DEED-VRS/SSB and DHS Interagency Employment First Advisory Committee Announcement

DEED-VRS/SSB and DHS Announces Appointments to the Interagency Employment First Advisory Committee

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) – Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) and State Services for the Blind (SSB) together with the Department of Human Services (DHS) are pleased to announce the following appointments to the new Interagency Employment First Advisory Committee, a voluntary 14-member committee representing diverse stakeholder’s perspectives from around the state.  The committee has been created to provide strategic advice and consultation to DHS and DEED-VRS/SSB as they work together to implement Minnesota’s Employment First policy and fulfill agreements in the September 2019 joint memorandum of understanding.

Membership and Stakeholder Perspective Representation:

• Jessica Eggert – People receiving services & their families or supports
• Barb Ziemke – People receiving services & their families or supports
• Jillian Nelson – Advocacy organization for people with disabilities (Autism Society of Minnesota / The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities)
• Alicia Munson - Advocacy organization for people with disabilities (The Arc Minnesota)
• John Filek – Deaf Blind service provider
• April Ildvad – Broader stakeholder community (Mental health, brain injury specialist)
• Jon Alexander – Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
• Tim Dickie – Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and Rehabilitation (MOHR)
• Rita Wiersma – Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM)
• Julie Peterschick – VRS Community Partners Committee (CPC), formerly known as VRS Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) Advisory Committee
• Phyllis Reller – Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators (MACSSA) Greater Minnesota representative
• Yekaterna (Kate) Probert Fagundes - Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators (MACSSA) Metro Minnesota representative
• Danielle Mahoney – University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration
• Kristina Petronko – Client Assistance Project (CAP), Minnesota Disability Law Center

Join PIPEin, we need your input!

The Advisory Committee is only one way to get involved in shaping the work

If you are a support professional interested in providing feedback to DHS and DEED as we work to align our employment service systems and advance MN’s Employment First efforts, please consider joining the Professional Input Panel for Employment (PIPEin).  PIPEin will be a critical outreach tool for our efforts.  After completing a quick application, we will reach out to you with relevant opportunities based on your area of work and expertise. 

You can access the application and more information about PIPEin on the Disability Hub MN – Memorandum of Understanding webpage.  This is a great webpage to bookmark as we will also be posting updates on our efforts on this page.   

For questions, contact dsd.employmentfirst@state.mn.us