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Every 2 years counties and tribes must submit a Biennial Service Agreement to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

The purpose of the Biennial Service Agreement is to provide DHS with information about services and strategies intended to meet program measures with the goal of increasing the economic stability of low income families on MFIP. This will ensure that people served through MFIP are equipped to obtain and sustain gainful employment that will ultimately lead to greater self-sufficiency.

Counties may collaborate to develop multicounty, multi-tribal, or regional services agreements.

· Counties that include a city of the first class with a population of more than 300,000, must consider a service agreement that includes a jointly developed plan for city and county delivery of employment services.

The biennial service agreements must include:

· A statement of: Needs for the service population, strengths of the service population, and resources in the community.

· Numerical goals for participant outcome measures to be accomplished in the 2-year period.

· Strategies the county or tribe will use to achieve those outcomes, including specifically stating how Consolidated Funds will be used and whether any community partnerships will be established or strengthened.

· The strategies the county or tribe will use to serve families in the Family Stabilization Services track.

· Other items that the Department determines in consultation with counties and tribes.

The Department of Human Services duties include:

· Determining if any of the performance measures it reports quarterly as outcomes are ones that counties or tribes must commit to in their biennial service agreements. See 23.54 (Quarterly Reports).

· Provide each county and tribe with the information necessary to complete the biennial service agreement, including:

· Information about the MFIP participants they serve.

· Comparisons with the rest of the state.

· Baseline performance on outcome measures.

· Promising program practices.

Deadlines every other year in the odd years.

Action	Deadline
County or tribe makes draft biennial service agreement available for public review and comment.	No later than September 16.
Counties and tribes must submit their biennial service agreement  .	By October 15.
The Department of Human Services must notify each county or tribe if the biennial service agreement has been approved.	By December 14th.

If the Department does not approve the service agreement, it must inform the county or tribe about any revisions needed prior to approval.