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February 10, 2026
Shellee Wright, Authorized Agent Helping Hands Home Care of Minnesota, Inc. 2244 490th Street Northwood, Iowa 50459
License Number: 1109681 (245D – Home and Community-Based Services)
CORRECTION ORDER
Dear Shellee Wright:
On January 29, 2026, a licensing review of Helping Hands Home Care of Minnesota, Inc, located at 2244 490th Street, Northwood, Iowa, was conducted to determine compliance with state and federal laws and rules governing the provision of home and community-based services to persons with disabilities and age 65 and older under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 245D. As a result of this licensing review a Correction Order is being issued.
A. Reason for Correction Order
Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.06, if the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services (DHS) finds that the license holder has failed to comply with an applicable law or rule and this failure does not imminently endanger the health, safety, or rights of the persons served by the program, the Commissioner may issue a Correction Order to the license holder.
The following violation(s) of state or federal laws and rules were determined as a result of the licensing review. Corrective action for each violation is required by Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.06 and is hereby ordered by the Commissioner of Human Services.
1. Citation: Minnesota Statutes, section 245D.07, subdivision 2, paragraph (b).
Violation: For one of four persons whose records were reviewed (P4), the license holder did not complete initial service plan review requirements for a basic support service.
The license holder initiated P4’s services on March 28, 2024. The license holder reviewed and revised P4’s support plan addendum on March 18, 2025. The license holder did not review and revise P4’s preliminary support plan addendum within 60 calendar days of service initiation.
Corrective Action Ordered: On an ongoing basis, you must maintain compliance as required in this subdivision.
2. Citation: Minnesota Statutes, section 245D.10, subdivision 4.
Violation: For one person whose record was reviewed (P4), the license holder did not provide written or electronic copies of policies and procedures as required.
The license holder did not inform P4’s case manager of the following policies and procedures that affect a person’s rights and provide copies of those policies and procedures within five working days of service initiation: · grievance policy and procedure;
· service suspension and termination policy and procedure;
· emergency use of manual restraint policy and procedure; and
· data privacy.
Corrective Action Ordered: Within 30 days of receiving this order, you must provide P4’s case manager with the above-mentioned policies and procedures. You must maintain receipt of acknowledgement from P4’s case manager in P4’s service recipient record. On an ongoing basis, you must maintain compliance as required in this subdivision.
3. Citation: Minnesota Rule, part 9544.0030, subpart 1.
Violation: For one person whose record was reviewed (P4), the license holder did not evaluate positive support strategies as required.
The license holder did not, with P4, evaluate the established positive support strategies at least every six months.
Corrective Action Ordered: Within 30 days of receiving this order, you must evaluate, with P4, the established positive support strategies. You must maintain documentation of this evaluation in P4’s service recipient record. On an ongoing basis, you must maintain compliance as required in this subpart.
4. Citation: Minnesota Statutes, section 245D.09, subdivision 4.
Violation: For two of five staff persons whose records were reviewed (SP2 and SP4), the license holder did not provide orientation training as required.
The license holder did not provide SP2 and SP4 with orientation training on strategies to minimize the risk of sexual violence, including concepts of healthy relationships, consent, and bodily autonomy of people with disabilities.
Corrective Action Ordered: Within 30 days of receiving this order, you must provide SP2 and SP4’s with the above-mentioned training. You must maintain documentation of this training in SP2’s and SP4’s personnel records. On an ongoing basis, you must maintain compliance as required in this subdivision.
5. Citation: Minnesota Statutes, section 245D.09, subdivision 5.
Violation: For three staff persons whose records were reviewed (SP1, SP3, and SP4), the license holder did not provide annual training, as required.
Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.02, subdivision 2b defines “annual” or “annually” to mean prior to or within the same month of the subsequent calendar year.
a. The license holder did not provide SP1 and SP3 with annual training on strategies to minimize the risk of sexual violence, including concepts of healthy relationships, consent, and bodily autonomy of people with disabilities.
b. SP4’s date of hire was April 1, 2024. The license holder did not provide SP4 with annual training on the following topics in 2025:
· data privacy requirements according to Minnesota Statutes, sections 13.01 to 13.10 and 13.46, the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA), and staff responsibilities related to complying with data privacy practices;
· the service recipient rights and staff responsibilities related to ensuring the exercise and protection of those rights according to the requirements in Minnesota Statutes, section 245D.04;
· sections 245A.65, 245A.66, and 626.557 and chapter 260E, governing maltreatment reporting and service planning for children and vulnerable adults, and staff responsibilities related to protecting persons from maltreatment and reporting maltreatment; which includes annual review to VA Maltreatment reporting and Maltreatment to Minors reporting;
· the principles of person-centered service planning and delivery as identified in Minnesota Statutes, section 245D.07, subdivision 1a, and how they applied to direct support service provided by the staff person;
· the safe and correct use of manual restraint on an emergency basis according to the requirements in section 245D.061 and what constitutes the use of restraints, time out, and seclusion, including chemical restraint;
· staff responsibilities related to prohibited procedures under section 245D.06, subdivision 5, why such procedures are not effective for reducing or eliminating symptoms or undesired behavior, and why such procedures are not safe;
· basic first aid; and
· strategies to minimize the risk of sexual violence, including concepts of healthy relationships, consent, and bodily autonomy of people with disabilities.
SP4 was provided this training on these topics on October 22, 2025.
Corrective Action Ordered: SP3 is no longer employed by the license holder. Within 30 days of receiving this order, you must provide SP1 and SP4 with training listed in item a. You must maintain documentation of this training in SP1’s and SP4’s personnel records. On an ongoing basis, you must maintain compliance as required in this subdivision.
If you fail to correct the violations specified in the Correction Order within the prescribed time lines the Commissioner may issue an Order of Conditional License or may impose a fine and order other licensing sanctions pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 245A.06 and 245A.07.
B. Right to Request Reconsideration
If you believe any of the citations are in error, you have the right to request that the Commissioner of Human Services reconsider the parts of the Correction Order that you believe to be in error. The request for reconsideration must be in writing and received by the Commissioner within 20 calendar days after receipt of this report. Your request for reconsideration must be sent to:
Commissioner, Department of Human Services ATTN: Legal Unit Licensing Division PO Box 64953 St. Paul, MN 55164-0242
Please note that a request for reconsideration does not stay any provisions or requirements of the Correction Order. The Commissioner’s disposition of a request for reconsideration is final and not subject to appeal under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14.
If you have any questions regarding this Correction Order, please contact me as soon as possible.
Kate Spenger, HCBS Licensor Licensing Division Office of Inspector General 651-431-5757
PO Box 64242 • Saint Paul, Minnesota • 55164-0242 • An Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly Employer https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/licensing/
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