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External Program Review Committee (EPRC) minutes

Date: Sept. 7, 2023
DSD liaisons: Stacie Enders and Ari Dionisopoulos
Type: Whole committee
Attendees: Jodi Greenstein, Kim Frost, Melanie Eidsmoe, Victoria Anderson, Lindsay Nash, Antonina (Toni) Puente, Dan Baker and Laura Daire
Not present: Susie Haben, Stacy Danov and Danielle Bishop

Agenda items

Public comments

There were no public comments at this meeting.

Vote

Vote to approve the whole committee meeting minutes from August 2023:

· Jodi Greenstein: yes

· Kim Frost: yes

· Melanie Eidsmoe: yes

· Victoria Anderson: yes

· Lindsay Nash: yes

· Toni Puente: yes

· Dan Baker: yes

· Laura Daire: yes

Updates to share

Behavior Intervention Reporting Form (BIRF) data

The reduction in EUMR is impressive, even if everyone isn’t reporting. The percentage of providers not following policy is likely consistent from year to year. Mechanical restraint has also gone down. It shows human service professionals in Minnesota are doing some incredible stuff. It also demonstrates that use of positive supports can work. While there have been some deaths and moves out of state that have contributed to reductions, the committee has heard a lot more success stories from providers who are using positive supports rather than negative outcomes.

Direct care workforce shortage

· New American Legal, Social Services and Long-Term Care Workforce Grant Program: This program is new but, as we learn more, Stacie will share with the committee.

· A news announcement will be coming out on Tuesday with an update about the retention bonuses and training stipends. There will also be social media announcements to encourage people to sign up for the PCA trainings so they can receive an enhanced rate of pay when serving someone eligible for 10 or more hours of PCA a day.

Discussion

Review of annual recommendations:

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

· The survey for providers on what types of resources would be most helpful to them was just completed. DHS will send that survey within a month. Another survey is being built for families and people who train their own caregivers. Depending on the results, DHS might prioritize other topics over developing the communication training tools, but that topic will still be a high priority.

· The committee had success with the quality-of-life tools, and we hope to have similar success with the communication goals.

· The Jensen tips sheets will be updated in the next year and will coordinate with this project.

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

· An outline for the new manual is complete and DHS staff are working on making the pages for it.

· DHS is intentionally coordinating across teams to make resources that are useful to all provider types.

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

· The request for proposals (RFP) has been drafted for this and is currently being reviewed by the contracts team and attorneys.

· The team overseeing this work is focusing on how to best coordinate with tribal nations on this project to ensure any outcomes of the work meet their needs.

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