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DHS offers a free e-mail subscription services on a wide range of topics. Select from the list to receive periodic e-Memos regarding alcohol, drugs, and addictions.
The 2009 Minnesota legislature directed the Behavioral Health Division to prepare for the 2011 legislature a statewide rate methodology for the Consolidated Chemical Treatment Fund (CCDTF). The methodology will replace county-negotiated rates with a uniform statewide methodology that includes a graduated reimbursement scale based on the patients’ level of acuity and complexity and performance add-ons.
In the summer of 2017, Minnesota received a two-year, $10.6 Million State Targeted Response (STR) to the Opioid Crisis grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. STR funds are now helping people across the state have greater access to prevention, treatment and recovery support services to address the problem of opioid misuse and overdose.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services is working with individuals, providers, counties and stakeholders to update our substance use disorder (SUD) treatment system. See the substance use disorder reform page for more information.
Women’s Recovery Services helps women in treatment remain alcohol and drug free, get and keep a job, stay out of the criminal justice system, have stable housing, get physical and mental health services for themselves and their children, and deliver babies who test negative for substances at birth.
Previous reports are available upon request.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services conducted a statewide survey of all DHS licensed in-patient substance use disorder treatment programs to gather information to better understand the current practices regarding tobacco cessation services, nicotine treatment and tobacco-free policies. 2018/ 2019 Nicotine Treatment and Smoke-Free Policy Survey (PDF)
The 2017 Minnesota legislature directed the commissioner to contract with an outside expert to identify recommendations for the development of a substance use disorder residential treatment program model and payment structure that is not subject to the federal institutions for mental diseases exclusion and that is financially sustainable for providers, while incentivizing best practices and improved treatment outcomes.
The Minnesota Study of Substance Use Disorder Reimbursement, conducted by Mercer Government Human Services Consulting (Mercer), and previous mental health rates study will be leveraged as part of broader efforts to simplify the payment structures so that they are more transparent, understandable, fair, and more simple to support over time.
When SUD services rates are reformed they must done so in a way that allows for the integration of mental health and substance use disorder services, as well as, the integration of behavioral health services with the broader health care continuum. This will allow consistency and transparency for all providers in Minnesota and allow equitable access for the people we serve.
Minnesota Department of Human Services Legislative Report (Executive Summary) (PDF)
Minnesota Study of Substance Use Disorder Reimbursement (Full Report) (PDF)
The 2018 Minnesota’s Plan for the Prevention, Treatment and Recovery of Addiction report provides a summary of the current substance use disorder (SUD) policy recommendations put forth by the Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Division.
The report includes recommendations on:
The first Minnesota’s Plan for the Prevention, Treatment and Recovery of Addiction report was published in August of 2016.
We encourage your feedback on the 2018 policy recommendations report.
Please email feedback to YourOpinionMatters.DHS@state.mn.us
A new Surgeon General’s report finds alcohol and drug misuse and severe substance use disorders, commonly called addiction, to be one of America’s most pressing public health concerns. Nearly 21 million Americans – more than the number of people who have all cancers combined – suffer from substance use disorders.
“Alcohol and drug addiction take an enormous toll on individuals, families, and communities,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Most Americans know someone who has been touched by an alcohol or a drug use disorder. Yet 90 percent of people with a substance use disorder are not getting treatment. That has to change.”
The report, “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health,” marks the first time a U.S. Surgeon General has dedicated a report to substance misuse and related disorders. The report addresses alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription drug misuse, with chapters dedicated to neurobiology, prevention, treatment, recovery, health systems integration and recommendations for the future. It provides an in-depth look at the science of substance use disorders and addiction, calls for a cultural shift in the way Americans talk about the issue and recommends actions we can take to prevent and treat these conditions and promote recovery.
“It’s time to change how we view addiction,” said Murthy. “Not as a moral failing but as a chronic illness that must be treated with skill, urgency and compassion. The way we address this crisis is a test for America.” For the full report and executive summary, visit the Surgeon General website.
The 2018 Biennial Report (PDF) includes information related to:
To view the report visit the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
The Behavioral Health Division submit a combined application for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block Grants every two years. The Fiscal Year 2018 – 2019 Combined Behavioral Health Assessment and Plan application was submitted on September 1, 2017. It describes the public mental health and substance use disorder systems in Minnesota; identifies needs, priorities, goals and indicators; and proposes uses of block grant funds.
In accordance with grant requirements, states must submit an annual report on the previous year’s utilization of the grant funds, progress toward the goal targets, and data required for the federal Universal Reporting System Basic and Developmental Tables. Public input is sought in developing and updating application on an ongoing basis.
For public comments on the Substance Abuse Block Grant, please provide input in writing via our P.O. Box or E-mail:
Heron Abegaze
Behavioral Health Division
Minnesota Department of Human Services
P.O. Box 64981
St. Paul, MN 55164-0981
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a web-based application/reporting system called the Web Block Grant Application System (WebBGAS) for this grant program.
To view Minnesota’s Fiscal Year 2018- 2019 Combined Behavioral Health Assessment and Plan application and 2018 MHBG Behavioral Health Report, Minnesota citizens can log in at the SAMHSA Block Grants website.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Behavioral Health Division has conducted the Congratulate and Educate program since 2014. The program’s goals are to implement tobacco merchant education and increase the number of tobacco compliance checks across Minnesota. Congratulate and Educate achieves this through encouraging and supporting community policing by providing resources to local law enforcement and public health agencies to conduct educational tobacco compliance checks and provide tobacco merchant education.
Retailers that pass the compliance check receive a certificate. Rather than issuing a citation to those that fail, participating law enforcement and public health agencies provide retailers education on the consequences of future violations and procedures to help the retailer avoid selling tobacco to minors. The participating agency also provides materials to the establishment’s owner or manager, including the inspection date and results and information to educate their employees on best practices to avoid selling tobacco to minors.
Final 2017 Congratulate and Educate Report-Youth Tobacco Compliance Checks (PDF)
The Minnesota Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Division (Single State Authority) proposes a comprehensive Minnesota State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis (“MN Opioid STR”). This proposal reflects collaborative planning efforts between The Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division, Health Care Administration and Office of Indian Policy along with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). For more information, please see the Minnesota State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis - Project Narrative (PDF).
In June of 2016, members of the American Indian community met for a day of engagement focused on cultural historical and current trauma and its relational impact with DHS and American Indian Urban Communities and Tribes.
Cultural Historical and Current Trauma World Cafe (PDF)
Impact of 2016 IMD Changes report (PDF) presents the results of an evaluation of 2016 changes in IMD status on treatment admissions. 2-page brief (PDF)
The Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) provides students, parents and their communities a dynamic vehicle for on-going communication about issues vital to the health, safety and academic success of youth.
The Minnesota Survey on Adult Substance Use (MNSASU) is a statewide survey conducted periodically by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to gather information about substance use and treatment need for substance use disorders among adults in Minnesota.
Women’s Recovery Services Consumer Advisory Groups offers help not only for women services grantees but also other CD providers and behavioral health organizations and agencies. All of DHS’s Women Recovery Services grantees are required as part of their grant contract to establish consumer advisory groups which would be utilized throughout their program’s planning, implementation and evaluation efforts.
The 2014 Legislature required DHS to produce a report that outlines a plan to include detoxification services as a covered Medical Assistance benefit. This report recommends that Minnesota develop a model for withdrawal management services that incorporates needed medical services. The report further recommends the state seek approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to add withdrawal management services to the state’s Medicaid benefit set. The report recommends the new service model include two intensity levels of withdrawal management service, to either supplant or add to current detoxification service standards (Rule 32).
During the 2012 Legislative Session, the Minnesota Legislature enacted a law directing the Commissioner of Human Services to collaborate with counties, tribes, and other stakeholders to develop a community-based integrated model of care to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the service continuum for chemically dependent individuals in Minnesota. This report provides an overview of the model of care and concludes with recommendations for implementation.
The Minnesota State Substance Abuse Strategy is a partnership with the departments of Public Safety, Corrections, Health and Education as well as the judicial branch and the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy to collaborate and address substance abuse and its effects on our residents and state.
More information is available within the State Substance Abuse Strategy Report DHS-6908 (PDF).
The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Normative Evaluation System (DAANES) provides policy-makers, planners, service providers and others in Minnesota with access to current information about chemical dependency treatment activities across the continuum of care.
Success in reducing past 30-day youth alcohol use rates. How do we know prevention services funded by the MN Department of Humans Services, Behavioral Health Division are making a positive difference in Minnesota? Four state agencies in MN (the Departments of Education, Health, Human Services & Public Safety), combine resources to conduct a student survey every three years. The Behavioral Health Division used the past 30-day alcohol use rate, as measured by the MSS among 6th – 12th graders to show that the funded communities had a statistically greater rate of decline in past 30-day use than the decline for the rest of the state during the time these communicates received alcohol prevention funding from Behavioral Health Division.
This report (PDF) shows the findings from the 2016 Minnesota Student Survey.
The Minnesota Legislature requires the Governor to prepare a report addressing compulsive gambling. The report is due every odd numbered year and covers the nature and extent of problem and compulsive gambling behavior in Minnesota, resources available to prevent or treat gambling addiction, and recommendations for future policy direction. Governor's Report on Compulsive Gambling, 2013 (PDF).
The Synar Annual Report documents compliance with laws restricting access of minors to retail tobacco products and measurement of retailer compliance. States are required to reach the goal of 80 percent tobacco retailer compliance over the course of several years.
The Minnesota Behavioral Health Planning Council (BHPC) is an integrated mental health and substance use disorder council that advises the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Division regarding Minnesota’s combined Mental Health and Substance Abuse Federal Block Grant.
Prevention Resource Centers provide information, resource material and technical assistance to community groups and organizations engaged in prevention activities.
Minnesota Prevention Resource Center (MPRC)
2395 University Avenue West, Suite 310
St. Paul, MN 55114
651-646-3005 (telephone number)
651-646-0142 (fax number)
Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center (MIWRC)
2300 15th Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-728-2000 (telephone number)
The American Indian Advisory Council, established in Minnesota Statutes section 254A.035, helps the Behavioral Health Division in reviewing proposals and formulating policies and procedures relating to chemical dependency and the abuse of alcohol and other drugs by American Indians. The council consists of 17 persons who are American Indians and who are appointed by the commissioner of Human Services. The commissioner appoints one representative from each of the federally recognized Minnesota tribes, as well as representatives from the urban Indian communities of International Falls and Duluth. Two representatives each are from the Minneapolis and St. Paul urban Indian communities. Applications are available through the Behavioral Health Division.
For more information about the American Indian Advisory Council, please contact Donald W. Moore at 651-431-2461.
