AASD and DSD eList announcement

Date: Jan. 16 and 23, 2024
To: Lead agencies and other interested parties
From: DHS Aging and Adult Services and Disability Services divisions
Purpose: To invite lead agency staff members to enter a candidate pool to participate in two focus groups about policy/process updates needed if the Legislature extends the time an initial MnCHOICES assessment remains valid
Candidate pool deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024
Contact: dhs.mnhelp@state.mn.us

Volunteers from lead agencies needed to participate in focus groups about proposed MnCHOICES assessment changes

DHS and Public Consulting Group (PCG) invite lead agency staff members to enter a candidate pool from which DHS will select 60 people to participate in two virtual focus groups about proposed changes to extend the time an initial MnCHOICES assessment remains valid. Lead agency staff members chosen to participate will discuss policy/process changes needed if the Legislature changes how long an assessment is valid after it is completed, from 60 days to 365 days.

DHS will select participants based on their agency’s size/location and their job responsibilities. Each group will include a mix of line staff members and supervisors who are part of the assessment process.

Details

Information about the MnCHOICES assessment viability focus groups:

Dates:

· Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, 10 a.m. to noon.

· Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, 1 to 3 p.m.

Focus groups: 30 participants per session.

Volunteer: Enter the candidate pool by close of business Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, by completing the MN DHS assessment viability focus group survey

Meeting information: DHS will email a Microsoft Teams link to selected lead agency staff members.

Goals

During the focus group sessions, DHS wants to:

· Get feedback from lead agency staff members on increasing initial assessment viability from 60 days to 365 days.

· Identify important parts of process maps that need updates if the Legislature extends initial assessment viability.

· Discuss solutions to potential issues if the viability timeline is extended.

Background

DHS partnered with PCG to do long-term services and supports (LTSS) business process reviews. PCG did site visits with 16 lead agencies and created summary reports for each agency. Also, PCG created a summary and recommendations report for DHS that included recommending a legislative change to increase the initial MnCHOICES assessment viability timeframe from 60 days to 365 days. PCG said this could reduce the need for eligibility updates and repeat assessments.

Previous eList announcements

AASD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD STAKEHOLDER ARCHIVE