External Program Review Committee (EPRC) minutes

Date: June 1, 2023

DSD liaisons: Stacie Enders, Antonina Puente, Ari Dionisopoulos, Nicole Berning, Jill Tilbury, Eileen Kelly

Type: Whole committee

Attendees: Kim Frost, Dan Baker, Lindsay Nash, Jodi Greenstein and Melanie Eidsmoe

Not present: Stacy Danov, Danielle Bishop, Susie Haben and Laura Daire

Agenda items

Public comments

There were no public comments at this meeting.

Guest speakers

· Nicole Berning shared an overview of the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) Benefit and what they are currently working on. When the committee continues updating the positive support materials later this year, they will include materials Nicole’s team has prepared.

· Eileen Kelly and Jill Tilbury presented on efforts to support people with traumatic brain injuries.

· HELPS tool – Jodi will train the committee on this tool at the next meeting.

· They shared the following resources:

o https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3aX-SwPBm1jaGX49ZFzk1IfOI7vLGu0C

o https://www.nashia.org/about

o https://braininjurymn.org/

· They have been working on measuring outcomes of their work, such as:

o People’s access to services in general or access to more services.

o People’s ability to return to previous community activities they enjoyed before their injury.

o Other quality-of-life considerations.

· They are working on a new data system but it is not fully developed yet.

· They are looking at data from MMIS: While brain injury is one option on the tool, it might not always be listed since only a few options are allowed and people might have many diagnoses.

Vote

Vote to approve the committee meeting minutes from May:

· Dan Baker: yes

· Kim Frost: yes

· Jodi Greenstein: yes

· Lindsay Nash: yes

· Melanie Eidsmoe: yes

Updates to share

New committee members

DHS has received several applications to fill vacant EPRC positions, as well as the positions for some of the current members whose terms have expired. The commissioner will be making a decision on those positions soon. All of the current committee members up for renewal were recommended to the commissioner for reappointment because they have shown commitment to the committee’s goals and objectives by:

· Communicating with teams assigned to them each month or quarterly to check in with them or to give feedback on documentation submitted.

· Meeting with teams in person or through web conferencing as needed.

· Regularly attending and fully participating in committee meetings and connecting with the committee coordinator to follow up on what they missed when they cannot make a meeting.

· Routinely and fully reviewing documentation assigned to them and providing input on the materials.

· Documenting their work as required, on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Committee member contracts

The contracts have been modified this year to allow compensation for committee members who help with DHS projects related to the committee’s annual goals, such as helping to develop positive support training resources.

Changes to the Positive Support Transition Plan (PSTP)

The PSTP has now been updated with the 988 call number.

Direct care workforce shortage

See the meeting agenda for more details. There was also an update on the acute care study and it was noted that when DHS gets feedback from hospitals for that study, DHS can also get their input on the intervention services study.

Discussion

Review of annual recommendations

2023 Goal 1: Provide resources and guidance for improving communication skills

Recently DHS staff participated in a lead agency regional meeting to discuss the workforce shortage. It was highlighted how people who struggle to communicate, and who rely on their workers to know them well and to understand their behaviors and gestures, are more negatively impacted by frequent staff turnover and working with people who do not know them well. Lead agencies were encouraged to set up additional supports to help people learn additional communication skills.

2023 Goal 2: Simplify and organize online DHS materials and training resources related to positive supports or intervention services

The psych med manual is moving along again with the communications team and likely will be published this year.

2023 Goal 3: Explore ways to improve access to positive support services

DHS will be implementing the new intervention services study authorized by the Minnesota legislature.

2023 Goal 4: Support efforts to improve the direct care workforce shortage

DHS staff have spent the past six months reviewing ideas from stakeholders to address the workforce shortage. 13 priorities were sent to DHS leadership. Staff looked at criteria like, but not limited to:

· Is the idea a long-term strategy?

· Does the concept treat providers equitably/avoid favoritism towards any one type of provider?

· Will it help people live their best lives?

· Will it make a large impact on the shortage – should it be prioritized?

· Does it require legislative action to implement?

· Etc.