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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – MARCH 20, 2023 3 mental health industry and the communities that they serve. They have started doing some advertising in local newspapers and on social media. Councilmember Monson asked how they are helping with building resiliency and coping skills. Ms. Lewis-Dmello said that is integrated into all of their programs. In the day program it is scheduled into the curriculum, and in the therapy services they have a big impact in the school districts they work with. They have long term relationships in three school districts and are working on adding a fourth. Councilmember Rousseau asked if they knew the percentage of clients that were referred from the schools or through the criminal justice system. Ms. Lewis-Dmello said they haven’t had good tracking but they are revamping their demographic forms so they will have good data in about a year. Councilmember Fabel wondered if the diversion program takes kids that have actually been charged with crimes. Ms. Lewis-Dmello replied that they typically prefer to work with youth that are much earlier in the system, and they don’t take anyone with an active, open case. They average between 95-98% non-recidivism. They work with the youth and their families. Mayor Grant asked if they have someone come to them and the parents have insurance, is the clinical psychologist not covered? Ms. Lewis-Dmello said it is, by way of the contracts with the insurance companies and they will take insurance if someone wants to pay with insurance. The reimbursement they receive per session for each client and the total number of sessions seen by a therapist in a week multiplied by the year won’t cover the total cost of that therapist’s salary and benefits. There is a gap that needs to be filled with contracts, grants and individual donors. They currently have a $650,000 cash shortfall and are using their reserve and working on their business model and renegotiating insurance contracts. They hope to be in much better shape by the end of their fiscal year. Mayor Grant thanked Ms. Lewis-Dmello for her presentation. B.Council Retreat Discussion Mayor Grant stated it was his goal to look at some of the more strategic things that the Council wanted to accomplish such as long-term goal setting. City Administrator Perrault said they had considered using Mr. Weinstein’s firm in 2019 but the retreat didn’t move forward. He was there to talk about the process and take feedback from the Council. Timing and location would also need to be discussed. Ethical Leaders in Action (ELA) President Chad Weinstein introduced himself and gave a brief history of his background. He stated that he is an ethicist with a broad approach to help leaders be their best. Their approach is to begin with the end in mind; to create conversations