|
Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper visited St.
Peter Feb. 13 to highlight ongoing work to strengthen mental health and other
key safety-net services statewide, and underscore the importance of legislative
bonding and budget proposals to continue these efforts at the Minnesota
Security Hospital. Piper pointed to the new Community Competency Restoration
Program in St. Peter as a prime example of how a recent strategic realignment
of mental health and substance abuse treatment services in St. Peter is
improving access to care and increasing the number of psychiatric beds
available throughout the state. More information is in a news
release.
Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper visited
Just Paws Pet Salon in Lilydale Feb. 23 to highlight that many Minnesotans with
disabilities already are working in competitively paying jobs they have found
or created. Disability employment service providers like Kaposia often play a
key role in the process. In Minnesota, 50 percent of people with intellectual
disabilities and 40 percent of people with physical disabilities who are
unemployed, want to work, according to recent surveys. This year Gov. Mark
Dayton has proposed new employment services to ensure more Minnesotans with
disabilities can seek, retain and maintain paying jobs of their choice in the
community. More information is in a news
release about the new services.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and
the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe have reached a historic agreement that will
preserve culturally relevant substance abuse and addiction treatment services
for American Indians throughout the state. Under the agreement, DHS will
officially close Four Winds, its Community Addiction Recovery Enterprise
program in Brainerd, and the Mille Lacs Band will open a new, licensed program
in the same facility. The band, which will lease the facility from the state,
expects to have the new program up and running by March 1, 2017. DHS will
provide a one-time grant of up to $800,000 to help offset the transitions
costs. More information is in a news
release about the transfer.
Half of people
responding to the Own Your Future annual survey at the 2016 Minnesota State
Fair said they are not prepared to deal with the help most of
them and their loved ones are expected to need some time after age 65. Half of
respondents also said their biggest concern about retirement is losing health
and needing care, followed by not having enough money (40 percent) and being a
burden to family (11 percent). More information is in a news release about the
State Fair survey.
Minnesotans with
disabilities and their families can save for goods and services to improve
their lives under the new Minnesota ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience)
Plan, which opened this month. The plan allows a maximum of $14,000 a year, to
a total maximum of $100,000, to be contributed to an account for an individual
before the individual’s public benefits are affected. Participants can choose to put their money
into what operates as a regular checking account or into one of six investment
options. More information is in a news release about
the ABLE accounts.
The licensed child
care issue brief, Understanding
Licensed Child Care in Minnesota (PDF), provides licensing data along with
an analysis of issues facing licensed child care in Minnesota. These issues
include monitoring and oversight activities as well as the availability of
licensed care in the state in 2016. The fact
sheets address commonly asked questions and provide insight on trends in
licensed care. These resources are intended to inform families, licensed
providers, policy makers and other key stakeholders about licensed child care
in Minnesota.
Fact
sheets summarizing human services proposals for the 2017 legislative session are now available on the DHS website. Legislative reports and background
information also can be found on the legislative information
page. Information
about Gov. Mark Dayton’s fiscal year 2018-19 budget recommendations is
available on the Minnesota Management and Budget website.
|
