External Program Review Committee (EPRC) minutes

Date: Sept. 4, 2025

DSD liaisons: Stacie Enders and Jessica Little

Type: Whole committee

Attendees: Daniel Baker, Antonina Puente, Lindsay Nash, Laura Daire, Melanie Eidsmoe, Sharon Momanyi and Karen Golombecki

Not present: Kim Frost, Jodi Greenstein, Danielle Bishop, Brenda Kinney and Susie Haben

Agenda items

Vote

Vote to approve the whole committee’s August 2025 minutes:

· Daniel Baker: yes

· Laura Daire: yes

· Melanie Eidsmoe: yes

· Lindsay Nash: yes

· Antonina Puente: yes

· Sharon Momanyi: Abstain

· Karen Golombecki: Abstain

Updates to share

Please review the agenda for details on what was shared. Additional comments are below.

Simplify and organize online DHS materials and training resources related to positive support strategies

· DHS communications staff are working with the University of Minnesota to update the outline of courses that staff should take to meet Minnesota Rule 9544 training requirements. They are focusing on improving plain language and accessibility of the webpage. The updates should be ready within the next year.

· The draft Minnesota Rule 9544 training for 245D-licensed providers is ready for the committee to review. It is a written document but will be turned into a video, along with the written transcript, to give learners multiple ways to access the information. Committee members were asked to review the draft before the committee’s October meeting and to provide feedback to DHS if any changes are needed.

Intervention Services Redesign

The draft of the new service, a combination of Positive Supports Services and Specialist Services, is ready and is being reviewed by DHS leadership before it goes out for public review. The draft will be sent to the committee to review when ready.

Direct care workforce shortage

No additional discussion. Everyone was encouraged to attend Workplace Rights Week events hosted by the Department of Labor and Industry. All previously discussed projects continue moving forward, but there were no major updates to share.

Discussion

Annual goals

The committee reviewed their 2025 goal: Create and maintain training materials as needs are discovered and as project opportunities emerge. Some training topics 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 related Minnesota regulations.

· The subcommittee continues to make progress on the PSTP examples.

· Stacie Enders will check in with the DHS communications team to see where they are at with publishing the new guidance tools on how to support people with developing additional communication skills.