External Program Review Committee (EPRC) agenda

Date: 2-4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2026
DSD liaisons: Jessica Little and Ari Dionisopoulos
Type: Whole committee
Location: Room 2222, Elmer L. Andersen Building, 540 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101
Meeting link: https://minnesota.webex.com/minnesota/j.php?MTID=m5b8757a8f150dd9a584d2d9da31ea72f
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 December 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).

Discussing AAC Do’s and Don’ts

During a presentation about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) we were educated on how to be mindful about our language choices. When discussing communication differences avoid use the following phrases: non-verbal, non-communicative, severe, deficit, impairment or natural language. Instead, according to Communication First, use phrases such as: AAC users, people with communication access needs, people who cannot use speech as their primary means of expression, or spoken language.

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

No current updates.

Intervention services redesign

The project continues to move forward.

Direct care workforce shortage survey

Please share this survey with your networks: Minnesota direct care staffing shortage impact annual survey. It will be open through the month of January.

Breaks law

New meal and rest break requirements will be taking effect. Direct care employees (all types of services) must be allowed to receive a paid 15-minute break every four consecutive hours worked and an unpaid 30-minute meal break when working six or more consecutive hours. Learn more at dli.mn.gov/breaks.

Minimum wage

Minnesota's minimum wage will increase to $11.41 an hour. The training wage for workers under 20 during their first 90 days will be $9.31 an hour.

Authority for DLI to better enforce violations of employment laws

Minn. Stat. 177.27, subd. 5 now gives the DLI commissioner authority to apply for an order enjoining and restraining violations of employment laws under DLI’s jurisdiction. Previously, DLI only had this authority for violations of the Child Labor Act. Some violations, including certain violations of the Women’s Economic Security Act, retaliation and more, are so time-sensitive that irreparable damage may be done to the employee by the time a compliance order is issued and resolved with an employer. This authority provides a pathway to swiftly restrain and enjoin violations of that nature.

Ensuring direct care professionals have access to Workers Compensation

Clarification was made concerning who qualifies as an employee for purposes of workers’ compensation related to certain direct care programs under the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

New retirement program for some care professionals

Minnesota Secure Choice Retirement Program

News

· Recently at the federal level, a bipartisan group of congressional members — Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Joe Morelle (D-NY), along with Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act (H.R. 6137 / S. 3211). This legislation urges the Office of Management and Budget to establish a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) specifically for Direct Support Professionals.

· A survey administered by DEED to people seeking employment found that 59% of respondents “said it was somewhat harder or much harder to find employment compared to a year ago.” This change might make it easier for some caregiving employers to find workers right now. Insights from the frontlines: A New Tool Reveals a Shifting Labor Market / DEED.

· DEED has seen an increase in the number of people attending job fairs. More job seekers are attending job fairs in many parts of Minnesota | CareerForce.

Subcommittee updates

Requests for approval subcommittee

This subcommittee has been conducting business as usual.

Emergency use of manual restraint subcommittee

This subcommittee has been conducting business as usual.

Discussion

Annual goal

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

Gaps in training material discussion

Closing

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