MSSA (Minnesota Social Service Association)

Day in the Life of an MSSA Member 🌟Carly Pederson ❓Where do you work and what is your job title? Supervisor, State Medical Review Team ❓Overview of your involvement in the HHS field I bring over 20 years of experience in Social Security Disability law and currently lead the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ State Medical Review Team (SMRT). At SMRT, we make disability determinations for Medical Assistance (MA) eligibility, ensuring access to crucial services like disability waivers and Special Needs Basic Care. The client experience is of utmost importance to me; I prioritize putting people before programs while advocating for their rights, driving system modernization, and fostering staff development, all while maintaining strict compliance with state and federal regulations. ❓Typical daily schedule 🕜7:00-7:30 AM: Start the day with a coffee and a walk with Coco, my miniature labradoodle. 🕜7:30 AM- Tackle emails and follow up on return calls. 🕜9:00-10:00 AM: Attend a Team Lead Meeting to discuss new staff onboarding and training plan. 🕜10:00-11:00 AM: More email and Review of PowerPoint for 2pm meeting 🕜11:00 AM-12:00 PM: Prepare for the upcoming Participant Expert Panel (PEP) meeting (held on Saturdays), where managers and directors gather feedback from MA/MinnesotaCare enrollees to improve the programs. 🕜12:00-12:30 PM: Join the Health Care Eligibility and Access/Health Care Eligibility and Operations Weekly Meeting. 🕜12:30-1:00 PM: Enjoy a vegan lunch, likely at my desk reviewing email. 🕜1:00-2:00 PM: Double booked to attend both the SMRT System Upgrade Project - Review Release Notes and the Shared Master Index Systems Governance Group Meeting. 🕜2:00-3:00 PM: Prepare for the MN Act Early and FAP Professional Development Series presentation on Autism and Developmental Delays. 🕜3:00-4:00 PM: Meet with DSD to discuss waiver intervention services. 🕜4:30 PM: Workday ends. 🕜5:30-6:00 PM: Make and enjoy dinner with husband Nate and teen kids, Thomas (16) and Katie (15). 🕜Evening: Enjoy a swim or browse for vintage treasures while thrifting. Then, wind down with the series du jour before heading to bed at 9:30-10 PM. ❓What drives your passion for your work? My passion for work is driven by a deep commitment to helping disabled individuals access the services they need to live with dignity. It’s about doing what’s right and making things as straightforward as possible for the person. My decision to move into public service was fueled by a desire to create positive change and improve lives.

DEADLINE NEXT WEEK! Every fall, MSSA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee and Board uses your ideas to generate our agenda for the following spring legislative session. 📣Ideas submitted to us by October 16 will let us know what you want to prioritize at the Capitol the following legislative session. Ideas submitted after the deadline will help us support issues that may already be led by other organizations or may become a part of our agenda the next legislative session. https://ow.ly/aXrG50SW9Pm

🌟 Agency Member Spotlight 🌟 Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council The Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a thriving workforce in their 14-county service area. They believe in everyone’s potential and partner with individuals, employers, and schools to empower job seekers of all ages and backgrounds to find meaningful careers. Through their CareerForce locations in Montevideo, Marshall, and Worthington, and other regional partnerships, they offer employment and training services, business services, and youth career support. They advocate for the low-income, underemployed, and undereducated and strive to be leaders in developing a world-class workforce. Their dedicated staff and partners are passionate about helping individuals achieve their career goals, and together, they are building a brighter future for Southwest Minnesota. If you would like to learn more about the Southwest Minnesota PIC, visit their website at www.swmnpic.org.

From engaging sessions to lively conversations, here are some moments from MSSA Region 9's Fall Conference: “Lifespan Development: a Topical Approach.” More to come!

MSSA Region 7’s Fall Conference is TOMORROW! You can register on site! Friday, October 4 8:00 am - 3:30 pm The Buff Big Lake, MN https://bit.ly/MSSAr72024

Register for this two-part webinar series today and get ready for insider advocacy tips and tricks as well as actions you can take right now to advocate for yourself and your clients. Up to 2 FREE CEUs for MSSA Members! https://ow.ly/7C6p50TqrzV

Day in the Life of an MSSA Member 🌟Rachel Swenson ❓Where do you work and what is your job title? Therapist and Owner, Rachel Swenson Counseling in Gaylord, MN. ❓Overview of your involvement in the HHS field I am a mental health therapist in private practice in rural Minnesota. I have been working in the health and human services field since 1997. I opened my own private practice in 2022. I primarily work with individuals and families, but I also have the opportunity to collaborate with my clients’ team members, which can include county case managers, school social workers, medical doctors, and group home staff. ❓Typical daily schedule I see clients for individual therapy and family therapy sessions from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Therapy sessions last 30, 45, or 60 minutes, depending on their need. Most of my clients come into my office in-person, while some are seen via video telehealth. I usually schedule between 25-30 client appointments per week. I am a one-person operation, so that means that I spend the remaining time being my own receptionist, scheduler, biller, bookkeeper, records department, and office manager. For a typical day, this includes a lot of responding to phone calls and emails from my clients, referral sources, and people seeking services; filing insurance claims; documenting sessions; and writing assessment reports. The worst part of my job is that I sometimes have to waste a lot of time on the phone (on-hold) with insurance companies. My favorite part is the actual time spent meeting with my clients. Working for myself in private practice allows me total control over my own schedule and caseload. ❓What drives your passion for your work? We go into the health and human services because we want to help people. There are so many great jobs and roles in this field. I believe that people do best when they feel understood and have healthy supportive relationships. As a therapist, I get the privilege of seeing my clients grow, feel, and do better. I love being a part of that process. I live in outstate Minnesota and I see that there is a desperate NEED for therapists in rural communities. My schedule is always full and I always have more people calling. Seeing this demand in my community is what drove me to open my private practice and makes me passionate about this work.

Congratulations to MSSA Scholarship Recipient Samantha Smith! MSSA scholarships are awarded to college and university students pursuing careers in health and human services. In 2024, MSSA is awarding 22 students scholarships totaling $80,000. Samantha is finishing her last semester at WSU with her BSW and plans to work as a social worker after graduation this fall. She wants to get her master's degree in social work and her LADC. She plans to volunteer as an advocate for SA/DV.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE TOMORROW! Connect with elected officials and discuss important health and human services topics at our listening session hosted by MSSA Region 3. Be part of a conversation that drives positive change. Register today! Contact Michelle with questions at [email protected]. Register by September 30! Tuesday, October 8 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Duluth, MN Free (with lunch!) https://ow.ly/YPb450TvLXZ

🌟Agency Member Spotlight🌟 REM Community Services-Minnesota is a part of Sevita. Sevita is a leading provider of home and community-based specialized health care. They believe that everyone deserves to live a full, more independent life. They provide people with quality services and individualized supports that lead to growth and independence, regardless of the physical, intellectual, or behavioral challenges they face. They’ve made this their mission for more than 50 years. Homes and communities are where people thrive. They’ve held this belief since their founding in 1967 and have worked to make it reality for the thousands of individuals they serve. They continue that work today and are using innovation, technology, and collaboration across their organization to do more for more people. For them, it’s a calling. Because when you have a chance to make a difference in someone’s life, you take it. Their team has a passion for helping others grow, learn, and live their best life. To learn more about REM Community Services –Minnesota, visit their website at www.REMMinnesota.com