If you are a
Minnesota Health Care Programs member who gets health care through a health
plan, you have the chance to choose a new health plan for the next year if more
than one is available in your area. The annual health-plan selection is Sept. 1
through Dec. 11. See the annual
health-plan selection page for more information.
The Department of
Human Services (DHS) is hosting a series of listening sessions across the state
to hear from individuals, families and service providers about substance abuse
treatment and prevention. “Your Opinion Matters! Substance Use Disorder
Community Forums” will be held in eight locations across Minnesota, with the
goal of understanding the successes and challenges of our current system of
preventing and treating substance use disorder. More information is in a news release
about the listening sessions.
Human Services
Commissioner Lucinda Jesson encourages Minnesotans to mark National
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, Sept. 26, by finding and getting
rid of their unused, unwanted prescription medicine as a way to stop drug abuse
before it starts. Abuse of prescription medicine has contributed to a dangerous
spike in heroin and other opiate abuse. “Got Drugs? — National Prescription
Drug Take-Back Day,” aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means
of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public
about the potential for abuse of medications. More information is in a news release
about National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
Help is now a text
message away anytime for Minnesotans experiencing crisis or contemplating
suicide. TXT4Life is expanding hours and outreach thanks to a $1 million boost
from the state, and is on track to respond to more than 10,000 text messages
this year. As of Sept. 1, Minnesotans who text “Life” to 61222 receive crisis
counseling and connections to local resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week
from trained counselors at non-profit Canvas Health, which operates TXT4Life.
More information is in a news release
about TXT4Life.
A new leader will
oversee the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) health system for
mental health and chemical dependency treatment programs Commissioner Lucinda
Jesson announced today. Daniel Anderson, a former president and chief operating
officer for Fairview Community Health Systems, was named DHS health systems
chief executive officer. Anderson’s role will include strategic direction and
oversight of 20 mental health and chemical dependency treatment programs across
the state, including the Minnesota Security Hospital and Anoka-Metro Regional
Treatment Center. More than 3,350 people each year receive services from these
programs. More information is in a news release
about Anderson’s appointment.
Members of the
public joined public officials and members of the Minnesota Falls Prevention
Coalition on the first day of fall, Wednesday, Sept. 23, for the “Take a Stand
to Prevent Falls” event at the National Guard Armory, 600 Cedar St., St. Paul.
The event was intended to unite professionals, older adults, caregivers and
family members to play a part in raising awareness and preventing falls among
older adults or anyone who experiences movement or balance issues. More
information is in a news release
about the event.
Hundreds of adopted
children and their new families, as well as those interested in adoption will
launch Adoption Month in November at the 18th annual Celebrate Adoption: Circus
of the Heart. This event recognizes children who have been adopted from the
foster care system in the past year and encourages families to consider making
a lifelong impact on children’s lives through adoption. The public is invited
to attend and gather information about adoption. State, county, nonprofit and
private agency adoption experts will staff tables and answer questions.
Families will enjoy circus-themed activities, face painting, pony rides, music,
games, crafts, clowns, and free prize drawings as part of the event on Sunday,
Nov. 1, at the Prom Event Center, 484 Inwood Ave, Oakdale, from 1 to 4 p.m. The
Minnesota Department of Human Services, MN ADOPT, counties, private and nonprofit
adoption agencies sponsor the event. More information
about adoption is on the DHS website.
Jean Wood was
presented with the first-ever Executive Director’s Award from the National
Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities at its annual
conference in September. Wood, executive director of the Minnesota Board on
Aging and director of the Aging and Adult Services Division, Minnesota
Department of Human Services, was recognized for outstanding leadership
nationally and her commitment to NASUAD, first as a staff member and then as a
long-standing member of its board of directors. Her leadership is credited for
helping the association evolve from one that served only state aging agencies
to one that now includes state agencies on disabilities and aging. More
information is in a news release
about Wood’s award.
Educating teachers,
parents, and youth about the dangers of synthetic drugs is the goal of an
innovative prevention effort, KnowtheDangers.com. The website and related social
media campaign were recently awarded first place in the Best Cause Awareness
category in PR Daily’s 2015 Digital PR and Social Media Awards. For the past
year KnowtheDangers.com has offered information about drugs many parents and
professionals who work with young people have never have heard of — drugs that
are all too common across Minnesota. More information is in a news release
about the website’s award.
The Ramsey County
Attorney's Office on Friday charged Said Jire Kalinle with one count of Theft
by Swindle and one count of Identity Theft in connection with the overbilling
of Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in excess of $11,000. Minnesota’s
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is administered by counties with oversight
by the Department of Human Services and provides working parents who meet
certain income eligibility requirements with affordable child care. CCAP
payments are paid directly to child care providers who are required to
accurately report a child’s attendance. More information is in a news release about
the charges.
Members of the
public are reporting receiving unsolicited calls from what appears to be the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) toll-free information hotline
number: 1-800-221-5689. The unsolicited callers are requesting personal
information offering assistance for filling out a SNAP application or other
non-SNAP related services such as home security systems. More information is in
a news
story about the fraud threat.
Fact sheets about DHS programs were added or updated
during September:
This information is available in accessible formats for individuals with disabilities by calling 651-431-2911 or by using your preferred relay service. For other information on disability rights and protections, contact the agency's ADA coordinator.
Questions and comments about navigation and technical issues should be emailed to the DHS webmaster. Send news story ideas for the public website to DHS Communications.
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