External Program Review Committee (EPRC) agenda

Date: 2-4 p.m. on April 2, 2026
DSD liaisons: Jessica Little, Stacie Enders 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 March 2026.

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

No current updates.

Intervention services redesign

The project continues to move forward.

Direct care workforce shortage

Bills related to workforce shortage:

· HF4110

· HF3935

· SF3898

· HF3780

· SF3967

· SF4596

AASD and DSD eList: Share feedback about LTSS: The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Advisory Council is charged with finding “cost savings reforms,” which might affect the workforce. 

DHS system updated to pay new tiered rates to accommodate worker retention component

System updated to pay new tiered PCA and CFSS agency rates effective Jan. 1, 2026

Article: Two Harbors hospital launches CNA training program amid rural healthcare crisis

Two Harbors hospital launches CNA training program amid rural healthcare crisis

Northeast Minnesota sees number of jobs decline over 2025, but an increase in health care and social assistance jobs

Health care and social assistance jobs grew more than other industries, mirroring national trends with an aging population. The Latest and Greatest in Northeast Minnesota’s Employment and Wage Trends.

RFP for a grantee to administer training registrations and stipend distribution for direct support workers

RFP for a grantee to administer training registrations and stipend distribution for DSWs

Received approval to create a new eList for direct care professionals. Aiming to have that ready by this summer.

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.

New goal discussion:

Workforce specific projects the EPRC members could assist with:

· Protecting caregiving professionals from aggressive behaviors.

Advice on pieces of the training.

· Identifying gaps in safety regulation legislation, protections.

· Improve on-the-job psychological safety.

Share info on DHS webpages about worker's rights.

Coping with trauma on the job.

· Reduce time spent on paperwork (related to PSR).

Closing

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