DHS is honoring the dedication and innovative work of 10 partners that support Minnesotans to achieve their highest potential.
The winners of this year’s Commissioner’s Circle of Excellence Awards provide essential services to refugees, Indigenous youth and elders, families with children, people who have public health insurance and people who are starting their recovery journeys. Innovations include offering Indigenous food options and caring for pets so their owners can enter substance use disorder treatment.
“Each year, we lift up partners who are making real progress toward an equitable Minnesota where all people can achieve their highest potential,” Commissioner Jodi Harpstead said. “We are so proud of all the ways this year’s award winners are applying community knowledge and innovative ideas to solve persistent problems. Their work has a remarkable impact on our state.”
The annual human services awards honor outstanding initiatives and innovations that address critical needs in Minnesota’s communities and help strengthen equity in the human services system. This is the twelfth year of the awards, which DHS started in 2012.
A list of award winners is in a department news release. Photos from award presentation events are being posted on the department's Facebook and X (Twitter) pages as they occur.
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 Minnesota families who adopted children from foster care in the past year and those considering adopting foster children will have a chance to celebrate and learn more at an upcoming free event.
The 26th annual “Celebrate Adoption: Circus of the Heart” event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Attractions in the fair’s North End Events Center will include arcade games, crafts, prizes, music, mascots, clay art, henna art, face painting, outdoor activities and photo opportunities. Parking is free.
Adoption experts will also be available to answer questions about adoption from foster care.
“Children need stable, nurturing families,” Commissioner Jodi Harpstead said. “When foster children can’t return home for one reason or another, we work with our partners to find permanent families who can best meet children’s cultural, emotional, mental health and physical health needs, particularly for older children and sibling groups. Adoption can have a meaningful and profound impact on the lives of all involved.”
The event is sponsored by DHS, Foster Adopt Minnesota and other partners.
More information is in a department news release.
Many parents of children with disabilities no longer have to pay fees for their children’s Medical Assistance health insurance.
DHS has stopped requiring parents to pay monthly fees for children with disabilities who get their Medical Assistance coverage through the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act option, known as TEFRA, or through assessments for Home and Community Based Services.
Earlier this year, the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Tim Walz approved legislation to eliminate parental fees for children covered through the TEFRA option and Home and Community Based Services. The change took effect in July.
“This is great news for Minnesota families,” said Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “It’s a positive example of the state coming together to look out for the parents of people with disabilities.”
More information is in a department news release.
Minnesota celebrates the courage, resilience and entrepreneurship of refugees, who make the state a better place to live.
DHS' Outstanding Refugee Awards for 2022 and 2023 were presented to 10 individuals during a Tuesday, Oct. 24 ceremony at the Minnesota History Center.
“Refugees who come to the United States to make a good life for themselves and their families have known great hardship and great hope,” said Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “It gives me great joy to recognize the achievements of refugees who have done so much to make Minnesota a better place.”
People with refugee status leave their home countries because their governments are unable or unwilling to protect them when their lives are in danger from persecution because of race, religion, nationality, social group or political opinions.
The Outstanding Refugee Awards include four categories: Civic Leadership, Entrepreneurship, New Arrival and Young Leader. Award recipients are listed in the department news release.
 After you're home from trick-or-treating, everyone's eaten too much candy and the little ghouls are put to bed, take a moment to check when your health care renewal is due.
It's important to return your paperwork so we can verify your eligibility to maintain your Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare coverage.
👻 Find out more at mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage.
👻 Look up your renewal date at mnrenewallookup.com. You will need your member number and eight-digit case number. (If your case number is fewer than eight digits, add zeroes at the beginning to make a total of eight.)
>> Follow DHS on X/Twitter and Facebook for timely updates on DHS news and events.
>> Follow our DHS Careers Facebook page for announcements of hiring events, job postings, internships and more.
For accessible formats of this publication, write to [email protected], or call 651-431-2000 or use your preferred relay service.
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