ARRM News and Public Relations

ARRM's response to regulating concentrations of group homes

ARRM's CEO, Bruce Nelson, offers a thoughtful response to the notion of regulating concentrations of group homes in Minnesota communities. He asks, "Why are people with disabilities any different than anybody else in having a right to live in our neighborhoods that belong to all of us?"

Read the full Star Tribune article here: http://www.startribune.com/local/south/136696633.html

Two ARRM members show why Minnesota ranks high in volunteerism

Earlier this week, it was announced that the Twin Cities ranks first for volunteerism in the United States. Two ARRM members that provide a variety of volunteer opportunities -- Hammer and Lutheran Social Service -- were featured in local and national media stories. Click on the links below to read and view the news stories.

August 9th piece on WCCO/CBS

August 10th Star Tribune article

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Member news: Disabilities group makes dream come true for Vikings fan

A person served by Hammer was profiled on KARE-11 Wednesday evening. Learn more about Deb Eaton, who says she is the Vikings' biggest fan.

Duluth News Tribune publishes ARRM's response to negative group home news

ARRM's letter to the editor was published in the Duluth News Tribune July 10, 2011.

The News Tribune’s June 28 “Our View” editorial, “Let solutions, information counter paranoia, ignorance” invited readers to weigh in on the local conversation about adult foster care homes. As CEO at the state association (“ARRM”) that represents most “group homes” (called corporate foster care) for people with disabilities, I know the vast majority of our members in St. Louis County go above and beyond what’s required by law to keep residents with disabilities, their staff and their neighborhoods safe.

Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson said in the June 17 News Tribune that the state needs to have good oversight to make sure people in group homes are safe, healthy and not creating unsafe environments for others. We at ARRM heartily agree. And we think corporate foster care providers that serve people with developmental disabilities already are highly regulated, provide appropriate oversight and have clear accountability.

In addition, counties do have control over the people placed in their programs. For any person with autism, a brain injury or a developmental disability to receive services in any given county there needs to be agreement between counties; no single entity can just assign people. The whole idea of some conspiracy to place difficult individuals in St. Louis County is fundamentally wrong and has no basis in fact.

The most important point I’d like to make is that people with disabilities should not have fewer opportunities to live in certain neighborhoods than others simply because of a disability. Indeed, the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status and, as of 1988, disability.

We encourage people to avoid a collective rush to judgment that would stigmatize all Minnesotans with disabilities as a result of a few regrettable incidents that took place in the past year. As St. Louis County Commissioner Chris Dahlberg pointed out in a commentary in the June 28 News Tribune, 95 percent of adult foster care placements are fine. Research shows that neighborhoods with group homes often see a rise in property values and are just as safe as neighborhoods without group homes.

More importantly, if it weren’t for adult foster care services, many vulnerable people would be in more expensive settings such as hospitals. Or, worse, they’d be homeless or end up in jail because of their mental illness. The bottom line is that corporate foster care provides a core service that helps our state’s most vulnerable citizens, enriches communities and uses taxpayer money effectively and efficiently.

Bruce Nelson is the chief executive officer of ARRM, an association of Minnesota providers that support people with disabilities in their own homes and in foster care homes. The association is based in South St. Paul.

Patch news: How the shutdown impacts people with disabilities

Shutdown Impacts City's 'Most Vulnerable Adults'

Minnetonka Patch story about how an OP client who lives independently could become among the hardest hit by the state government shutdown.

Minnesota Shutdown Could Hit Job-Seekers, Families of Disabled

Article in the Oakdale Patch about how Washington County families of people with disabilities could lose a $248 monthly grant, and programs providing mentoring and basic life skills could be cut if there isn’t a state budget agreement reached within 30 days.

Minnesota Budget More than Politics and Numbers for Adults with Disabilities

Story in the Oakdale Patch about how budget cuts and the shutdown hurt a foster care provider.

Golden Valley Nonprofits Say Shutdown Will Hurt the Vulnerable

Golden Valley Patch piece about how nonprofit leaders are bracing for the blow a shutdown will strike.

State shutdown would be a leap into unknown

The ARC of Minnesota's public policy director, Steve Larsen, is quoted in this Star Tribune piece about the possible impacts to people with disabilities if a state government shutdown were to occur.

Developmental disabilities: Diagnoses have risen 17% in youths

According to an article in the June 13 Saint Cloud Times, developmental disability diagnoses have risen by 17 percent in 12 years, which may be due to better diagnostic tools and an increase in premature births.

Read the full article here.

Rep. Lyndon Carlson meets with Hammer advocates at Welcome Place

Representative Carlson met with Hammer advocates on March 29th. Below is an article about that visit that appeared in Minn Local this week.

http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2011/03/30/news_by_readers/doc4d92213bf2859841915620.txt

How budget cuts impact one family

Nickel and diming disabled Minnesotans: Saving pennies, risking lives

This story from the TC Daily Planet highlights Cindy Johnson's take on recent and proposed budget cuts. Johnson, a Woodbury resident, has both a daughter and sister with disabilities.

MPR News: Health care providers 'stunned' by Dayton budget cuts

Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson gets strong reactions to Gov. Dayton's budget proposal from disability and aging providers negatively impacted by yesterday's announcement of deep cuts.

Steve Larson, co-chair of the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, is quoted in the piece. He points out that severe cuts could compromise the health and safety of some disabled individuals.

"Four-point-five percent, I think, is stunning," Larson said. "We knew that this was going to be a difficult legislative session. But to have this type of substantial cut in the governor's budget makes it even more difficult."

Read the entire article here: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/02/16/budget-healthcare-folo/