VRS_MOU Community Partner Survey - Please Respond

Vocational Rehabilitation Services header

To: VRS Community Partners

From: DEED VRS Leadership

DEED/DHS MOU

The MOU agreement that was signed in September 2019 seeks to create better outcomes for people who receive home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers and are seeking competitive, integrated employment. The MOU established a partnership between the DHS Disability Services Division, DEED Vocational Rehabilitation Services and State Services for the Blind.

MOU Provider Survey

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) work with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), Vocational Rehabilitation Services, State Services for the Blind, and DHS are working together to create a shared map of DHS (245D licensed) and DEED-VRS/SSB (Professional/Technical contract) employment service providers. We need your help to do this. Please fill out the three-question survey to share with us the locations you currently provide DEED-VRS/SSB employment services in Minnesota.

The link to the survey can be found here.

Please fill out the survey by Friday, August 28. After completed, this map will be shared with all providers as a resource and part of the MOU roll-out material.

If you have any questions about the survey, you can reach out to either Anne Paulson (Anne.Paulson@state.mn.us) or Sara Sundeen (Sara.Sundeen@state.mn.us.) Amanda Jensen-Stahl (Amanda.Jensen-Stahl@state.mn.us) is a VRS program specialist working on this project and is also very happy to respond to your questions.

Update on MOU Work

The DHS/DEED MOU team recently provided an update to the project. The July 2020 MOU update (PDF) lists accomplishments to date, lessons learned, how the team is using feedback and what’s next. Going forward, the team will provide monthly updates about the work and how they are using stakeholder input in the collaborative planning process. 

For more information on the MOU, please visit Disability Hub MN – DHS/DEED Memorandum of Understanding. If you would like to get involved and for links to sign up or apply, go to the Employment First page – “Get Involved” tab. If you have questions about these opportunities or need help, contact dsd.employmentfirst@state.mn.us or Amanda Jensen-Stahl @ amanda.jensen-stahl@state.mn.us.