As a voter in Minnesota, your right to vote is protected by state and federal law. These laws are in place to make voting accessible for all people who are eligible to vote. Make sure you are prepared for election day by knowing your rights!

Earlier this month the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) sent notice regarding the planned changes to CDCS and CSG. As indicated in the letter from DHS:

Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) services for people with disabilities will be required in the coming years across the nation based on changes required in the 21st Century Cures Act (view pdf outline). 

Employees will be able to view, print, and save copies of their own paystubs.  Employees will receive an emailed pay stub the morning of each payday. The emailed paystub will look the same as the paystubs sent by mail.

Transitioning to emailed pay stubs will provide a “paperless” solution which is cost effective and environmentally friendly. This action represents yet another step forward in providing a more efficient and productive way for PICS and the Payroll Department to provide timely information to the employees we serve.

An autism diagnosis can leave many families feeling scared or uncertain about their child’s future. The Brundidges, a PICS participant family, learned that three of their four children were on the autism spectrum.

In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, Sheletta Brundidge shared the story of learning of her children’s diagnoses. Read part one of the Brundidge family’s story at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) offers free online training for families, providers and others who want to know more about working with and supporting people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related conditions.

The training, “ASD Strategies in Action,” provides practical information and skills, through real-life examples in the home, school, community and workplace. The course in an online video-based training program.

PICS was proud to sponsor and attend the 20th Annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk on September 24th, 2017. It was a day to empower and celebrate! There were kids booths, live music, and fun-filled activities for everyone. 

It’s that time of year again! Workers providing direct support care to a Participant under Minnesota Licensed Services (Personal Supports) must complete Annual Training by October 31st. Training is available online on October 1st. This training is mandated by the Minnesota statute and a requirement for continued employment.

PICS was pleased to meet and celebrate the people we serve at our Appreciation Open House on September 14, 2017!

Attendees received door prizes and were able to learn about all of our services and resources, including those available from Lutheran Social Service of MN (LSS). Congratulations to the two attendees who won an Amazon Echo Dot!

We were happy to host several community resources and services of LSS including:

PICS has been a trusted fiscal support entity since 1999, helping individuals across the state of Minnesota manage their self-directed and licensed personal support services. Along the way, we’ve continued improving and modernizing our systems and services – including simplifying our processes to make things easier for participants, managing parties, and community partners including case managers and support planners. 

As a statewide leader in self-directed care, we felt it was time to update and modernize our brand to reflect who we are today.