Section 601(a) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), established the Coronavirus Relief Fund (Fund) and appropriated $150 billion to the Fund. Under the CARES Act, the Fund is to be used to make payments for specified uses to states and certain local governments; the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories; and Tribal governments. Hennepin County received a direct payment out of the Fund from the U.S. Treasury.

The CARES Act provides that money from the Fund may only be used to cover costs that:

1. are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19);

2. were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020 (the date of enactment of the CARES Act) for the State or government; and

3. were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020 and ends on December 30, 2020.
   
   

Allowable expenditures include those incurred to respond to second-order effects of the emergency, such as expenses to related to distance learning, including the planning and implementation of activities related to summer learning and supplemental afterschool programs, including providing online learning and addressing the needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care, in connection with school closings to enable compliance with COVID-19 precautions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for Hennepin County’s youngest residents. In March, the school year was disrupted when Governor Walz directed the temporary closure of schools, and students transitioned to distance learning. The stress, anxiety and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and obstacles of distance learning have magnified disparities for youth involved in county systems. Hennepin County is committed to equitable academic outcomes across racial and cultural groups.

In Board Action Request 20-0171 the Hennepin County Board resolved to place a high priority on providing support and resources to Hennepin County involved youth negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to support their educational stability, health and well-being.

Current Request: This request seeks $2,500,000 in Federal CARES funding be allocated to hire limited duration staff positions within the Disparity Reduction line of business and also contract with outside vendors who will work with students to:

• provide education planning, monitoring, and coaching support tailored to the individual developmental needs
• coordinate with school district staff; confirming available school supports
• identify and connect with existing academic and tutoring resources
• build problem-solving and self-advocacy skills (teaching age-appropriate, self-advocacy strategies so that students have an active voice in their own education)
• recognize and develop available support networks (including family members, caregivers, social workers, counselors, school staff, mentors, community organizations, etc.)
• arrange for other needed services and be a resource for parents/caregivers

• conference with child welfare, DOCCR, Be@School staff, and related professionals as appropriate concerning the student’s educational needs and development

• provide individualized online tutoring services