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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Council Worksession <br />January 10, 2023 <br />5:00 pm <br /> <br /> <br />Present: Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas <br /> Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle <br />Councilmember Graeme Allen <br /> Councilmember Emily Dunsworth <br />Councilmember Pam Axberg (arrived at 5:42 p.m.) <br />Absent: <br /> <br />Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust (attending remotely), Jennifer Fink <br /> <br />Guests in Attendance: Angie Lewis-Dmello, Northeast Youth and Family Services <br /> <br />Update from Angie Lewis-Dmello, Northeast Youth and Family Services President and CEO <br /> <br />Massopust stated Angie Lewis-Dmello was in attendance to provide the Council with a presentation from <br />NYFS. <br /> <br />Angie Lewis-Dmello, Northeast Youth and Family Services President and CEO, introduced herself to the <br />Council and stated she has been with NYFS since June of 2022. She discussed work history and explained she <br />was pleased to be working with this organization. She reviewed the services offered by NYFS and how they <br />were benefiting the communities youth. She believed the core part of her mission was financial access to care. <br />She commented on the relationships she has with the three school districts, five law enforcement agencies and <br />15 municipalities that were invested in her organization. <br /> <br />Ms. Lewis-Dmello reviewed the number of individuals that were served in 2021 and 2022, noting she had <br />21,696 appointments. The programs offered by NYFS to serve clients included a diversion program, elderly <br />services, community advocacy, school based, clinic based, and the NETS day treatment program. <br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle asked if income verification was required before individuals could set an appointment <br />with NYFS. Ms. Lewis-Dmello reported this was not required. She commented further on her organizations <br />sliding fee scale. <br /> <br />Ms. Lewis-Dmello discussed the state of youth mental health in Minnesota. She explained one in three youth <br />now have a diagnosable mental health condition which was a significant increase since COVID. She <br />commented on how there had been attrition in the mental health field, especially among non-profits and how <br />this was impacting the services that are being provided to youth that are struggling. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas stated she appreciated how youth are more comfortable talking about their mental <br />health challenges and were more comfortable asking for help. Ms. Lewis-Dmello reported this was a positive <br />change. <br /> <br />