 Governor Tim Walz announced a new effort across state agencies that will make free school meals available to approximately 90,000 additional students.
They are among more than 200,000 students on Medicaid who will be automatically enrolled or re-enrolled to receive free meals this school year. This new expansion of free meals for students is a result of the state applying and being accepted to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pilot program this year.
“This project means fewer children will go hungry at school next year, and we know that’s the number one way we can help students succeed,” said Governor Walz.
Direct certification is a process by which children already enrolled in certain state programs may also be “directly certified” for free meals based on previous eligibility from other programs. This expansion of direct certification will also increase eligibility and reduce costs for schools to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision, which allows eligible schools to provide meals at no costs to all students, an important issue as the federal waivers that have provided meals at no costs to all students during the pandemic are not available to states next school year.
“As a child who relied on free and reduced-price lunch and a lifelong advocate for children and families, I know how much access to meals at school means to families across Minnesota,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan.
The project is a result of cross-agency innovations and discussions through the Children’s Cabinet with Minnesota IT Services, DHS and the Minnesota Department of Education.
More information is in a Governor's Office news release.
 The Minnesota Department of Health released its first Minnesota Maternal Mortality Report (PDF), which examined maternal deaths during or within one year of pregnancy from 2017 to 2018.
While the report shows the state’s overall maternal mortality rate is much lower than the national average, it also shows stark disparities in mortality – especially among Black and American Indian Minnesotans.
Black Minnesotans represent 13% of the birthing population but made up 23% of pregnancy-associated deaths, and American Indian Minnesotans represent 2% of the birthing population, but 8% of pregnancy-associated deaths.
The trends identified in this report reveal unmet needs and opportunity for public health interventions at the community and systems levels. The report provided some key policy recommendations:
- Support people enrolled in Medicaid to access essential services throughout pregnancy and one-year post-partum. Expanded coverage under Medicaid began July 1, 2022, in Minnesota, following a change in statue by the Minnesota Legislature and change in policy by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services earlier this year.
- Connect birthing people and families to resources and support throughout pregnancy and postpartum period to address food insecurity, housing, transportation, safety, mental health, and substance use.
- Address bias and cultural competency in health care and public health, and how it impacts birthing people and their families. Enhance cultural and trauma-informed mental health and behavioral health care services.
- Listen to concerns of birthing people and provide a network of support during pregnancy, delivery, and throughout the postpartum period.
More information is in an MDH news release.
 Posted Aug. 29 on the DHS Facebook page:
This morning, Gov. Walz stopped by DHS' booth for Mental Health Awareness Day at the Minnesota State Fair to show support and chat about why #mentalhealthmatters.
If you're at the fair today, come pay us a visit! We're just outside the Grandstand in Dan Patch Park. Activities, entertainment and tables with mental health resources abound!
Special thanks to NAMI Minnesota for hosting this great event!
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For accessible formats of this publication, write to dhs.communications@state.mn.us, or call 651-431-2000 or use your preferred relay service.
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