2021.04.27 CC Packet Amended - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 13, 2021 Page 2 of 7 her thinking. She commended Ms. Paetmick for also being a girl scout in the community. Councilmember Allen asked what Ms. Paetznick won for winning the essay contest. Ms. Paetznick explained she received a plaque and $100. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas explained she had a signed copy of the League of Minnesota Cities recent magazine and noted she would hang onto this until one day when Brenna runs for City office. She congratulated Ms. Paetzmck again for showing her strong leadership to the community. 2. Update from Tara Jebens-Singh, Northeast Youth and Family Services. Tara Jebens-Singh, Northeast Youth and Family Services, thanked the Council for their time. She explained NYFS was a community-based, trauma- informed, nonprofit mental health and human services agency. She reported NYFS partners with 15 cities and three school districts in order to support low-income, under and uninsured youth, families and adults. She indicated NYFS has been in operation in the north suburbs for the past 45 years. She then provided a brief presentation on the services provided through mental health counseling, the day treatment program and the youth diversion program. She reviewed the services stats for 2020 noting the cost for contract services versus the services that were provided to New Brighton residents. She commented fiuther on the benefits of having a Community Advocate on staff. She thanked the City of New Brighton for providing $10,000 in CARES Act dollars in 2020 noting these dollars were used to assist with covering payroll expenses. She then discussed the future plans for NYFS coming out of the pandemic and commented on how important it would be to bridge youth back into the community after programming was shut down for a year. She described how telehealth services were greatly benefiting her clientele especially over the past trying year. She explained NYFS was here for the community and encouraged residents to ask and seek resources. Councilmember Axberg discussed how mental health was a growing concern and thanked Ms. Jebens-Singh for her service to the community. She asked how the Council can better support residents in the community when it comes to mental health and questioned how much of NYFS's budget was city funded versus reimbursements. Ms. Jebens-Singh discussed the mix of federal, state and local funding NYFS received to assist in funding its programs, along with the funding provided by 15 municipalities. She noted NYFS also received individual contributions. She encouraged the City Councilmembers to normalize conversations around mental health in whatever circles they have a personal or professional influence over. She commented further on how this would assist reducing the stigma regarding mental health concerns. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas asked how NYFS was partnering with the school district. Ms. Jebens-Singh explained she had a multi -layered relationship with the Mounds View School District. She reported her office building on Lexington Avenue was inhabited by the school district's REACH program. She indicated NYFS was in contact with the school district in numerous ways in order to discuss mental health resources. It was her hope there would be an increase in mental health services over the summer in order to prepare students for M reentry to school this fall, while also providing safe spaces for students to address the recent events that have occurred in neighboring communities. Councilmember Allen thanked Ms. Jebens-Singh for her presentation. He explained he deeply appreciated the services being provided by NYFS to the community. He asked what NYFS needed more of in order to meet the mental health needs of the community. Ms. Jebens-Singh stated as a trauma informed agency she could not negate the collective trauma that racial injustice has had on community members. She reported this was both a mental health and public health concern. She indicated there was a great need for cities to create a welcoming environment, while also creating spaces where people can come together and have a voice. She stated people may have forgotten how important it is to have a sense of connection to a community. She commented further on the value of the City having a partnership with NYFS to provide mental health services for those struggling in the community. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas explained she has observed that the suburbs have a very disjointed social services system. She noted there were many small organizations doing different pieces of the work. She questioned how this could be addressed or improved. Ms. Jebens-Singh explained core services are located where population densities are the highest. She reported the suburbs have a vacuum where there is a gap of services and organizations are created to bridge this gap. She discussed how she was working to create better 2. update from Tara Jebms-Singh, Northeast Youth andFamily Services.