COVID-19 reporting at DHS-operated treatment facilities

Confirmed COVID-19 Infections in DHS-Operated Treatment Facilities

*Staff data is based on voluntary self-reporting and may not represent the total number of staff with confirmed infections.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services includes:

• Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center in Anoka
• Community Behavioral Health Hospitals in Annandale, Alexandria, Baxter, Bemidji, Fergus Falls and Rochester
• Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services in Willmar
• Community Addiction Recovery Enterprise facilities in Anoka, Carlton, Fergus Falls, St. Peter and Willmar
• Four Minnesota Specialty Health Services IRTS facilities located in Brainerd, Wadena, Willmar and St. Paul

Forensic Services includes:

• Forensic Mental Health Program (which includes the facility known more widely as the Minnesota Security Hospital) in St. Peter
• The Forensic Nursing Home in St. Peter

Community-Based Services includes:

• 134 facilities, including group homes and crisis foster homes scattered throughout the state.

Minnesota Sex Offender Program includes:

• Campus in Moose Lake
• Campus in St. Peter
• Community Preparation Services in St. Peter

We have taken many steps to ensure a safe and effective response if patients, clients, residents or staff have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infections. 

Following infection prevention and control guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we are isolating COVID-positive patients and clients and are carefully monitoring – and testing, when indicated – anyone who may have been exposed. 

To further protect against the spread of infection, we screen staff for COVID-19 symptoms on every shift as they arrive for duty and require all staff to wear masks while at work. We are also making masks available to patients.  

We continue to follow MDH and CDC guidelines for infection prevention, including instructing staff, patients and clients to keep appropriate physical distance (6 feet or more) from each other; properly cover coughs and sneezes; and frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 

Finally, we’re taking special care in cleaning all high-touch surfaces in our facilities as a further preventative measure. 

To reduce the chance of outside infection, all DHS facilities have been closed to non-essential visitors. All nonessential client outings to the community have been temporarily suspended since mid-March.