 Demolition and
construction are well underway for the $70.2 million Phase II expansion and
renovation of the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter. The project
includes major remodeling of 100,000 square feet of existing space and new
construction of another 87,000 square feet. Four living units are being
remodeled; four split-level wings have been razed and will reconstructed into
single-story spaces; and new acute care and transition housing will be added.
The facilities will provide a safer and more therapeutic treatment environment
for patients and staff. The work will be completed in fall of 2020. The first
phase of construction, a $56.3 million project, was completed in January 2017. See
video of the work on the DHS YouTube
channel.
A new Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility in Duluth
is bringing a higher level of mental health care for children to Minnesota. The
Northwood Children’s Services Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility is
designed to meet the needs of children requiring inpatient psychiatric care. In
the past, children requiring these intensive services have had to travel to
other states for care. Now, Minnesota families will have more services
available closer to home for children most in need. More information about this
facility is available in a news release.
The Minnesota
Department of Human Services is encouraging people who provide direct support
to people with disabilities and older adults, or are interested in exploring
these careers, to register on a new online job board and hiring resource. Direct
Support Connect is a free, safe and secure service provided by the
Minnesota Department of Human Services that responds to the high demand for
direct support workers in Minnesota. It is designed to help people who
need services find a worker who is a good match for them. More information about the
website is available in a news release.
A new law taking effect this week could help thousands of families who have a child support order that includes parenting time. The law aims to reduce conflicts between parents over parenting time, acknowledge the higher expenses for parents who spend more time with their children, and recognize that children need the “basics” in both of their homes. Read more about the new law in a news release.
Youth in foster care got the
opportunity to build their leadership skills, learn to become more engaged
citizens and share their past experiences at the 23rd-annual Tomorrow’s Leaders
Today conference, hosted this month by the Minnesota Department of Human
Services. Youth and adults who work with them took part in activities such as
leadership workshops, creating art and performing at the conference at the
University of Minnesota Duluth, July 25-27. More about the conference is in a news release.
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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