External Program Review Committee (EPRC) agenda

Date: 2-4 p.m. on Aug. 7, 2025

DSD liaisons: Stacie Enders, Jessica Little and Ari Dionisopoulos

Type: Whole committee

Location: Room 2222, Elmer L. Andersen Building, 540 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101

Meeting link: Webex

Access code: 2482 703 7275

Accommodations: If you need an accommodation for this meeting, you must notify a DSD liaison three days before the meeting. Email PositiveSupports@state.mn.us or call (651) 431-4300.

Common acronyms used by the committee

We ask committee members to avoid the use of acronyms. Here are common acronyms:

· BIRF: DHS form 5148: Behavioral Intervention Report Form

· CABC: Context, antecedent, behavior, consequence

· CFSS: Community First Services and Supports

· DEED: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

· DHS: Minnesota Department of Human Services

· DLI: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

· DSD: Disability Services Division

· DSP: Direct support professional

· EUMR: Emergency use of manual restraint

· FBA: Functional behavior assessment

· HCBS: Home and community-based services

· IRP: Interim Review Panel (Predecessor to the EPRC)

· MDH: Minnesota Department of Health

· PCA: Personal care assistant

· PSR: Positive Supports Rule: Minnesota Rule 9544

· PSTP: DHS form 6810: Positive Support Transition Plan

General reminders for committee members

Before speaking, please state your name. Committee members are expected to:

· Be on time.

· Read the minutes, agenda and supporting documents before each meeting.

· Participate in ideas and conversations, as well as pause to allow others to share input.

· Commit to spending the whole meeting time present and not engage in other activities during the meeting.

Technology

The first few minutes of every meeting will be dedicated to addressing any connectivity issues, to ensure everyone can hear other meeting participants.

Agenda items

Public comments

The committee encourages public participants to share their thoughts and ask questions about committee activities at the beginning of each meeting. The committee will continue on to the next agenda item when either 1) 30 minutes have passed or 2) when there are no additional comments or questions, whichever comes first.

Vote

The committee will discuss and vote on the minutes from June 2025.

Updates to share

Regional positive support capacity building meetings: Committee members are invited to give any updates they may have on this topic. More information can be found at: Regional Capacity Building – Positive Supports (qualitycouncilmn.org).

Simplify and organize online DHS materials and training resources related to positive support services: Stacie and Jessica met with the a member of the Training, Technical Support and Communications (TTC) team to discuss available Positive Supports trainings through the College of Direct Supports. They will be working on improving the clarity and usability of the resource for providers.

Intervention Services Redesign: Group is currently finalizing the draft outline of the potential service and reviewing the public survey to get feedback on the service draft.

Direct care workforce shortage:

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) updates:

· Regional updates on activities related to health care and social assistance jobs:

Local Look Blogs - Health Care Demand and LMI Training Sessions

Local Look Blogs – Updated Resources for Minnesota Job Seekers and Employers

· NOTE: DEED’s CareerForce has changed its web address to one that is now more recognizable as a government-run site: ​Jobs in Minnesota | CareerResources | CareerForce.MN.gov

· NOTE: DEED created a list of all their data tools in one convenient location: Data Tools / Minnesota DEED.

· Termination of federal grants to expand broadband access to low-income Minnesotans: On May 9, 2025, DEED received notification from the federal government that it was immediately terminating the state’s $12 million grant from the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program. This funding was intended to reduce gaps in broadband access and expand digital skills and technology availability. All states received the same notification of cancellation and are awaiting further guidance from the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding next steps. This change might make it difficult for some people with low income, such as some people with disabilities and older adults, to use assistive technology or remote supports.

· Staff training: DHS is working with partners to improve training for aging services: AASD eList: Help shape the future of training for aging services professionals.

· Results of 2025 quality of life survey indicate continued problems with staffing: Customer Research | MN Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities .

· CareerForce is highlighting Caring Careers this summer: Health care support employers are hiring more quickly than any other occupational group. This is borne out in the latest Job Vacancy Survey results, which show more than 30,000 job openings in health care and social assistance – by far the most vacancies of any industry in Minnesota in 2024. All summer long, CareerForce is focused on connecting people looking for work with in-demand positions in health care and social assistance. Find out more about CareerForce efforts to encourage people to “Follow Your Heart to a Caring Career.”

· Workplace rights week is Sept. 21-27, 2025: The Department of Labor and Industry is preparing for the second annual Workplace Rights Week to help Minnesota workers and employers better understand their workplace rights and responsibilities. During Workplace Rights Week in 2024, DLI visited 1,243 businesses in 29 cities, hosted webinars and joined Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan at a worksite event. DLI is aiming to reach even more workers and employers this year.

2025 legislative session

· Regarding the tentative agreement with SEIU – everything passed. For a detailed summary, review the minutes’ attachment (PDF). This includes:

Changes to the wage floors. An additional amount will be given to workers.

Workers providing Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS), Consumer Support Grant (CSG), budget model of Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) or Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Choice will now get time and a half on Christmas.

There will be additional stipend opportunities workers can apply for.

Retention stipends were increased from one-time to once per fiscal year.

There were changes to wage floors based on attending a voluntary orientation. The changes are not available yet but will be announced at a later date.

The wage associated with the enhanced rate was increased.

· There was a decrease of 500K in 2026/27 and 500K in 2028/29 for the HCBS Scholarship and Loan Forgiveness Program authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 144.1503.

· Minimum requirements for compensating staff under disability framework services have been delayed to 2029: DSD eList: DWRS compensation thresholds tracking delay.

DLI updates

· Break and rest period updates: Starting Jan. 1, 2026, employers must allow employees to take a paid rest or restroom break that is at least 15 minutes for every four consecutive hours worked and an unpaid meal break that is at least 30 minutes when working six or more consecutive hours.

Subcommittee updates

Requests for approval subcommittee

Revisiting decision to look at one-year maximum approval on the request committee and continue considering other options.

Emergency use of manual restraint subcommittee

When the provider takes the time to get to know the person, the data typically reflects a reduction in interventions needed.

Discussion

Potential legislative proposals

We are working to provide some clarifying information about seclusion (this will not be a legislative proposal but potentially a new webpage resource).

We are also working on a policy proposal to help reduce police involvement and the occurrence of homelessness during situations of substantial property damage.

Annual goals

The committee will review their 2025 goal: Create and maintain training materials as needs are discovered and as project opportunities emerge. Some projects may include: PSTP examples, reinforcement (token) programs, implementing 9544 for 245D providers, trainings for specific behaviors or disorders (PICA, fecal smearing, self-harm ingestion) and relating that to state regulations.

· This goal is meant to reflect the committee’s commitment to providers by giving them resources that align with the goal of reducing the use of prohibited procedures and increasing the use of positive supports. Spending time working with providers gives them a great perspective on topics that need further explanation.

Closing

Committee members are welcome to ask questions or bring up other topics for discussion.