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Dear VRS Community Partners,
As I stated in my most recent email, Kim Babine has accepted a promotional opportunity with another state agency and will be leaving VRS in early May. We appreciate Kim’s years of service to DEED and VRS and wish her all the best in her career.
To ensure a successful and smooth transition, I am pleased to announce that we have extended an offer to Janeen Oien to serve as the Interim Community Partnerships Director and I am happy that Janeen has accepted. Janeen brings to this role more than 10 years’ experience working in VRS, both in Oregon and in Minnesota. She has previously worked as a counselor assistant and VR tech, and since 2021 has served as a program specialist on the community partnerships team. Prior to her work in VR, she worked in special education.
Janeen begins her new role tomorrow, 05.04.2023. During this interim, you can continue to reach out to the members of our Community Partnerships team, or to Janeen directly at Janeen.Oien@state.mn.us .
The role of the Community Partnerships Director is very important to our work and our partnership with key providers including you. We have assembled a strong interview team and will be posting the position in early May. Once the posting is available, we will share it with you and would appreciate if you are willing to share the posting with people you think may be strong candidates. We plan to have the position filled by late summer or early fall.
On behalf of Janeen and myself, thank you for your continued commitment to serving people with disabilities and your partnership with VRS!
Michelle Basham, MPA/ESQ
DEED-VRS, Deputy Director, Operations/Partnerships
What is the DEED-Vocational Rehabilitation Services Community Partner and Stakeholder listserv?
The Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) Division of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) comprises the public Vocational Rehabilitation program, the Minnesota Extended Employment program, Independent Living services, Individual Placement and Supports grants, and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing grants.
The DEED-VRS Community Partner and Stakeholder listserv is the communication platform for current VRS Community Partners, potential VRS Community Partners, and other interested stakeholders in Minnesota’s disability employment services system. We encourage you to subscribe if you are an interested stakeholder in Minnesota’s disability employment services system.
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