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January 16, 2026 CERTIFIED MAIL Sheila Sartwell, Authorized Agent Connections 550 13th Avenue East West Fargo, North Dakota 58078 License Number 1073193 (245D – HCBS) ORDER TO PAY A FINE FOR BACKGROUND STUDY VIOLATIONS Dear Sheila Sartwell: The Department of Human Services (DHS) is ordering you to pay a fine of $1,400 for eight background study violations. Details of our findings are provided below. Our next steps and your options are also detailed. Reason for the Fine DHS is issuing this fine order based on your non-compliance with the following background study requirements: Background Study Violation Determined on December 2-4, 2025: 1. As a result of a licensing review a DHS licensor determined that you did not request background studies for seven staffs person before they began working in positions allowing direct contact with persons served. SP1 was hired on December 8, 2014 and began working in a position that allowed unsupervised direct contact with persons served by the program. The license holder did not initiate a background study in NETStudy 2.0 for SP1 until December 28, 2022. SP2-SP7 had background studies cleared under other licenses that the license holder owned and for which the license holder designated one sensitive information person to receive background study information for both that license and the license holder’s HCBS license. These licenses were closed and the license holder did not initiate a new background study. · The license SP2’s background study was cleared under closed on November 17, 2020 and the license holder did not initiate a new background study until December 28, 2022. · The license SP3’s background study was cleared under closed on December 17, 2020 and the license holder did not initiate a new background study until December 27, 2022. · The license SP4’s background study was cleared under closed on January 14, 2020 and the license holder did not initiate a new background study until December 27, 2022. · The license SP5’s background study was cleared under closed on January 30, 2021 and the license holder did not initiate a new background study until December 27, 2022. · The license SP6’s background study was cleared under closed on April 15, 2022 and the license holder did not initiate a new background study until December 28, 2022. · The license SP7’s background study was cleared under closed on April 15, 2022 and the license holder did not initiate a new background study until December 28, 2022. You self-corrected the background study violation regarding SP3 by submitting the study before a DHS licensor became aware of the violation, therefore you are not receiving a fine. You self-corrected the background study violations regarding SP1, SP2, and SP4-SP7 by submitting the studies before a DHS licensor became aware of the violations. Because DHS previously found you self-corrected a violation on December 27, 2022 and because at least 365 days had not passed since this self-correction, DHS is issuing a fine for these violations. Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, sections 245C.04, subdivision 1, paragraph (h); and 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (d). Fine: $1,200 Corrective Action Required: Immediately and ongoing, you must comply with the background study requirements in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C. 2. As a result of a licensing review, a DHS licensor determined that, after receiving a removal notice from DHS, you did not remove an individual who did not cooperate with the completion of a background study. SP8 was hired on February 7, 2022 and began working in a position that allowed unsupervised direct contact with persons served by the program. The license holder initiated a background study; however, SP8 was separated in NETStudy2.0 on February 22, 2022 due to the application being incomplete. SP8 continued to have unsupervised direct contact with persons served by the program. The license holder did not initiate a new background study until December 27, 2022. Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.13, subdivision 2. Fine: $200 Corrective Action Required: Immediately and ongoing, you must comply with the background study requirements in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C. Billing and Payment of the Fine DHS will send you an invoice for the $1,400 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 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 Attn: 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 Attn: 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 · DHS may impose a $200 fine for each background study violation under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (c)(4)(iv). · The exception that allows a license holder who self-corrects a background study violation to avoid a fine does not apply when the license holder was cited for the same violation within the past 365 days, under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.07, subdivision 3, paragraph (d). · 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. · NetStudy 2.0 is defined by Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.02, subdivision 13e. Questions If you have any further questions regarding this matter, you may contact Leota Bemis, Supervisor, at 651-431-5637. Sincerely,
Leota Bemis, HCBS Supervisor Licensing Division Office of Inspector General Office of Inspector General
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