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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: Jen Amundson, 651-431-5692
    Behavioral health policy areas, including adult and child mental health, drug abuse, and housing
  • Departmentwide operations: Sarah Berg, 651-387-4976
    Operations, including refugee resettlement, compliance, legal, agencywide budget issues, human resources/employee issues
  • Health Care: Jen Amundson, 651-431-5692
    The two publicly funded health care programs — Medical Assistance (Minnesota's Medicaid program) and MinnesotaCare — that serve low-income Minnesotans
  • Office of Inspector General: Scott Peterson, 651-431-4936
    Fraud prevention and recovery efforts and licensing

For a complete listing of topics and communications contacts, see the Reporter's Guide to DHS.

The Minnesota Department of Direct Care and Treatment launched July 2025. Reporters should contact Christopher Sprung at 651-431-4892 for information about state-operated treatment programs that provide direct services to people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, chemical dependency and traumatic brain injuries. This includes programs such as the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center, Forensic Services (also known as the Minnesota Security Hospital) and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families launched July 2024. Reporters seeking information about topics such as child safety and permanency, child care, child support and economic assistance programs to help families and individuals transition to work and economic stability, as well licensing of child care centers, family child care (via counties), foster care and adoption agencies, should contact Spenser Bickett, 651-468-6238, at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

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