What Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan Means for YOU

Presenters Kristin Jorenby –

Assistant Director Olmstead Implementation Office

Heidi Hamilton – Disability Services Legislative Policy Coordinator Department of Human Services

Jane Lawrenz – Community Living Supports Manager Department of Human Services

Josh Dye – Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Housing Link

The Minnesota Olmstead Plan

What is the Olmstead Plan? Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan is a broad series of key

activities our state must accomplish to ensure people with disabilities are living, learning, working, and enjoying life in the most integrated setting.

Why do we have an Olmstead Plan? Minnesota wrote its Olmstead Plan as a part of the

settlement in the case of Jensen et al v. Minnesota Department of Human Services, et al.

A better Minnesota for all of us

Olmstead is about civil rights for people with disabilities.

First and foremost, Olmstead honors the choices of people with disabilities.

People with disabilities want to be treated as individuals. Their interest in making choices is the same as everyone’s.

Approximately 10% of Minnesotans have a disability.* That total is expected to grow as a large portion of our population ages.

*American Community Survey and Decennial Census and Population Estimates, via Minnesota Compass

The Olmstead vision

The Olmstead Plan will help achieve a Better Minnesota for all Minnesotans, because it will help Minnesotans with disabilities have the opportunity, both now and in the future, to:• Live close to their family and friends • Live more independently• Engage in productive employment• Participate in community life

How do we get there from here?The aim of Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan is to build communities that welcome, engage and respect people with disabilities at the highest level possible and more than ever before.

To do that, the Olmstead Plan outlines eleven important “topic areas” in a person’s life.• These areas are all

connected and important in a person’s life.

• The Plan lists goals and key activities that address each of these areas.

Topic Areas

Whole Person

Employment

Housing and Services

Healthcare and Healthy Living

Community Engagement

Transportation

Person Centered Planning

Lifelong Learning and Education

Transition Services

Waiting List

Positive Supports

Crisis Services

Minnesota’s legacyHistorically, Minnesota was a national leader in community-based disability services, but over the years, our progress has faded.

The Olmstead Plan spells out a thorough approach to transform our system so people with disabilities can be fully integrated into their community.

When we meet the Plan’s goals, Minnesota will again set the highest standards for disability services in the nation. We will become a model for other states and communities to follow.

Most importantly, the Plan will improve the lives of all Minnesotans.

Historic leadership

Progress slowed

National leadership

OLMSTEAD HOUSING GOALS

Heidi Hamilton and Jane Lawrenz

Housing and Services goal

By June 30, 2019 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 5,547.

How are we going to do this?

Strategies

Reform of housing assistance programs

Improve future models for housing

Better data

Person-centered Planning Goal

By June 30, 2020, plans for people using disability home and community based waiver services will meet required protocols. Protocols will be based on the principles of person centered planning and informed choice.

How are we going to do this?

StrategiesTraining and informationEvaluation

Transition Services Goals

Increase the number of people who move from segregated settings to more integrated settings

How are we going to do this?

StrategiesGather information about housing

choicesConsistent protocols Increase options

Employment Goal

Increase the number of people in competitive, integrated employment

How are we going to do this?

Strategies Implement the Employment First PolicyDataReform funding

HOUSING LINKJosh Dye

Subsidized Housing Programs

Project Based Section 8

Public Housing

Section 42

Barriers to Your Housing Search

Let’s Play a Game!

Your Approach

First Things First

Know Who You Are

Rental History

Get Rental Criteria in Writing

When Do You Pay?

Open

Honest

Brief

Why Are You a Good Tenant Now?

What Do Landlords Care About?

Behavior

Olmstead information You can get more information and read

Minnesota’s complete Olmstead Plan on the www.mn.gov/Olmstead.

We are also now on Facebook – Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan

Housing Link - http://www.housinglink.org/ Housing Benefits 101 -

http://mn.hb101.org/