Minnesota

November 15, 2023                  CERTIFIED MAIL

Aretta-Rie Johnson, Authorized Agent

DIVINE Institute

838 Stellar Place

St. Paul, MN 55117

License Number 1081329 (CRF)

ORDER TO PAY A FINE

Dear Aretta-Rie Johnson:

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is ordering you to pay a fine of $100 for one licensing violation at your children’s residential facility located at 806 Edmund Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104. Details of our findings are provided below. Our next steps and your options are also detailed.

REASON FOR FINE

The license holder failed to comply with the Settlement Agreement effective on July 12, 2022, term #3, paragraph d. The license holder failed to submit the quarterly results of the monthly self-monitoring reviews for July, August, and September 2023 due no later than October 15, 2023.

Fine: $100

Corrective Action Required: Immediately and on an ongoing basis through the duration of the settlement agreement, the license holder must ensure compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement. Within 10 days of receipt of this order, submit documentation of the results of the monthly self-monitoring for July, August, and September 2023 as detailed in the terms of the settlement agreement.

Statute Violated: Minnesota Statute, section 245A.06, subdivision 3.

Repeat Violation: The license holder was cited for a similar violation in correction orders dated:

· March 2, 2023;

· May 3, 2023; and

· August 28, 2023

Billing and Payment of the Fine

DHS will send you an invoice for the $100 fine. Payment must be made as directed on the invoice.

If you request a contested case hearing, as described below, do not pay the fine at this time. Following the contested case hearing, the Commissioner of DHS will issue a final order on this matter.

Please note, you may not avoid payment of this fine by closing, selling, or otherwise transferring the license to a third party. If this occurs, each controlling individual is personally and jointly responsible for payment. If you do not pay the fine on or before the date specified on the invoice and you did not request a contested case hearing, as described below, the Commissioner may issue a second fine, may not issue or reissue a license, or may suspend the license until the license holder pays the fine.

YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL

You have the right to appeal the fine. Your request must be in writing and clearly state that you are requesting a contested case hearing for this matter. Your request must be made before the deadlines provided below. If you do not meet this deadline, you lose your right to an administrative appeal. The timeline to appeal began when you received this order.

If you are mailing your request, it must be sent by certified mail and postmarked within 10 calendar days from when you receive this order. Please send it to:

Commissioner, Department of Human Services

Office of Inspector General

Legal Counsel’s Office

Attention: Licensing Legal Unit

PO Box 64953

St. Paul, MN 55164-0953

If your request is being personally delivered, it must be received by DHS within 10 calendar days from when you receive this order. Please bring it to:

Commissioner, Department of Human Services

Office of Inspector General

Legal Counsel’s Office

Attention: Licensing Legal Unit

444 Lafayette Road North

St. Paul, MN 55155

Upon DHS’ receipt of your timely appeal, your case would be scheduled for a contested case hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. Following this hearing, the Commissioner of DHS will issue a final order.

Legal representation at the contested case hearing

You do not need a lawyer to appeal. However, a lawyer can help you with your appeal. The state or county will not get you a lawyer and will not pay for a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may be able to get free legal advice or help with your appeal. To find out if free help is available, contact: Volunteer Lawyers Network at 612-752-6677; Central Minnesota Legal Services at 612-332-8151; Southern Minnesota Legal Services at 651-222-4731; or go to www.lawhelpmn.org to find a local legal services program that may be able to help you.

You can also find information on contested cases from the Office of Administrative Hearings website at https://mn.gov/oah/self-help. Click on Administrative Law Overview, then click on Administrative Law Contested Case Hearing Guide for a list of frequently asked questions.

Legal authority for this licensing action

· This action is taken under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), which describes under which conditions DHS may impose a fine against a license.

· DHS may impose a $100 fine for each occurrence of a licensing violation that is not related to health, safety, supervision, or maltreatment under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (c)(4)(v).

· Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (c)(5) states that license holders may not avoid payment of a fine by closing, selling, or transferring a license.

· Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.04, subdivision 7, paragraph (d)(4), states that DHS shall not issue or reissue a license if the applicant, license holder, or controlling individual has an outstanding debt related to a license fee, licensing fine, or settlement agreement for which payment is delinquent.

· Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (c)(2), states that that the license holder shall pay the fine assessed on or before the payment date specified, and if the license holder does not do so the commissioner may issue a second fine or suspend the license until the license holder complies.

· License holders have a right to appeal licensing actions and request a contested case hearing, under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14 and Minnesota Rules, parts 1400.8505 to 1400.8612.

Questions

If you have any further questions regarding this matter, you may contact Paula Halverson, Manager, at 651-431-5653.

Sincerely,

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Paula Halverson, Unit Manager

Licensing Division

Office of Inspector General


PO Box 64242 • Saint Paul, Minnesota • 55164-0242 • An Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly Employer

https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/licensing/