BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement A2010102 with UCare for the provision of peer recovery support services to pregnant women using substances during the period February 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021, in the receivable amount of $100,000 be approved; that the Human Services and Public Health Department’s 2020 budget be amended to increase revenues and expenditures by $100,000; 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;

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

Hennepin County seeks partnerships with health plans in our effort to expand behavioral health services. Following a grant application from the department, UCare awarded the County $100,000 to expand peer recovery support services provided by the existing Project Child program in Human Services. This grant will add a contracted full-time Peer Recovery Support Specialist to Project Child. A Peer Recovery Support Specialist with lived experience with addiction will build trusting relationships with participants and promote healthy behavior change.

Project Child serves pregnant women with substance use disorders (SUD) age 16 and older within their first 34 weeks of pregnancy. Approximately 100 parents are served annually. Over 90 percent of the Project Child participants have given birth to healthy babies and are able to keep their babies. Healthy babies and family unification benefit the County by preventing out-of-home and foster care placements and support the core values of safety and stability for county residents. Peer support is not currently reimbursable to counties. The funding will offset property tax spending for services until reimbursement for peer recovery services will be available from Medical Assistance.