Human Services Policy

EIGHTEENTH MEETING

2023-2024 Regular Session - Monday, October 16, 2023

STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD SESSION

HUMAN SERVICES POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES

Representative Peter Fischer, Chair of the Human Services Policy Committee, and pursuant to House rule 10.05, called the informational meeting to order at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, October 16, 2023. The meeting took place at the Clay County Courthouse, in Moorhead, MN. The meeting was broadcast live via Zoom, House Public Information Services, and Clay County Informational Services.

Members Present:
FISCHER, Peter – Chair
KIEL, Debra – Lead
CURRAN, Brion
NOVOTNY, Paul

Members Excused:
FREDERICK, Luke – Vice Chair
BACKER, Jeff
BAKER, Dave
EDELSON, Heather
ENGEN, Elliott
FINKE, Leigh
HANSON, Jess
HICKS, Kim
NOOR, Mohamud

Members of the Moorhead Delegation were in attendance and able to participate in the meeting:
• Heather Keeler, State Representative
• Rob Kupec, State Senator

Public Testimony was taken regarding Children’s Mental Health Services, Border Community-Specific Human Services Needs, County-Based Human Services

Testifiers:
• Michelle Thordal, Children’s Mental Health and Child Protection Services Supervisor, Clay County Social Services
• Jeanna Life, Parent
• Kimberly Larson, Parent
• Amy Amundson, Child Protection Services Supervisor, Clay County Social Services
• Shauna Reitmeier, CEO, Alluma
• James O’Donnell, Director, West Central Juvenile Detention Center
• Joel Bakken, Licensed Psychologist and Executive Director, Solutions Behavioral Healthcare Professionals
• Kate Coughlin, Nexus Family Healing
• Dana Nystad, Sanford ED
• Shelby Fry, Sanford ED
• Kirsten Anderson, Executive Director, AspireMN

Public Commentators
• Nicole Flick
• Angie Thies, AMC MACSSA
• Rhonda Porter, Clay County

The meeting was adjourned at 5:03 pm.

____________________________
Representative Peter Fischer, Chair

____________________________
Spencer Crose, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..

Documents:

Building Blocks for Children's Mental Health_10.13.2023.pdf - 10/13/2023
Loss of Capacity for Children's Mental Health_10.13.2023.pdf - 10/13/2023
Minnesota Children's Intensive Mental Health Continuum_10.13.2023.pdf - 10/13/2023
Testimony from Minnesota Juvenile Detention Association_10.15.2023.pdf - 10/15/2023
Letter from NAMI Minnesota_10.15.2023.pdf - 10/15/2023
Testimony from Lori Vigesaa_10.16.2023.pdf - 10/16/2023
Testimony from Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota_10.16.2023.pdf - 10/16/2023
Testimony from National Association of Social Workers, MN Chapter_10.16.2023.pdf - 10/16/2023

Audio:
Listen Now

House TV Video:
View Archive

*This remote hearing took place in Moorhead, MN; the television production was created by Clay County Government Center staff.
04:13 - Informational hearing:.
- Children's mental health services.
- Border communities-specific human services needs.
- County-based human services.
- Other topics as specified by committee members.
Runs 1 hour, 34 minutes.

Show Full Schedule Agenda:

*Items may be added*

Informational Hearing on:
- Children's Mental Health Services
- Border Communities-Specific Human Services Needs
- County-Based Human Services
- Other Topics as Specified by Committee Members

Testifiers:
- Michelle Thordal, Children’s Mental Health and Child Protection Services Supervisor, Clay County Social Services
- Jeanna Life, Parent
- Kimberly Larson, Parent
- Amy Amundson, Child Protection Services Supervisor, Clay County Social Services
- Lori Vigessa, Clinical Supervisor, Therapeutic Services Agency
- Shauna Reitmeier, CEO, Alluma
- Foster Parent, Nexus Kindred Family Focus
- James O’Donnell, Director, West Central Juvenile Detention Center
- Joel Bakken, Licensed Psychologist and Executive Director, Solutions Behavioral Healthcare Professionals
- Kate Coughlin, Nexus Family Healing
- Kirsten Anderson, Executive Director, AspireMN
- Other testifiers as time allows

______
Testimony: Handouts, written testimony, and testifier requests must be in PDF format and emailed to the Committee Administrator Nick.Stumo-Langer@house.mn.gov by 8:30am the day of each hearing. Submitted written testimony is public and will be included in the official committee record, and it may be posted to the committee webpage if received by the deadline. If bringing hard copies to the hearing, please bring 40 copies for members, staff, and the public.

This hearing will have recorded audio that will posted after the meeting.

To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access. If you have further questions on accommodations or accessibility, please contact the Committee Administrator.