VRS_COVID Update 3/26

Dear Community Partners,

Yesterday, Governor Walz signed Executive Order 20-20 and announced that Minnesota will join Wisconsin, Illinois, several other states around the nation, and many countries around the world in a stay at home order from Friday, March 27 at 11:59 p.m. until Friday, April 10. This officially limits the activities for which we can leave our homes. The Governor is also extending the closure of schools until May 4 and bars and restaurants until May 1.

Our Vocational Rehabilitation Services employees are still on the job and working remotely; they will continue to do so during the stay at home order.

Vocational Rehabilitation program field staff are adjusting to working with individuals remotely, just as community partner staff are adjusting. Referrals, authorizations, and payments from VRS will continue during the stay at home order.

If you have a change in how you’re providing services, if you’re limiting new referrals, laying off or furloughing staff, temporarily closing facilities/workspaces, or restricting travel, etc., please email me, kim.babine@state.mn.us and Anne Paulson, anne.paulson@state.mn.us along with all your local teams. We are tracking that internally for staff to reference.

For VRS grantees: your payments and other grant administrative work will continue on our end. Please let me and your grant monitor (Claire.courtney@state.mn.us or brad.westerlund@state.mn.us) know if you are still able to provide services remotely or if your work under the grant is stopping given the stay at home order. We’ll continue to work with our state and federal agencies to support you as best as possible.

We are all learning and adapting day by day. Thank you for your partnership and your work for Minnesotans. We’re in this together.

My best,

Kim