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The Minnesota Department of Human Services provides Minnesotans with a variety of services intended to help people live as independently as possible.

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Signature Initiatives

Signature Initiatives highlight the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ priority projects and key activities.

Investing in Minnesota's Future

2013 Human Services Budget Tour

Commissioner Lucinda Jesson is touring the state in support of Gov. Mark Dayton's proposed FY 2014-2015 budget for human services, which aims to build on past accomplishments, put the needs of Minnesotans first, and reinvest existing resources more effectively. Read about her experiences below. More information about human services budget proposals can be found on the DHS fact sheet webpage.

Children's investments topic of Moorhead roundtable

May 3, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson met with local and statewide leaders this morning in Moorhead to discuss proposals in Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget that give every child in Minnesota an opportunity to succeed. Read more in a news release about the visit.		 Melissa Keranen (left), a participant in the Parent Support Outreach Program, and Alexandra Fitzsimmons (right), legislative affairs and advocacy director for Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota, speak Friday, May 3, in Moorhead during a roundtable discussion on children’s proposals in Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget.
Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson hosted a roundtable discussion on children’s budget proposals Friday, April 26, in Bemidji. Pictured left to right: Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson; Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius; Susan Hoeft, principal in the Greenway School District and Governor’s Early Learning Council member; Dan Wenner, executive director of Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program; and retired Rev. Bill Beyer, president of the Bemidji Community Food Shelf and Joint Religious Legislative Coalition member.

Commissioners focus on children in Bemidji

April 26, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson and Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius were joined by local and statewide leaders in Bemidji to discuss proposals in Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget that give every child in Minnesota an opportunity to succeed. Read more in a news release about the visit.

Future of MinnesotaCare discussed in Duluth

April 5, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson visited Duluth to discuss Gov. Dayton's proposal to continue and improve MinnesotaCare, which provides working Minnesotans access to affordable, meaningful health care. Read more in a news release about the visit.

 Left to right, Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson listens as Elizabeth Olson, outreach and organizing director for CHUM, and Stacey Meese, a MinnesotaCare recipient, talk about the importance of MinnesotaCare in Duluth during a roundtable discussion Friday, April 5, at Essentia Health.
Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson hosted a roundtable discussion on the future of MinnesotaCare Monday morning, March 25, at Winona Hospital. She was joined by panelists (seated left to right) Duane Benson, retired state senator a one of the original Gang of 7 that created MinnesotaCare; Dr. Daniel Parker, chief of medical staff at Winona Health; Margaret Walsh, Land Stewardship Project member and former MinnesotaCare enrollee; Jesson; Megan Buckingham, policy program organizer for the Land Stewardship Project and Mary Kramer, certified nurse practitioner at Winona Health. Not pictured: Deacon Justin Green, president of the United Way of Greater Winona Area Board of Directors.

Commissioner Jesson shares vision for future of MinnesotaCare in Winona

March 25, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson visited Winona, one of many communities in the state that will benefit from Gov. Mark Dayton's proposal to expand MinnesotaCare coverage. Read more in a news release about the visit.

Talking health care in Rochester

March 19, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson and Minnesota Hospital Association President and CEO Lawrence Massa met with members of the Rochester Medical Community to discuss strategies to improve health care infrastructure in central Minnesota. Read more in a news release about the event.

 Stock photo of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Photo credit: Mayo Clinic.
Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson announces Northstar Care for Children Tuesday, March 12, at the Capitol. She was joined by (left to right) Joe Kroll, executive director of the North American Council on Adoptable Children, as well as adoptive parents Erin Davies of Richfield, Brenda Reedy of Farmington and Maykao Fredericks of Eden Prairie (not pictured).

Northstar Care for Children announced at the Capitol

March 12, 2013

Hundreds of children under state guardianship are waiting for foster care families. Commissioner Lucinda Jesson announced Northstar Care for Children, a plan to help these children, who have spent far too much time in foster care, become part of permanent families. Read more in a news release about the proposal.

Gov. Dayton's Reform 2020 budget package discussed in St. Paul

March 8, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson met with employees and employers in downtown St. Paul to highlight portions of Gov. Mark Dayton's Reform 2020 budget package that support employment for Minnesotans wtih disabilities, especially young Minnesotans. Read more in a news release and story about the event.

 Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson meets Securian Financial Group employee Tammy Trapp on a tour of the business Friday, March 8, to see how Securian supports employees with disabilities through a partnership with Lifeworks Services. A proposal in Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget will support individuals age 18-26 with disabilities maintain employment, and save taxpayers money.
Marlys Jorgenson (left) welcomes Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson (right) to her home in Mankato Thursday, March 7. Jesson was in Mankato to hear about home and community-based services, such as a modification of the Jorgenson’s home provided by non-profit VINE Faith in Action, that help older Minnesotans and people with disabilities remain independent. They were joined by VINE Faith in Action Executive Director Pam Determan (back right).

Commissioner Jesson highlights Reform 2020 in Mankato

March 7, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson met with family caregivers and older adults in Mankato to highlight portions of Gov. Mark Dayton's Reform 2020 budget package that ensure the sustainability of long-term services and supports for Minnesota's growing aging population. Read more in a news release about the visit.

School-linked mental health programs making a difference in Shakopee

March 1, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson is hearing first-hand how school-linked mental health services transform students’ lives. While touring the state in support of Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget proposal to increase funding for the program, she met with school staff, counselors and young Minnesotans who use the services. Read more in a story about the event.

 Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson looks at student drawings presented by Liz Lemke, a school social worker for the Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative, during a roundtable discussion on school-linked mental health services Friday, March 1, in Shakopee.
Participants in a roundtable on Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposal to launch additional mobile mental health crisis response services provide feedback to Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson Friday, March 1, in Chaska. Pictured left to right: Carver/Scott Mental Health Crisis Program therapists Marsha Molinari and Pat Clark, school-linked mental health therapist Laura Bergjord and Janette Frisinger, a parent of teen who’s used the crisis line.

Crisis response services topic at Chaska roundtable

March 1, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson met with Carver/Scott Mental Health Crisis Program staff, clients and community partners to discuss the state's effort to increase funding for crucial crisis response services across Minnesota. Read more in a blog post about the visit.

Future of Minnesota's health care system discussed in St. Cloud

Feb. 26, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson and Minnesota Hospital Association President and CEO Lawrence Massa convened a panel in St. Cloud to discuss strategies to improve health care infrastructure in central Minnesota. Read more in a news release about the event.

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Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson (right to left) is joined by Cathleen Isaacson, her daughter Ava Paoletti, 9, and Lincoln Elementary School special education teacher Laurie Malkovich during a roundtable discussion on Gov. Mark Dayton’s budget proposal to expand funding for school-linked mental health services Friday, Feb. 15, in Hibbing.

School-linked mental health services helping Iron Range students

Feb. 15, 2013

Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson visited a school-linked mental health program on the Iron Range. A proposal in Gov. Mark Dayton's budget would double grants that bring mental health prevention and early intervention into schools across the state. Read more in a story about the visit.

Lt. Gov. Prettner Solon, Commissioner Jesson meet with health care leaders in Duluth

Feb. 15, 2013

Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon and Human Services Commissioner Jesson met with members of the Duluth medical community to discuss strategies to improve health care infrastructure in northeastern Minnesota. Read more in a news release about the event.

 Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson (right to left) was joined for a panel discussion on “Investing in Minnesota’s Health Care Future” Friday, Feb. 15, in Duluth by Dr. Ray Christensen, associate dean for rural health at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Duluth; Jayme Collins, chief executive officer of Range Mental Health Center; and Dr. Gary Peterson, medical director of St. Luke’s Hospital.