Olmstead Subcabinet

Corrections professionals from the Department of Corrections (DOC) serve over 8,000 incarcerated individuals in the state’s 11 secure facilities. Together with County partners across the state, the DOC provides community-based supervision to more than 90,000 people who are under community supervision. Incarcerated people are more than twice as likely as non-incarcerated people to have disabilities. Nationwide, about 40% of people in prisons have disabilities, compared to 15% of the general population, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is the state's principal economic development agency. DEED programs promote business recruitment, expansion, and retention; international trade; workforce development; and community development. DEED’s workforce services division includes several programs for people with disabilities, like the State Services for the Blind and Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is the administration for federal and state education policies serving more than 550 school districts and charter schools across the state. Roughly 171,000 of the state’s 906,000 students receive special education services. That means about one in five students receive special education services in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is a federally funded advisory and advocacy body established in 1971 to ensure that Minnesotans with developmental disabilities—and their families—have the support and opportunities needed for independence, productivity, self determination, integration, and inclusion. Appointed by the Governor, the 25 member Council is majority composed of people with developmental disabilities and their family members, and its work centers on advocacy, capacity building, and systems change. Most funding supports self advocacy and leadership development, employment initiatives, and education, resources, research, and continuous improvement. The Council also created the nationally recognized Partners in Policymaking® program and maintains several historical and educational projects, including Parallels in Time and the Minnesota history collections, With an Eye to the Past and With an Eye to the Future.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is Minnesota’s public health agency. MDH regulates health care facilities, nursing homes, home health aide companies, assisted living centers, and more. MDH also tracks health data, ranging from statistics about specific conditions like diabetes to information about Minnesotans’ access to health care.

Minnesota Housing works to make housing affordable and accessible to Minnesotans through a number of programs. The agency finances housing that low- and moderate-income Minnesotans can afford while helping Minnesotans buy and fix up their homes. In 2025, Minnesota Housing distributed $1.8 billion in resources and served 72,900 households.

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) The is the State’s civil rights enforcement agency. MDHR protects the civil rights of Minnesotans through the Minnesota Human Rights Act, one of the strongest civil rights laws in the country. The Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in many areas – including housing, public services, and education – based on race, religion, disability, national origin, sex, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Mission is driven by collaboration with community and partners – Counties, Tribes, non-profit and for-profit providers – supporting people to thrive in community and live their healthiest and fullest lives. The DHS Vision is that all people in Minnesota have what they need to thrive in community with no disparities.

While the vast majority of human services in Minnesota are provided by our partners, DHS (at the direction of the Governor and Legislature) sets policies and directs payments for many of the services delivered. Our largest financial responsibility is to provide health care coverage for low-income Minnesotans. We are also responsible for providing services for elders; people with disabilities and behavioral health needs; and those experiencing homelessness.

The Metropolitan Council (the Met Council, MetC) serves the seven-county Twin Cities metro area. The Met Council has many roles and responsibilities, including providing transportation services. The Met Council manages Metro Transit buses, the light rail, Metro Mobility, and Transit Link.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (OMHDD) is an independent state agency that advocates for people receiving services for mental health, developmental disabilities, or substance use disorder.  OMHDD investigates complaints and concerns about services, including service access and quality, and advocates for the highest attainable standards of treatment, competence, efficiency, and justice. OMHDD also helps people with questions about rights, grievances, and reviews of guardian actions.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) has more than 2,400 employees who operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) oversees Minnesota’s state roads, highways, bridges, and intersections and sidewalks on MNDOT owned roads. MnDOT administers state and federal transit funds for Greater Minnesota. MnDOT works to ensure that transportation is as integrated as possible and that transportation allows people with disabilities to participate in their communities.

The Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs (MDVA) The is dedicated to serving Veterans and their families, providing assistance in securing state and federal Veteran benefits and through services related to higher education, burial, claims, and outreach. MDVA manages eight Veteran Homes across the state that provide long term care to its residents. MDVA's domiciliary program provides an independent living environment to Veterans that includes assistance with medical and mental health management and vocational rehabilitation. In addition, MDVA operates an Adult Day Center to support aging Veterans in maintaining their independence at home, while offering the benefits of community care and connection with fellow Veterans. MDVA also operates Minnesota's four State Veterans Cemeteries.