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Koochiching County renews multiple contracts with Northland Counseling for children's and adult mental-health services
Summary
The county unanimously approved yearly renewals with Northland Counseling to continue children's case management, Hartwig House clubhouse programming, and adult community-support services; staff said contracts date back 20+ years and were revised to add clarity for state funding and audit purposes.
Koochiching County commissioners on Jan. 27 unanimously approved three renewed purchase-of-service agreements with Northland Counseling to provide children's mental-health case management, clubhouse services at Hartwig House, and adult community-support services.
County staff told the board the arrangements have been in place for decades and that contracting with Northland is more cost-effective than operating some services in-house. “This is a contract that's been in place for 20 plus years,” staff said, adding the county and the provider worked this year to add specificity to how state funds are used.
The renewals include: a children’s mental-health case-management agreement (renewed yearly), a yearly contract to fund Hartwig House clubhouse programming for people with severe and persistent mental illness funded through the Adult Behavioral Health Initiative (ABHI), and a purchase-of-service agreement that supports community support program services for adults—including independent-living skills and consults at the county jail.
Staff emphasized they revised contract language to document that state ABHI and other statutory funding streams are used for their statutory purposes and to provide clearer documentation for audits. “We wanted to put some more detail in there… so we can show proof that it's being used for what it's intended to be used for,” staff said, noting the revisions aim to increase transparency and maximize eligible revenue.
Named provider contacts referenced during the discussion were Allison O'Hara and Brad Colby of Northland Counseling; staff said they had worked closely with those contacts on clarifying the agreements. The presenters did not specify contract dollar totals during the meeting.
The board approved all three renewals on motion, with no recorded dissent. Next steps: staff will finalize the updated contract language and proceed with the annual renewals and required filings associated with ABHI-funded programs.
