2022 Olmstead Plan Amendment Public Comment

The Olmstead Plan is updated every year with new goals. Staff from 13 Subcabinet Agencies work together to propose new Plan goals based on the past year's results. The update is called a Plan Amendment.

Public comments are closed

The first round of public comment on Plan Amendments closed on March 10, 2022. Your comments were shared with the Olmstead Leadership Forum and the Olmstead Subcabinet. Changes have been made based on public comment.

Public comments on round two of Plan Amendments were open through April 21.

More information about Plan Amendments

The 2022 Olmstead Plan was accepted at the April Subcabinet Meeting. You can read the new plan at: 2022 Minnesota Olmstead Plan (PDF).

You can read the results of the first round of public comments in the Plan Amendments Survey at: 2022 Plan Amendments Public Comment Survey Results (PDF)

You can learn more about the proposed amendments below or in this PDF version: 2022 Olmstead Plan Amendments

You can learn more about how Plan goals are updated here: How Do Olmstead Plan Goals Get Revised?

Revised Person-Centered Planning Goal One
Summary of Goal

Person-centered planning is about finding out what’s important to and for a person with a disability to help them make decisions about their education, their job, or where they live.

Proposed Change

New strategies to identify ways to measure individual choices in major life decisions

Improve the ability to gather information about informed choice in decision making
- DHS will conduct a review of how the Department currently gathers data information regarding informed choice in decision making. The review will:
  - identify existing projects related to assessing and measuring informed choice in decision making;
  - document the ways information regarding informed choice is currently collected;
  - prepare a summary analysis of the consistency and variation in data collected among tools and methodologies;
  - conduct an analysis of current tools as data collection instruments; and
  - identify recommendations regarding the assessment of informed choice in decision making by June 30, 2023.
- DHS will conduct a review of how the Department currently gathers information regarding race and ethnicity. The review will:
  - identify existing data on race and ethnicity across the Department;
  - prepare a summary analyzing consistency and variation in data collected between systems;
  - participate in DHS data standards project on race and ethnicity; and
  - identify recommendations regarding assessment of race and ethnicity in Olmstead reporting related to choice in decision making by June 30, 2023.
New strategy added in March:
- Plan for and begin the development of informed choice training for lead agencies. Training will include the requirements of providing a person, in an accessible format and manner that meets the individual's needs, the tools, information, and opportunities that the individual requires to understand all of their options. A plan including milestones will be achieved by March 31, 2023.
Transition Services Goal Two
The goal currently states that people who are ready to leave the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC) will move to a more integrated setting faster. There will be fewer people waiting to move.

Proposed changes
- By June 30, 2023, 25% (reduced from 30%) of people at AMRTC will be waiting to move (by daily average). In 2021, 27.6% of people at AMRTC were waiting to move.
- This goal would be extended until 2023.
Transition Services Goal Four
This goal currently states that 90% of people with disabilities who are going through a transition will use informed choice, person-centered planning, and the “My Move Plan Summary” form.

Proposed changes
- This form would be improved and made more specific to the needs of each individual person.
- The date of this goal would be changed from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2024.
Revised Housing Services Goal One
Summary of Goal

People with disabilities get to choose where to live and get the help they need to live there.

Proposed Change

The goal is being extended and annual targets are being reset based on current performance. New strategies are being added related to gathering information about housing choices

Goal One: By June 30, 2024, ~~2022,~~ the number of people with disabilities who live in the most integrated housing of their choice where they have a signed lease and receive financial support to pay for the cost of their housing will increase by 2,467 ~~1,167~~ (from 2021 through 2024).
- By June 30, 2023, the number of individuals moving into integrated housing will be 635
- By June 30, 2024, the number of individuals moving into integrated housing will be 665
Strategies
- DHS will conduct a review of how the Department currently gathers information regarding informed choice in housing services. The review will:
  - identify existing projects related to assessing and measuring informed choice in housing;
  - document the ways information regarding informed choice is currently collected;
  - prepare a summary analysis of the consistency and variation in data collected among tools and methodologies;
  - conduct an analysis of current tools as data collection instruments; and
  - identify recommendations regarding the assessment of informed choice in housing decisions by June 30, 2023.
- DHS will conduct a review of how the Department currently gathers information regarding race and ethnicity. The review will:
  - identify existing data on race and ethnicity across the Department;
  - prepare a summary analyzing consistency and variation in data collected between systems;
  - participate in DHS data standards project on race and ethnicity; and
  - identify recommendations regarding assessment of race and ethnicity in Olmstead reporting related to housing services by June 30, 2023.
Changes to strategies in March

~~Implement new Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services Benefit for People with Disabilities or Disabling Conditions who have Housing Instability.~~

Improve access to Housing Stabilization Services through Medical Assistance
- Implement Moving Expenses option by December 31, 2022, to assure more people with disabilities or disabling conditions who have housing instability have access to the necessary funding and goods to help them move, within available federal funding
- Develop resources and make them available on the HB101 website. The resources and tools will provide information about Housing Stabilization Services to people with disabilities and the people who support them
- Seek input from providers on barriers to enrollment and service delivery, with a particular focus on providers from diverse communities.
Revised Employment Goal Two
Summary of Goal

More people with disabilities who receive services from some Medicaid-funded programs will get competitive integrated employment.

Proposed Change

A new measure is being developed. A new baseline will be established. New strategies are being added related to gathering information about employment choices

By September 30, 2022 establish an E1MN baseline to include:
- The number of individuals served with a Medicaid waiver
- The number of waiver recipients who received competitive integrated employment outcomes
- The numbers by age, race and ethnicity
Changes to goal in March to extend goal 2 years while new measure is being developed

Goal Two: By June 30, 2024, ~~2022~~ of the 50,157 people receiving services from certain Medicaid-funded programs, there will be an increase of 8,283 ~~6,283~~ over baseline to 14,420 ~~12,420~~ in competitive integrated employment.
- By June 30, 2023, the number in competitive integrated employment will increase to 13,420
- By June 30, 2024, the number in competitive integrated employment will increase to 14,420
Strategies

Implement E1MN (launched July 1, 2021) that works to deliver a seamless and timely employment support system for youth and adults with disabilities so they understand their options and get what they need to achieve and maintain competitive integrated employment.
- Continue providing services under the Engage, Plan, Find, Keep Framework for people who receive a Medicaid waiver. The framework supports people at different phases of employment. The person's thoughts about competitive integrated work define where to start and how they progress through the phases of the framework.
- DHS will conduct a review of how the Department currently gathers information regarding informed choice in employment. The review will:
  - identify existing projects related to assessing and measuring informed choice in employment;
  - document the ways information regarding informed choice is currently collected;
  - prepare a summary analysis of the consistency and variation in data collected among tools and methodologies;
  - conduct an analysis of current tools as data collection instruments; and
  - identify recommendations regarding the assessment of informed choice in employment decisions by June 30, 2023.
- DHS will conduct a review of how the Department currently gathers information regarding race and ethnicity. The review will:
  - identify existing data on race and ethnicity across the Department;
  - prepare a summary analyzing consistency and variation in data collected between systems;
  - participate in DHS data standards project on race and ethnicity; and
  - identify recommendations regarding assessment of race and ethnicity in Olmstead reporting related to employment services by June 30, 2023.
Revised Employment Goal Three
Summary of Goal

More people with developmental cognitive disabilities will go from high school into competitive integrated employment, where they work with people who don’t have disabilities and get the same pay and benefits.

Proposed Change

No changes are being proposed to the goal. New strategies are being added to develop new metrics about choices related to employment.

Strategies

Promote Self-Determination in Education in the Most Integrated Setting
- MDE will explore development of metrics (e.g. educational setting, self-determination metric, race/ethnicity disaggregation) and a process for measuring self-determination of students with cognitive and developmental disabilities in relation to educational setting placements by their Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams according to Minnesota Rule 3525.3010 (January through October 2022).
- MDE will partner with school districts in using the Arc Self-Determination Scale – Adolescent Version (Wehmeyer & Kelchner (Arc), 2014) to measure student self-determination in relation to educational setting placement (October 2022, through September 2023).
- MDE will use the results of measurement to begin developing a combined framework for self-determination and education in the most integrated setting for students with cognitive and developmental disabilities (October 2023 through June 2024).
- MDE will field validate the developed framework for self-determination and education in the most integrated setting for students with cognitive and developmental disabilities with partnering school districts (July 2024 through September 2025).
Change in March to add contextual information
- The Employment Capacity Building Cohort (ECBC) is an interagency activity of MDE, DEED, ~~and~~ DHS and SSB. This project ~~which~~ engages local level school district and county teams in professional development and technical assistance focused on continuous improvement in rates of competitive integrated employment for students with cognitive disabilities ages 19 to 21 years. As of 2020-2021, ECBC included 31 community teams. The number of community teams fluctuates each year with addition or exit of ECBC teams.
Revised Lifelong Learning and Education Goal One
Summary of Goal

More students with disabilities will spend most of their time in school learning in the same classrooms as students who don’t have disabilities.

Proposed Change

No changes are being proposed to the goal. New strategies are being added to develop new metrics about choices related to education.

Strategies

Promote Self-Determination in Education in the Most Integrated Setting
- MDE will explore development of metrics (e.g. educational setting, self-determination metric, race/ethnicity disaggregation) and a process for measuring self-determination of students with cognitive and developmental disabilities in relation to educational setting placements by their Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams according to Minnesota Rule 3525.3010 (January through October 2022).
- MDE will partner with school districts in using the Arc Self-Determination Scale – Adolescent Version (Wehmeyer & Kelchner (Arc), 2014) to measure student self-determination in relation to educational setting placement (October 2022, through September 2023).
- MDE will use the results of measurement to begin developing a combined framework for self-determination and education in the most integrated setting for students with cognitive and developmental disabilities (October 2023 through June 2024).
- MDE will field validate the developed framework for self-determination and education in the most integrated setting for students with cognitive and developmental disabilities with partnering school districts (July 2024 through September 2025).
Transportation Goal One
This goal currently states that by December 31, 2020 accessibility improvements will be made to 6,600 curb ramps and 430 accessible pedestrian signals, and by October 31, 2021 improvements will be made to 55 miles of sidewalks.

Proposed changes

The Department of Transportation will build more curbs ramps and traffic signals that help people with disabilities cross the street safely. They will also add more miles of sidewalks.

By December 31, 2023, accessibility improvements will be made to:
- Increase curb ramps from 6,600 to 10,299 (increase from 19% to 79%)
- Increase accessible pedestrian signals at crosswalks from 430 to 490 (increase from 10% to 79%)
- Increase miles of sidewalks from 55 to 113 (increase from 46% to 64%)
The goal would be extended until 2023
Crisis Services Goal One and Two
Goal One states that by June 30, 2022, the percent of children who receive children’s mental health crisis services and remain in their community will increase to 85% or more.

Goal Two states that by June 30, 2022, the percent of adults who receive adult mental health crisis services and remain in their community (e.g., home or other settings) will increase to 65% or more.

Proposed changes

Four new strategies would be added to improve how information about this goal is collected and communication about mental health and crisis services:
1. Improve how information is collected about the goal.
2. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will hire more people to take phone calls so adults and children with a mental health crisis can get help.
3. To help reach these goals, DHS will expand Mobile Crisis Services. They will increase financial support to counties and tribes to staff mobile crisis lines and be able to take more calls.
4. DHS will increase capacity for same-day or next-day appointments for children’s mental health outpatient care for those in crisis.
Preventing Abuse and Neglect Goal Three

The current goal states that: By December 31, 2021, the number of vulnerable adults who experience more than one episode of the same type of abuse or neglect within six months will be reduced by 20% compared to the baseline.

Proposed change

The goal is being extended to 2022 with the same target: By December 31, 2022, 20% fewer adults will experience more than one episode of the same type of abuse or neglect within 6 months.
Assistive Technology

In 2021, the System of Technology to Achieve Results (STAR) Program loaned 482 assistive technology devices to 482 Minnesotans. STAR demonstrated 209 devices to 263 people. 246 Minnesotans received open-ended device loans, which saved them $531,585.

As of October 2021, Minnesotans can use the Minnesota Assistive Technology for All website to learn about equipment that is available for short or long-term loans. Minnesotans can create an account to request device demonstrations or loans online.

In 2021, an assistive technology workgroup began meeting regularly. They will review the website and make updates as needed.

Proposed changes

New strategies would be added to improve a person’s understanding of types of assistive technology and the availability of equipment.
Homeless, Disabled Veterans (New Goal)

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) will work to find out what homeless veterans with disabilities experience and how to meet their needs. They will look at available data in the Homeless Veteran Registry and improve the registry as needed. With this information, they will create a goal and measurements by December 31, 2022.
Crime Victims (New Goal)

People with disabilities are victims of crime at a higher rate than non-disabled people. They need equal access to services that can help them recover and heal. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) will explore what programs currently exist and if they are accessible for people with disabilities. They will create a goal to make sure programs are equipped to serve people with disabilities.
Juveniles (New Goal)
Revised Health (New Goal)

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has been focused on the pandemic and its impact on people with disabilities. This includes access to testing, vaccines, and care. As MDH continues these efforts, they will also look at data collection standards. By including disability in data, MDH thinks this will help identify differences in health outcomes for people with disabilities. This information will lead to better care.

March update: Included with Health Care and Healthy Living Strategies on page 76 of the blackline version of the Plan.
Department of Corrections (New Goal)
The Department of Corrections (DOC) is proposing two new strategies related to reentry and transition.

New Strategies added in March
- DOC will conduct a comprehensive review of policies and practices. The focus of the review will identify areas that need improvement related to person-centeredness, inclusivity, accessibility and equity.
Included with Person-Centered Planning Strategies on page 38 of the blackline version of the Plan.
- DOC will develop a system to respond to the needs of individuals with disabilities on correctional supervision and experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
- Develop a process to track the number of persons with disabilities or disabling conditions who are on correctional supervision and are currently experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
- Develop a response strategy to meet the needs of these individuals. This strategy will be included in the Homeless Mitigation Plan to be reported to the legislature by October 2022.
Included with Housing Strategies on page 49 of the blackline version of the Plan.