JANUARY 2023

News from DHS archive

Governor's budget proposals invest in key human services areas

Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan released their One Minnesota Budget this month with proposals grouped into four main categories.

Making Minnesota the Best State for Kids
With a goal of making Minnesota the best state in the country for kids to grow up, they’re proposing an historic budget to lower the cost of child care for middle-class families, increase access to mental health resources, provide the largest investment in public education in state history, ensure universal school meals, and reduce child poverty by roughly 25%. To center the work within state government, this includes a proposal to create a new state agency focused on children, youth and families.

More information on making Minnesota the best state for kids to grow up (PDF).

Investing in Minnesota's Economic Future 
The One Minnesota Budget invests in Minnesota’s economic future by recruiting and retaining workers, empowering employers to grow their businesses, and making sure Minnesota is creating the jobs of the future right here at home. This includes a proposal to implement the tentative contract agreement between the State of Minnesota and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa, providing a historic rate increase for over 20,000 home care workers in Minnesota. 

More information on investing in Minnesota's economic future (PDF). 

Protecting the Health and Safety of Minnesotans
Safe and healthy communities are important. That’s why their One Minnesota Budget increases access to comprehensive health care, creates housing that meets the needs of Minnesotans, and strengthens public safety. This includes a proposal for a MinnesotaCare public option.

More information on protecting the health and safety of Minnesotans (PDF).

One Minnesota Budget
The One Minnesota Budget invests in the things that matter most to Minnesotans: our children and families, economic future, health and safety, and a state government that works for all Minnesotans. The budget includes the largest tax cut in state history and direct checks for Minnesota families.

More information on the Governor and Lieutenant Governor's proposals (PDF). 

DHS hosts direct care recruiting event Feb. 2 in Wyoming

The DHS Direct Care and Treatment Administration is hosting a recruiting event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Wyoming Area Public Library. Managers will conduct interviews on the spot, so interested candidates should bring an updated resume.

The event will feature a variety of positions, including direct care behavioral specialists who assist in patient care, direct support specialists, designated coordinators, skills development specialists and more. 

Candidates will be able to speak with supervisors from DCT’s Community Based Services division about the various positions and shifts available and ask questions about career opportunities.

The Wyoming Area Public Library is located at 26855 Forest Blvd., Wyoming, Minnesota 55092. 

More about job opportunities in Direct Care and Treatment is at mn.gov/dhs/dct-careers.

In social media: Dental providers

Historic dental legislation makes serving Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare patients a win-win for patients and providers. Several changes from the 2021 legislation took effect in 2022. Learn more at mn.gov/dhs/medicaid-matters/oral-health.

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Accessible formats

For accessible formats of this publication, write to dhs.communications@state.mn.us, or call 651-431-2000 or use your preferred relay service.

Senate committee recommends commissioner's confirmation

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to recommend confirmation of Commissioner Jodi Harpstead as DHS commissioner. The next vote will be on the Senate floor.

The Commissioner’s testimony highlighted agency accomplishments and priorities. You can view video of her testimony on the Minnesota Senate Media Services YouTube channel.

In the news

New child support guidelines aim to help more low-income parents afford payments: As of Jan. 1, Minnesota’s minimum child support payment per child for noncustodial parents dropped and the calculated payments are lower if the custodial parent has a higher income, among other changes. Children and Family Services Deputy Assistant Commissioner Shaneen Moore told the Star Tribune the changes were made to make support more affordable and equitable.

Weekly workshops provide support to Ukrainian refugees as U.S. adds to resettlement programs: Each Friday in a classroom at the Ukrainian American Community Center (UACC) in Minneapolis, refugees learn about employment, health care, community resources and other critical services. The weekly Community Orientation Workshops are a collaboration between the UACC, the International Institute of Minnesota, the Minnesota Council of Churches and the Minnesota Resettlement Programs Office. Learn more in a KSTP story.

This Anishinaabe child care program puts Ojibwe language first: The mission of the Fond du Lac Tribal College's Grandma's House program is to create more first-language Ojibwe speakers and to raise children with clear Anishinaabe identities, aided by elders. This DHS Family, Friend and Neighbor Child Care grantee and Whole Family Systems grantee recently featured in the Star Tribune also is training community members who provide child care and assisting them in getting licensed.