Minnesota
Department of Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper honored seven programs
from across the state Dec. 12 for their outstanding contributions to human
services clients. Recipients of the 2016 Commissioner’s Circle of Excellence
Awards were recognized at a ceremony at the Elmer L. Andersen Human Services
Building in St. Paul. More information is in a news release about
the awards.
The Minnesota
Department of Human Services (DHS) awarded 12 grants totaling $4.25 million
annually for three years to provide support and recovery services for pregnant
and parenting women who have substance use disorders and their families. Women’s
Recovery Services grants provide comprehensive, gender-specific,
family-centered services for women and their families who are vulnerable and at
high risk. The agencies that received the grants help women in their programs
remain alcohol and drug free, obtain or retain employment, stay out of the
criminal justice system, find and secure stable housing, access physical and
mental health services for themselves and their children, and deliver babies
who test negative for substances at birth. More information is in a news release about
the grants.
Family gatherings
during the holiday season offer opportunities to check on how older relatives
are doing and how they are planning for the future. “During the holiday season,
family members can often get a fresh look at how well parents, grandparents and
other older relatives are coping with their living situations,” said Human
Services Commissioner Emily Piper. “Resources are available so older adults can
get the help they may need to remain healthy and safe at home.” More
information is in a news release about
the resources.
Valerie Cooke, a leader in the Nursing Facility Rates and Policy Division for 25 years, has been named director of the division effective Dec. 5. She replaces Bob Held, who retired Dec. 2. “Val has played a key leadership role on quality initiatives, pay-for-performance systems and program evaluations, both within DHS and as a nationally recognized expert on aligning quality measurement and performance improvement to payment models,” said Loren Colman, assistant commissioner for Continuing Care for Older Adults, who made the appointment. Cooke, who most recently has been manager for quality and research, said she looks forward to focusing more on strategic thinking within the division as quality measurement becomes increasing linked to payments to nursing homes, both at the state and federal level.
With more than
12,000 child care facilities across the state serving more than 230,000
children every day, the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Children and
Family Services and Office of Inspector General, in partnership with other
state, county and public partners, created the Child Care
Emergency Plan (PDF) to assist families, child care providers, counties,
and state agencies prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters, and
ensure the health and safety of children in these situations. More information
can be found on the department’s child
care research page.
The Minnesota
Department of Human Services' new logo is part of a statewide redesign effort
of all state agencies, boards and commissions to strengthen our shared identity
as the state of Minnesota. DHS is among the first group of state agencies to
change to the unified state logo design.
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A fact sheet about DHS programs was updated during December:
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.
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