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CITY COUNCIL <br />AGENDA ITEM 4A <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Public Safety Director John Swenson <br />MEETING DATE: February 8, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Counseling Contract for Services — LE -AST Services/Counseling <br />LLC <br />VOTE REQUIRED: 3/5 <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The LE -AST Counseling Services specializes in first responder support services and has <br />worked with numerous police and fire agencies and is highly recommended by those agencies. <br />BACKGROUND <br />As part of the 2021 budgeting process, staff requested funding for first responder wellness <br />programing that provides annual mental health check -ins, training and other resources to our <br />police and fire responders needed for a successful career. Staff requested $5,000 in both the <br />police (420) and fire (421) divisions' budgets for 2021 for this programing. Council approved <br />the 2021 budget with a total of $10,000 between the police and fire budgets for first responder <br />wellness. <br />Staff has solicited information from police and fire staff as well as other agencies that have first <br />responder wellness programs. After receiving feedback we are recommending that we enter <br />into a one year contract with LE -AST Counseling Services for first responder wellness <br />services. <br />Some of the examples of the services included in this contract are: <br />• Provide confidential counseling services to Department employees seeking <br />assistance for stress related mental health issues that may affect work <br />performance; <br />• Provide mental health check-ups known as Check Up From The Neck Up <br />sessions; <br />• Provide training to the Department related to/and intended to promote the <br />psychological and emotional health of Department employees; <br />• Respond, when requested and available, to incidents identified by Department <br />supervisory personnel as critical incidents; <br />• Respond when requested and available, to support and advise the Crisis <br />Intervention Team/Negotiators of the Department; <br />• Periodically perform ride alongs with Department personnel; and <br />• Any other services mutually agreed upon in writing between the parties. <br />Under the terms of this contract LE -AST Counseling Services will be compensated $125 per <br />hour for annual mental health check -ins for police and fire personnel, $130 per hour for <br />