News from DHS for January 2019

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News from DHS

January 2019

News from DHS archive

In this issue:


Tony Lourey named DHS commissioner

Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced Tony Lourey as Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. Read more about the appointment in a Governor’s Office news release, and more about Commissioner Lourey in his biography on the department’s website.


SNAP recipients receive February food benefits early

Many Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) recipients received February 2019 benefits earlier than usual due to the partial federal shutdown. More than 400,000 Minnesotans receive SNAP, 70 percent of whom are children, seniors and people with disabilities. More information about SNAP during the partial federal shutdown is available in a news release.


$1.5 million will help increase availability of quality child care in Greater Minnesota

New grants totaling $900,000 from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, combined with nearly $600,000 in private and community donations, will help increase quality child care in Greater Minnesota, which has the state’s most acute child care shortages. A list of grantees is available in a news release about the new funding.


Fact sheets updated during January

Fact sheets about DHS programs were updated during January:


For accessible formats of this publication or assistance with additional equal access to human services, write to dhs.communications@state.mn.us, call 651-431-2911, or use your preferred relay service.

DHS in the community

DHS Commissioner Tony Lourey speaks at a podium in a barn with a crowd behind him

Tony Lourey was named the new commissioner of DHS by Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan on Jan. 3 in Hastings.

Assistant Commissioner Nikki Farago and Sen. Tina Smith talk with Louise Matson, Executive Director of the Division of Indian Work

Assistant Commissioner for Children and Family Services Nikki Farago, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, and Division of Indian Work Executive Director Louise Matson discussed food access during the partial federal shutdown at Horizons Unlimited Food Shelf on Jan. 18.


In the news

Links to some news articles about DHS during January: