The Government Relations Office at DHS plans, manages, and directs the department’s legislative program, and ensures that department-initiated proposals that come before the Minnesota Legislature are consistent with the agency’s mission. The office serves as the agencywide authority for the department’s legislative planning and policy development process and ensures that expert advice, guidance, and strategies are provided to the Commissioner and executive leadership on the technical, governmental, and fiscal implications of the agency’s legislative proposals. The office also monitors and provides technical support on human services-related legislative activity at the Capitol and coordinates legislative-related communications between the agency and state legislators, the Governor’s Office, and external partners.
The Budget Analysis Division at DHS manages and directs the development of the department’s biennial and supplemental legislative budgets, coordinates the development of the department’s capital legislative budget, and oversees fiscal policy and planning for the department. The office ensures that department-initiated proposals that come before the Minnesota Legislature and fiscal policy solutions determined by the department are consistent with the agency’s mission and have the greatest outcome to the people served in DHS programs. The office oversees the fiscal note process for the department and serves as the legislative contact for budget issues. The office provides expert advice and strategies to executive leadership, the Governor’s Office, state legislators, other agencies, and external partners on fiscal policy-related impacts and solutions to proposed legislation.
The Aging and Disability Services administration works to ensure that Minnesota’s older adults and people with disabilities receive the services and supports they need to live as independently as possible. The administration manages policy for home and community-based services, administers rates and policy for nursing facilities, oversees the state’s adult protective services system, and staffs the Minnesota Board on Aging. The administration also covers services for people who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing as well as HIV services.
The Behavioral Health, Housing, Deaf and Hard of Hearing administration oversees policy and program administration for and hard of hearing, substance use disorder, mental health, and housing and support services. Behavioral Health, Housing,
Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) is a 24/7 behavioral health system that provides care through five service lines: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services, Community-Based Services, Forensic Services, Ambulatory Services (Dental/Outpatient Psych) and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. More than 12,000 individuals with complex behavioral and physical health conditions are served annually at about 200 sites throughout the state. This includes individuals that have had contact with the criminal justice system, as well as individuals participating in court-ordered sex offender treatment.
The Health Care administration oversees the state’s public healthcare programs for low-income Minnesotans, including MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance (MA). The administration manages health care contract purchasing and service delivery; eligibility, benefit, and payment policies; member and provider relations and outreach; program research and evaluation; and oversight for the county and tribal administration of the state’s public health care programs.
The DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) manages financial fraud and abuse investigations; licenses programs such as family child care, adult foster care and mental health centers; and conducts background studies on people who apply to work in these settings.
