Contacts for reporters
Reporters or editors seeking information on human services issues may contact:
- Aging and Disability Services: Scott Peterson, 651-431-4936
Care and services for people with disabilities and seniors who need help living as independently as possible
- Behavioral Health, Housing and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services: Scott Peterson, 651-431-4936
Behavioral health policy areas, including adult and child mental health, drug abuse, and housing
- Children and Family Services: Spenser Bickett, 651-468-6238
Child safety and permanency, child care, child support and economic assistance programs to help families and individuals transition to work and economic stability
- Departmentwide operations: Spenser Bickett, 651-468-6238
Operations, including refugee resettlement, compliance, legal, agencywide budget issues, human resources/employee issues
- Health Care: Scott Peterson, 651-431-4936
The two publicly funded health care programs — Medical Assistance (Minnesota's Medicaid program) and MinnesotaCare — that serve low-income Minnesotans
- Office of Inspector General: Spenser Bickett, 651-468-6238
Fraud prevention and recovery efforts and licensing
- Minnesota Sex Offender Program: Christopher Sprung, 651-431-4892
Inpatient services and treatment in Moose Lake and St. Peter facilities for people who are committed by the court as a sexual psychopathic personality or a sexually dangerous person
- Direct Care and Treatment (formerly State Operated Services): Christopher Sprung, 651-431-4892
Residential and treatment programs for people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, chemical dependency and traumatic brain injury, as well as people who pose a risk to society. It includes Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center, community behavioral health hospitals and the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter.
For a complete listing of topics and communications contacts, see the Reporter's Guide to DHS.
