Welcome to the new blog section of my website! On this site, I hope to share information about my work at the State Capitol, community engagement work I have been doing, as well as what is happening on the campaign trail. To get started, here is a link to my recent Legislative Update from the Capitol.
A new program to help out firefighters and their families with resources was recently passed by the Minnesota Legislature.
On Thursday, July 15, the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) held a press conference at the Albertville Fire Department to announce the newly passed Hometown Heroes Assistance Program.
A driving force behind helping this legislation get passed was the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE), which was established in 2016 when the need for resources and support for firefighters across Minnesota was recognized. The organization itself wanted to address the issues surrounding cancer, cardiac and emotional trauma.
George Esbensen, President of MnFIRE, has been with the organization since its inception in November 2016. He is responsible for the legislative and administrative duties for the organization, as well as fundraising.
“[When the bill passed] it was a feeling of relief that all these years of hard work and effort have paid off,” said Esbensen. “This bill will provide immediate benefits to roughly 20,000 firefighters in Minnesota from day one regardless of their work status or if they live in a small or big town.”
Two key members who have also been with the organization since the beginning are Vice President Mike Dobesh, who oversees the education that is delivered to firefighters and Treasurer John Wolf who is responsible for the peer supporters that firefighters can call on a toll-free number to get support if needed.
Representative Cheryl Youakim, Representative Tama Theis, Senator Jeff Howe and Senator Steve Cwodzinski were the driving force behind bringing the Hometown Heroes Assistance act to the Minnesota Legislature.
“Even though you hear about the back and forth of the two major political parties, this really was everyone coming together for the good of the Minnesota fire service,” said Esbensen.
The program will also provide annual training for medical and mental health providers so that when a firefighter walks into their office, they have the necessary background to address the challenges and unique experiences that firefighters endure.
In addition, every firefighter and their family members will have five visits with a mental health professional who is trained in the unique rigors of being a firefighter.
Emily Vollmer, the widow of Captain Jeffrey Vollmer of the Mayer Fire Department and mother of two, lost her husband in 2017 to a heart attack at the age of 40. Captain Vollmer was a second-generation firefighter who dedicated 12 years to the department.
Vollmer remembers her husband as a hands-on captain who advocated for his fellow members of the department. He would routinely check on those who were having a difficult time after a call and encourage them to get the support they needed.
“Calls that trigger or prompt PTSD are horrible and it’s hard to talk to people in your life who may not understand what a firefighter is going through after a call,” said Vollmer. “There is also the unfortunate stigma of being a man and a firefighter and the expectation of being able to handle things alone.”
When the bill passed, Vollmer was relieved that firefighters who volunteer their time and talents will finally receive the support they need to help themselves. Having a firefighter at their best, physically and mentally, is important so they can provide quality service to the community.
“I’m ecstatic that they can get better screening,“ said Vollmer.” “Some of these issues can be caught sooner and prevent tragedy from happening so other families and departments do not go through what we did.”
In their interviews, both Vollmer and Esbensen stated that they hope fire departments will utilize these new resources that are available to them and that the firefighters themselves will finally get the help and support that they need.
On behalf of the MSSWA Board of Directors and our members, it is my honor and privilege to once again present our MSSWA Legislator of the Year Award. This year we are honoring 2 influential advocates Senator Nick Frentz who serves Senate District 19, which includes portions of Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Nicollet counties in the south-central part of the state and Representative Cheryl Youakim who serves House District 46B which includes the cities of Hopkins and St. Louis Park. Senator Frentz and Representative Youakim’s leadership in the Minnesota State Legislature has been instrumental in addressing various issues related to education funding that equitably supports all Minnesota students, access to affordable quality healthcare, access to affordable housing as well as being champions for increased school-based mental health services and resources for students such as school social work services.
Serving as Chief Authors of SF728/HF945, your persistence and advocacy to allow Federal Medicaid Reimbursement for School Social Work Services that are provided on an IEP or IFSP was pivotal during the 2021 Legislative Session. Senator Frentz and Rep Youkim’s ongoing efforts to ensure that Minnesota school districts have the funding and resources to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children is commendable. After engaging in conversations from MSSWA, MASE, PACER, and school district leaders in their communities regarding the lack of funding and the barriers facing districts in accessing vital Federal Medicaid dollars to provide critical mental health services for students with identified educational disabilities, they welcomed the opportunity to become Chief Authors of SF 728
and HF 945 a bill which proposed to modify third-party reimbursement for social work services for special education. This bill would have allowed school districts to maximize federal reimbursement, by seeking medical assistance (MA) reimbursement for health-related services that are provided as part of an Individual Education Plan (IEP/IFSP). Services – including speech-language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, mental and behavioral health services, school nurse services, vision and hearing screenings, diabetes and asthma management, and durable medical equipment – are reimbursable through Medicaid for eligible students. While school social work services are included under Minnesota statutes as health related services that can be billed to MA, our current practice in Minnesota does not allow for districts to bill for these services.
Due to their advocacy and support, SF728/HF945 successfully passed the Senate Education Finance and Policy Committee, House Education Policy and Education Finance Committees and the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee. Although it stalled in the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, Senator Frentz and Representative Youkim’s perseverance helped to move a revised version of the bill to the Education Omnibus Bill which did pass. As a result, MDE and DHS are in the process of developing recommendations which they must report back to the legislature that would allow the services we already provide on an IEP/IFSP to be reimbursed through federal MA $. MSSWA Board Members and Legislative Committee members were honored to have the opportunity to partner with Senator Frentz, Rep Youkaim, MASE and PACER to testify in support of these bills.
Senator Frentz and Representative Youakim recognize that school-employed mental health providers such as licensed school social workers serve in critical leadership roles related to school safety, positive school climate and providing critical school-based mental health services for all students including our most vulnerable students. Furthermore, they understand the vital role and mental health expertise of school social workers in not only providing direct services to students and families in the form of individual or group therapeutic support but how we also serve as a resource to administrators and other educators by providing consultation and training on identifying students with mental health needs and a referral process when additional services are sought.
Senator Frentz and Representative Youakim’s commitment to establishing crucial funding streams for districts to ensure access to necessary mental health services, their efforts to reduce barriers to educational success and for their dedication to
ensuring all students have the resources to be prepared and successful beyond graduation are just a few of the reasons why MSSWA felt it was essential to acknowledge their leadership. In addition, their openness to continue to access school social workers expertise as a resource is very much appreciated by our members. We look forward to continuing to partner with you. Please join me in thanking Senator Frentz and Rep Youakim for being a true champions and supporters of school social work services and values.
Minnesota has one of the highest achievements gaps in the country, especially when it comes to race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
The Minneapolis Federal Reserve released a study in October 2019 on how such issues affect students across the state.
Suggestions abound on how to reduce the chasm, and all House members had an opportunity to delve more in depth into the topic at a daylong symposium Friday.
“Our goal is to establish a common base of knowledge and insight across the Minnesota House on the persistent racial gaps in education in Minnesota and on possible solutions,” said Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Mpls), chair of the House Education Finance Division. “… Minnesota likes to think of ourselves as exceptional. On this issue we are — just not in a good way.”
The event featured speakers addressing myriad issues including: what is now being done in Minnesota; approaches taken in other states to address achievement gaps; costs; disciplinary issues; family and community relationships; early childhood; and an overview of a proposed constitutional amendment to give every child in Minnesota an equal right to a quality education.
Davnie said a summary of the day’s discussion is to be created.
“Closing the education opportunity gap and eliminating racial disparities is key to our state’s future success,” House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley) said in a statement. “We’re going to continue this conversation with Minnesotans as we work to craft comprehensive solutions to address this issue that is holding back our children.”
A bill proposing the amendment, HF3658, awaits action by the House Education Policy Committee. Rep. Rena Moran (DFL-St. Paul) is the sponsor. Sen. Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) sponsors the companion, SF3977, which awaits action by the Senate E-12 Finance and Policy Committee.
While some members were learning more about the issues, a group of Republicans held a news conference to urge action.
“For decades, we’ve collected data that reveals the unacceptable and immoral gaps in academic performance between white students and students of color,” said Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton) in a statement. “This is an urgent and serious problem that demands the legislature’s full and immediate attention. House Republicans have introduced several bills that will help tackle this problem and we stand ready and willing to work with DFLers to ensure our education system works for all students. The time for talk is over, we need to take action.”
Across the country and throughout Minnesota there are some very predictable and persistent gaps in opportunity, particularly related to the overall success of students of color.
The House Education Policy Committee this week heard from representatives of three school districts and the Prairie Island Indian Community on what innovative and effective strategies they’re using to tackle the problem, and the results they’re seeing.
“There’s really no magic bullet to attacking the opportunity gap,” said Rep. Cheryl Youakim (DFL-Hopkins), the committee chair. “Our districts across the state are doing a lot of good work in trying to figure out how to best do that and wanted to throw out some ideas so people could see that.”
Astein Osei, superintendent of St. Louis Park Public Schools, highlighted the district’s focus on addressing the opportunity gap through culturally responsive professional development. Several years ago the district’s teachers actively voted to use some of their alternative professional pay system dollars to receive coaching and development in the area of racial equity.
“In order to interrupt the systems of inequity that we’re facing, it starts with us as educators and it requires a lot of adaptive and hard work undoing the things we’ve learned over our time in life in this country,” he said.
Sandy Lewandowski, superintendent of Intermediate School District 287, also spoke about the challenges the district faces in meeting the needs of all its students. Many students who attend intermediate school districts have special needs and have behavioral and mental health issues. The district, comprised of 12 member districts located west of the metro, is no exception.
The district is disproportionately comprised of students of color, who are three times more likely to be labeled as emotionally and behaviorally disordered, and labeled with a learning disability, than their peers.
“The most striking of our data show that if you’re black you’re six times more likely to be directed to the corrections system rather than a mental health treatment program,” Lewandowski said. “We are living in the middle of the pipeline to prison and we see the trajectory of some students in real time starting with the very youngest that we serve.”
The district took active steps to correct this over the past few years. It’s currently conducting a two-year, Therapeutic Teaching Model program — paid for through a Department of Human Services Mental Health Grant — that has an in-class therapist.
Additionally, in 2017, they made the decision to remove school resource officers and implement a School Safety Coaches Model. Its primary goals are to help foster better relationships between students and staff, and to address problem behavior before it escalates to the point of police intervention.
They’re already seeing promising results. One school within the district reportedly resolved 95 percent of incidents on campus without police interventions, resulting in fewer arrests, citations and suspensions. This has led to better relationships between students and staff, and an overall better culture.
Rep. Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton) applauded the work done by the district. “I’ve been following you for a very long time and I have the greatest respect for the strides you’ve been making over the years with your student body.”
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