Monthly news digest from the Department of Human Services



Minnesota Department of Human Services logo [ [link removed] ]



NEWS FROM DHS



*July 2024*




*News from DHS archive [ [link removed] ]*





In this issue:

* State moves quickly to fill HIV service provider gap [ #link_4 ]
* July 31 is deadline for input on draft child care licensing standards [ #link_9 ]
* Registration open for webinar on disability justice principles [ #link_3 ]
* Forum set for Aug. 9 on Housing Stabilization Services [ #link_2 ]
* In social media: Community First Services and Supports [ #link_5 ]
* Behavioral health care system seeks board members [ #link_10 ]
* New fact sheets [ #link_1 ]
* In the news [ #link_6 ]

________________________________________________________________________





State moves quickly to fill HIV service provider gap

The Aliveness Project will expand its service delivery as an HIV supports provider after reaching an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The agreement comes less than two weeks after the unexpected closure of Rainbow Health, which had been a leading HIV supports provider in Minnesota. The loss of Rainbow Health left thousands of Minnesotans living with HIV without access to emergency assistance like rent checks, utility support, food access and insurance navigation.

“HIV support services are so important to the people who rely on them,” said Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “We’re grateful the Aliveness Project is willing and able to take on this critical work. We’re also thankful to our partners who worked with us to meet client needs while finding this solution.”

Under the new agreement, the former Rainbow Health contract responsibilities will be transferred to the Aliveness Project, effective immediately, while working with partners to coordinate the details of the transition. Keeping people in stable housing and limiting any interruption of other basic life needs continues to be the priority of the state response.

As Aliveness works to re-establish services, questions about immediate needs can continue to be directed to the Ryan White Programs Customer Care Line at DHS: 651-431-2398.

________________________________________________________________________



July 31 is deadline for input on draft child care licensing standards

Child care stock image 2

Our online survey [ [link removed] ] to provide public feedback on new draft licensing standards for family child care and child care centers will close Wednesday, July 31.

The original survey deadline was extended to ensure providers, parents, licensors and the public who want to weigh in have an opportunity to do so.

Information about the draft standards is on the project webpage [ [link removed] ] and in a department news release [ [link removed] ]. The current documents are drafts, and feedback is a crucial step in the process.



________________________________________________________________________


Odyssey Conference 2024
Registration open for webinar on disability justice principles

Register today for the second 2024 Odyssey webinar, “The Principles of Disability Justice,” which takes place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16.

This webinar builds on the disability rights movement to take a more comprehensive approach to help secure rights for people with disabilities. Disability justice recognizes the intersectionality of people with disabilities who belong to additional marginalized communities. Presenters will explain how people can incorporate the 10 principles of disability justice in their work.

Registration is open [ [link removed] ] until 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9.

________________________________________________________________________



Forum set for Aug. 9 on Housing Stabilization Services

housing icon

The Minnesota Department of Human Services and Minnesota Housing are working together to improve the experience of people receiving Housing Stabilization Services, a service that helps Medical Assistance enrollees find and keep housing.

We are partnering with non-partisan public policy consulting firms to host an online meeting for people who have received this benefit to share their thoughts about what works well and what can be improved. 

Registration is open [ [link removed] ] for the session set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9.



________________________________________________________________________



In social media: Community First Services and Supports
Community First Services and Supports social post

">> Follow DHS on X (formerly Twitter) [ [link removed] ] and Facebook [ [link removed] ] f"or timely updates on DHS news and events.""

">> For announcements of hiring events, job postings, internships and more, follow us on LinkedIn [ [link removed] ] and the "DHS Careers Facebook page [ [link removed] ].""

________________________________________________________________________



Accessible formats

For accessible formats of this publication, write to [email protected], or call 651-431-2000 or use your preferred relay service.




Behavioral health care system seeks board members

Applications are open for people interested in serving on the executive board of Minnesota’s state-operated behavioral health care system.

Known as Direct Care and Treatment, or DCT, the system serves more than 12,000 patients and clients each year at psychiatric hospitals and other inpatient mental health facilities, substance-use disorder treatment facilities, special care dental clinics and group homes for people with disabilities.

Currently part of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, DCT will become a separate state agency on July 1, 2025. A nine-member executive board and a chief executive officer will oversee the new agency.

Governor Tim Walz will appoint six board members. The panel will also include the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services and two non-voting members, one appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties and one jointly appointed by labor unions representing DCT staff.

For more information about the open board seats and qualifications for each position, or to apply, visit the Secretary of State’s Office Boards and Commissions webpage [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________



New fact sheets

The Minnesota Legislature and Governor Tim Walz made careful investments in 2024 to address the most immediate needs in human services. The following fact sheets summarize session outcomes.

Human services budget: Focusing on immediate priorities (PDF) [ [link removed] ]

Expanding behavioral health care capacity, improving access (PDF) [ [link removed] ]

Addressing substance use disorder and other health needs for Minnesotans leaving prisons and jails (PDF) [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________



In the news
newspaper beside a coffee cup

*How to shop for a health insurance plan in Minnesota: *Insurance options can vary considerably depending on age, income, geography, employment status and the market. So don't be afraid to seek help when confronting this complicated decision. Learn more in a Star Tribune article [ [link removed] ].

*Almanac: New Department of Children, Youth and Families to be established July 1:* TPT's Eric Eskola and Cathy Wurzer recently spoke with Tikki Brown, the commissioner of Minnesota's new Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Learn about the opportunities she sees ahead with the new agency in this Almanac video clip [ [link removed] ].

*‘The first step’: Advocates celebrate Minnesota’s groundbreaking child welfare law: *The Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionately Act will take effect in Ramsey and Hennepin counties in January and expand statewide two years later. The sweeping new law is novel in the nation, and modeled after the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act. Learn more in an Imprint/Sahan Journal article [ [link removed] ].*
*

*Personal histories, items can be claimed by adult adoptees from Minnesota’s DHS files: *On July 1, original state birth records became available to adoptees for the first time. The change in state law has brought renewed attention to personal effects kept in adoption files. DHS welcomes input from the adoption community in re-thinking how the agency can help adoptees request their belongings. Learn more in an MPR article [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________










Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page [ [link removed] ].

Stay connected

Minnesota Department of Human Services [ [link removed] ]

Facebook [ [link removed] ]  Twitter [ [link removed] ] Youtube [ [link removed] ] LinkedIn [ [link removed] ] Govdelivery [ [link removed] ]

*Subscriber services:*
Manage subscriptions [ [link removed] ] |  Help [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota Department of Human Services · 540 Cedar St. · Saint Paul, MN 55101 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;}