college courses.

The target populations for this work is Hennepin County MFIP young parents who have not graduated from high school, do not have a GED, ages 18 through 25 years old, and are enrolled in HHS’s Teen Hope program or HIRED’s Program for Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) program. The program may be opened to other authorized Hennepin County Employment Service Provider agencies upon request.