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The upcoming Children’s Summit, set for Jan. 11 through Jan. 14, will bring together experts from across Minnesota to create solutions to issues facing the state’s behavioral health system for young people and their families.
It will include presentations as well as working sessions where participants create immediate, actionable solutions for the urgent problems facing the system of care.
Register on Webex by Jan. 4 and indicate which days you plan to attend, and if you plan to participate in a working session. You may only choose one working session, as they will occur simultaneously.
Learn more about the summit and find descriptions of each working session on our public participation webpage.
Minnesota families who rely on free and reduced-price school lunch programs will soon get extra help to cover food costs when COVID-19 keeps their children home from school.
By early January, a first round of Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer food benefits will go to small number of families whose children attend schools that closed or shifted to remote learning for at least five consecutive days in September, October or November. Future rounds of P-EBT benefits will include families whose children have to stay home because of quarantines for individual students, groups of students, or entire classrooms.
More than 200,000 Minnesota schoolchildren will be eligible for the P-EBT benefits for the 2021-22 school year, with $186 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Families will receive $7.10 for each child for each missed day.
More details are in a department news release.
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Governor Tim Walz announced this week an allocation of $47 million in federal American Recue Plan funds as the state continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Child care access
The Governor has allocated $20 million to help child care programs experiencing increased costs and staffing challenges related to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases remain open for families.
The flexible funding will be used to assist providers who are experiencing lost revenue and increased costs associated with COVID-19 temporary classroom quarantines, pandemic-related worker vacancies and staffing limitations, among other needs. Child care providers may receive these funds through the DHS January Child Care Stabilization Base Grant application.
Food security across the state
Amid rising food costs and other continued pandemic impacts, $20 million will be used to provide urgent relief to Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity.
Funds will be targeted to a diverse network of food resources, such as food shelves and meal programs, representing the efforts of community-based organizations, tribes and local governments. The funding will be used to cover food purchases, food distribution costs, meal preparation, cleaning supplies, technology needs, outreach efforts, and training and technical assistance.
Availability of at-home COVID-19 rapid tests
A $2.5 million allocation will expand the state’s COVID-19 testing infrastructure, get more at-home rapid tests in the hands of Minnesotans, and enhance the equitable distribution of testing for Minnesotans facing health care barriers.
 Posted Dec. 20 on our social media channels:
News and current events, winter days and holidays can leave many feeling stressed, depressed or anxious. These are real and valid feelings. You don't have to work through it alone. Multiple services are available to help you or someone you care about.
MINNESOTA WARMLINE
Call 651-288-0400 or 877-404-3190
Text "support" to 85511
mentalhealthmn.org/support/minnesota-warmline/
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS LINES 24/7
Call the Crisis Text Line at **CRISIS (274747) from a cell phone
Text "MN" to 741741
Minnesota county crisis lines:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
To see more posts like this and for timely updates on DHS news and events, follow DHS on Twitter and Facebook.
For accessible formats of this publication or assistance with 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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