AspireMN

An association of resources and advocacy for children, youth and families

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FIRST FRIDAY – updates and ideas to share

February 2, 2018

Federal Updates

  • Congress has not yet passed a budget for federal fiscal year 2018. Instead, the federal government continues to operate on past budget agreements by passing short-term continuing resolutions. The current agreement sustains government operations to the deadline of February 8. Due to the lack of active negotiation on the budget, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the debt ceiling, speculation is that Congress will likely agree to another continuing resolution and seek to negotiate all of the unresolved items together. Though no one can say definitively what will happen in these days, all parties seem interested in avoiding another shutdown of the federal government.
  • CMS gave new guidance to the states this past month inviting the inclusion of work requirements to state rules for Medicaid eligibility. Minnesota does not have interest in work requirements at this time, and, this move by CMS is another indication of the administration’s interest in curtailing access to benefits through means outside of the legislative process. Advocates are closely observing activity at all of the federal agencies and our shared focus on maintaining access to vital services for children, youth and families remains the focus.

Minnesota Updates

  • State Legislative Session begins Feb 20 and is scheduled to conclude by May 21. AspireMN legislative priorities (draft) are being discussed with stakeholders and partners. Though legislative leaders and the administration all caution that this legislative session is not likely to include significant results, we know there are always opportunities for legislative and advocacy advances. Your voice advocating for priorities held by AspireMN and the wider community will be important for the 2018 session and into the future.
  • Case Management Redesign – communications between Minnesota DHS and CMS on have resulted in a newly announced timeline that will have a proposed redesign before the 2020 legislature with projected implementation of the redesign slated for state fiscal year 2021.
  • Mental Health Rate Study – AspireMN members had an opportunity to review draft recommendations on the rate study, reflecting the work conducted by Mercer to date on this vital project. The meeting revealed that additional work remains to be done on the study and publication will again be delayed to a time yet to be announced. Though we share disappointment with all stakeholders to this study that it is not yet finalized, we continue to be hopeful that when published the analysis will further strengthen shared understandings and outline appropriate approaches to assure sufficient rates to create a sustainable continuum of mental health services for Minnesota.
  • The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is seeking public comments through a Request for Information (RFI) to help inform selection and prioritization of health research topics that use the Minnesota All Payer Claims Database (MN APCD). MDH seeks responses from those interested in improving health policy issues that relate to access, service utilization, and population health among other points of interest. This is another opportunity to direct research and policy attention to the need for true parity for mental health services in MN. Please consider responding to the RFI by learning more on the RFI webpage and responding to the RFI via the MDH RFI survey. NOTE – the deadline to submit comments is Feb 9.

Quality Parenting Initiative MN – Fifty three Minnesota leaders attended the QPI National Conference in New Orleans, with young people, birth parents and foster parents leading the delegation. We were very pleased to have county and DHS staff join in representing MN interest at the conference, Leaders returned newly motivated to support QPI MN to new success.

NEW VIDEO on the QPI MN websitereflects a variety of MN voices sharing their enthusiastic support for the QPI concept. Take a moment to spread the word about QPI with a new colleague – and, stay tuned, more tools to communicate and invite new QPI MN participation will be forthcoming.

Don’t Miss this! Your Association News & Meetings

  • AspireMN is hiring an Assistant Director. The job posting closes soon – please share with great candidates in your network.
  • Organization Advocate and Lobbyist meeting – AspireMN is organizing a discussion with all member lobbyists or staff policy advocates to gain better understandings on our shared agendas and opportunities to mutually support our joint policy work. If you are interested in attending or sending one of your lobbyists please let Kirsten know who you would like included in this discussion.

Save the Dates – 2018 Member Meetings and Conferences

  • Member meeting: Legislative Focus – March 8-9, Radisson in St Paul
  • Member meeting: Best Practice Focus – June 14-15, PierB in Duluth
  • Member meeting: Leadership Retreat – September 13-14, Madden’s Resort in Brainerd
  • Youth Worker Conference October 8-9, Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd
  • Annual Membership Meeting – November 8-9, Radisson in St Paul

AspireMN is moving! Beginning April 1, the new association address will be 1919 University Ave, Suite 450, St Paul, MN 55104. The office will be adjacent to new NAMI Minnesota space. We are incredibly grateful to NAMI-MN for including AspireMN in all of the moving plans, and, grateful to be able to share in hosting meetings in new beautiful office space as well. AspireMN will need to furnish the new office space – if you have items that could be contributed to the new office space please contact Kirsten at .

RPFs– MN Department of Human Services has issued many RFPs in the past weeks. Two to highlight in this First Friday include:

  • Comprehensive Analysis of Minnesota’s Continuum of Mental Health Services for Children With Severe Emotional Disturbance – DHS will soon announce the new deadline for response is March 26
  • New Service Development to serve Minor Homeless Youth with child welfare supports – this is a significant opportunity to serve youth who have historically not been well served by our public child welfare response. Please think creatively in your response as this presents opportunity to create systemic change to benefit unaccompanied minors. A responders conference is scheduled for Feb 8.

Aspirational Thinking – a point of view by Alisa Matheson with EVOLVE Adoption & Family Services

Everyone who works with youth know they have A LOT to say. However, how it’s said can vary. Depending on the day and the youth, it can come out in a grumble, half-articulated, angry, depressed, eloquently or with confidence. But no matter what, they have a lot to say. For youth in foster care, there may have been previous consequences when they spoke up about issues within foster care. They may have been labeled difficult or resistant, asked to change homes, reassigned workers or put into therapy. Often, adults want youth to comply and gloss over the issues within the system. Because of this, we as professionals have to be very intentional & teachable if we want youth to share their thoughts.

This intentionality and openness to learn was seen in the many ways at the QPI National Conference, in New Orleans. During the conference it was highlighted that professionals, foster & birth parents must truly listen to youth’s voicesso that we don’t change the foster care system without the voice of the very ones it was created to protect. As the saying goes, “Nothingabout us without us.”Through panel discussions, video interviews and the asking of hard questions, we heard some truths that moving forward will be key to implement, namely ongoing connection with birth parents, siblings, extended family & community, being aware of our language around describing youth and making sure their voice is heard.

Here’s to a clip from a previous youth panel:

First Fridays will be shared monthly with members. Contributions are welcome. Please send your ideas for content to .

AspireMN improves the lives of children, youth and families served by member organizations through support for quality service delivery, leadership development and policy advocacy.