Administration - Brian Podany, Safety Services Director/Chief of Police
Title
Title
Approve hiring an Embedded Mental Health Professional
end
Executive Summary
Council is being asked to approve the hiring of an Embedded Mental Health Professional in the Police Department. The city currently contracts with two other agencies for this service and pays a one-quarter share of the contract cost for this individual.
Background
With the adoption of the 2021 General Fund Budget, the City Council approved appropriating $12,500 for the shared services of an Embedded Mental Health Professional. Council renewed this appropriation in 2022. This position has proven to be extremely valuable and the individual currently providing the services under the contract has performed exceptionally well. Since 2018 the current Embedded Mental Health Professional has been a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) and currently is a Licensed Social Worker (LICSW) and can diagnose, treat, and complete patient assessments. This is the highest licensure in Minnesota, and they can complete both clinical and non-clinical social work without supervision.
As the position is shared between two agencies, the needs of the department go beyond the time allocated to Blaine and the department has submitted a 2023 budget proposal to convert the contractual services into a full-time position that would not be shared with the other agencies.
Opiod settlement funds have already begun to be dispersed in 2022 and the funds will be used to offset the cost of the proposed position. The current appropriated part time mental health professional position is coming to a close and the police department is interested in proposing an early start to this position in 2022 versus waiting for the 2023 budget approvals. This explanation was covered in depth in a workshop presentation on August 8, 2022.
Police and Human Resources staff have developed a job description for this potential position and have determined that it would fall into the C-41 classification with a mid-point salary of $94,000. Including benefits, the total annual mid-point compensation for this position would be roughly $112,000. If approved, staff anticipates filling the position on September 1, 2022. Total 2022 costs to bring this position on board at that date would be roughly $40,000 including wages, benefits, and equipment.
Funding for this position would come from the City’s share of opioid settlement funds. As part of this settlement, Blaine will receive $943,000 over the next 17 years, including $106,000 to be distributed in 2022 - enough to fully fund the addition of the position in 2022. Future years’ distributions will range from $42,600 to $80,000 and help to offset the costs of the position. Staff will explore grant opportunities related to future funding towards this position, as well as ongoing opportunities to maximize the use of the opioid settlement funds towards opioid abuse prevention efforts.
This item was discussed at the August 8 City Council workshop. Council expressed general support to bring the item forward to a regular meeting.
Strategic Plan Relationship
This position aligns with the City’s Strategic Plan Goal #4 Organizational Health, having a highly engage workforce that meets the needs of the community.
Board/Commission Review
None required.
Financial Impact
While the addition of this position would increase overall costs to the city, Opioid settlement funds would substantially offset the full cost of this position.
Public Outreach/Input
None required.
Staff Recommendation
Approve the hiring of an Embedded Mental Health Professional in 2022.
Attachment List