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State DHS honors Scott County for coordinated response to mental‑health crises
Summary
The Minnesota Department of Human Services presented Scott County its Circle of Excellence award for the county’s Coordinated Response program, a partnership that pairs social workers with law enforcement to reduce jail contacts and connect people in crisis to services. County and state officials cited reduced law‑enforcement calls and engagement
The Minnesota Department of Human Services presented Scott County a Circle of Excellence award on Feb. 18 for its Coordinated Response program, a law‑enforcement‑partnered model that embeds social workers to respond to and follow up on mental‑health referrals.
Barb Bridal, (Scott County Health and Human Services) described the program’s goals and results, saying officials aimed "to resolve community crisis, connect residents with necessary services, and reduce the need for jail time while fostering strong partnerships with law enforcement." The county launched the program in 2023 with social workers trained in engagement, de‑escalation and resource connection, working with the sheriff’s office and the cities of Savage and Shakopee.
Why it matters: The program aims to reduce repeated police contacts for residents with behavioral‑health needs by directing social‑service interventions rather than repeated arrests or jail stays. County officials said the program aligns with long‑term strategic goals to de‑criminalize mental illness and reduce the county jail population.
Program results cited: Deputy Commissioner Nikki Farago of the Minnesota Department of Human Services said the program has engaged 68% of individuals referred by law enforcement and reported "100 percent engagement in the county jail due to self referrals." County presenters said one public example of impact was a person who called law enforcement 85 times in 2023 and had that number fall to four calls in 2024 after service engagement. County presenters also noted that the county’s average daily jail population declined to a recent low of 56 individuals with jail involvement.
Structure and partners: Scott County Health and Human Services leads the program in partnership with the sheriff’s office and police departments in Savage and Shakopee. Social workers perform outreach after referrals, coordinate services for those exiting the county jail and connect participants to case management, workforce training, financial eligibility screening and health care.
Board recognition: County officials and state leaders praised the program’s collaborative model and invited further expansion. "This type of partnership not only improves immediate outcomes for residents but also builds trust," Deputy Commissioner Farago said while presenting the award. The board accepted the award and held a brief recognition photo and reception.
Next steps and context: County staff and presenters said the program’s vision includes expanding to additional police departments and continuing data collection to measure outcomes over time. The award recognizes the county’s work to link public safety, public health and social services in an effort to reduce repeat crisis calls and jail involvement.
