Minnesota's Olmstead Plan
In December of 2011, the Department of Human Services (the Department) and the Plaintiffs in the Jensen et al v. Minnesota Department of Human Services, et al. Court File No. 09-cv-1775 entered into a settlement agreement that requires the development of a Minnesota Olmstead Plan.
In 2012, Minnesota’s Olmstead Planning Committee was formed and included individuals with disabilities, family members, providers, advocates and senior decision-makers from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and they made recommendations to the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services. It was recommended that sub-cabinet be established to develop the Olmstead Plan.
In January 2013, Governor Mark Dayton issued an Executive Order establishing a Sub-Cabinet to develop and implement a comprehensive plan supporting freedom of choice and opportunity for people with disabilities. The Olmstead Plan Sub-Cabinet, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon, includes the Commissioners or Commissioner’s designee from the following State agencies: Department of Human Services; Minnesota Housing Finance Agency; Department of Employment and Economic Development; Department of Transportation; Department of Corrections; Department of Health; Department of Human Rights; and Department of Education. Representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities are ex officio members of the Sub-Cabinet.
The Sub-Cabinet will evaluate policies, programs, statutes and regulations of state agencies against the standards set forth in the Olmstead decision to determine whether any should be revised or modified or require legislative action in an effort to improve the availability of community-based services for people with disabilities. The Sub-Cabinet will seek input from consumers, families of consumers, advocacy organizations, service providers and others.
In November 2013, the plan was submitted to the court and was provisionally approved on January 22, 2014. Any modifications to the plan will be made by July, 2014.
For more information regarding Olmstead, visit the Department of Human Services.
On March 26, 2014 the Olmstead Transportation Forum, sponsored by the Minnesota Departments of Transportation and the Human Services, was held, in accordance to Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan. The Forum kicked-off a renewed effort to bring people with disabilities into the transportation planning process. This event built upon past planning and community input and gave information about how to be involved in the future. View the the Olmstead Transportation Forum Final Report (PDF, 3 MB) of the event.
Upcoming events
| Date | City | Community host | Address | Time | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurs, 1/11 | Saint Paul | Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) | MCIL 530 N Robert St. Saint Paul, MN, 55101 |
6 – 7:30 p.m | Saint Paul sign up |
| Wed, 1/17 | Minneapolis | Minnesota Council on Disability | Marcy Elementary School 415 4th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 |
6 – 7:30 p.m | Minneapolis sign up |
| Mon, 1/22 | Brainerd | Wellness in the Woods | Essentia Health Thabes 1 Room 523 North 3rd Street Brainerd, MN 56404 |
6 – 7:30 p.m | Brainerd sign up |
| Tues, 1/23 | Rochester | The Arc Southeast MN & Region 10 Quality Council | Rochester Area Foundation 12 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester, MN, 55901 |
6 – 7:30 p.m. | Rochester sign up |
| Wed, 1/24 | Duluth | Duluth Commission on Disabilities & Access North | Duluth City Hall 411 W 1st St. Duluth, MN 55802 |
6 – 7:30 p.m. | Duluth sign up |
Questions or comments
Have a question, concern or comment about the Olmstead Plan? Contact the Olmstead Implementation Office.