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Hennepin panel extends sheriff’s wellness contract, approves K‑9 donation and diversion funding
Summary
The Law, Safety & Justice Committee extended the sheriff’s 'Wellness That Fits' contract through May 31, 2028, increasing the not-to-exceed amount by $450,000; the committee also approved amendments to diversion services agreements and accepted a $17,500 donation for a narcotics K‑9 and training, while commissioners requested follow-up on utilization and spending-to-date.
The Law, Safety & Justice Committee approved a slate of public-safety items, including renewing and expanding the county’s contract with Wellness That Fits for on-site clinician support, peer‑support training and mandated post-training functions, and accepting a $17,500 donation to cover a narcotics K‑9 and necessary training.
Major Spencer Bauchi of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office told commissioners the amendment extends the Wellness That Fits agreement through May 31, 2028, and adds Minnesota Department of Public Safety–approved clinical oversight, mandated 30-hour peer-support-team training and post‑training coverage of required learning objectives. “In 2025, almost 400 services were utilized with these groups,” Major Bauchi said, noting that figure excluded critical-incident responses and training.
Commissioners, including Commissioner Fernando, pressed for more detailed utilization and expenditure figures, asking how much of the existing allocation has been spent and whether the increase effectively doubles the prior amount over two additional years. A sheriff’s office representative (Chief) said the contract is written as a per-service agreement and that staff would provide an accounting of utilization and spending prior to the board meeting next week.
The committee also approved amendments to agreements providing adult diversion services for the county attorney’s office, increasing combined not-to-exceed (NTE) amounts to $2,623,844, and voted to accept a private donation of $17,500 to support procurement and training for a narcotics canine replacement. Commissioners discussed cost pressures and asked whether wellness services could be more efficiently billed or reimbursed through insurance; staff said Wellness That Fits was selected through a 2023 RFP and provides a multi-clinician team model the county views as more robust than previous single-provider arrangements.
All items in the block motion passed by voice vote; staff committed to returning with detailed utilization and spending data for the wellness contract.
