Dear Friends,
It is membership renewal time for MOHR members, and your continued support is essential. Your investment earns dividends in our collective ability to respond to the ever-changing role of member organizations with resources, ideas, and funding.
Here is a summary of the key ways MOHR benefited member organizations in the last year:
- MOHR successfully navigated through a challenging legislative session. By the close of the Special Session, we were able to protect services that had been proposed for elimination and/or significant reductions in funding.
- MOHR helped amass the most effective Disability Services Day at the Capitol with more than 1,000 advocates from agencies across Minnesota coming together as one voice to say, ‘We are important.’
- MOHR training conferences and regional meetings brought experts together with employees and leaders from member agencies to inspire, share research, educate, discuss local challenges and to celebrate achievements (We laughed and socialized, too).
- MOHR expanded the awards program, updated our branding, and launched a new website. We recognized excellence, increased public awareness, generated media support, and enhanced community relations efforts for MOHR member agencies.
- MOHR continued our collaborative working relationship with the Department of Human Services and brought member questions forward, obtained the latest information, fulfilled requests for volunteers to serve on statewide committees, and provided feedback on proposed initiatives or policies.
- MOHR connected members to experts on operational issues, such as transportation, employee hiring and retention, budgeting, 245D compliance, and DHS reports.
- MOHR members participated in federal advocacy efforts spearheaded by ANCOR, our national partner in which MOHR maintains membership. As a result, Minnesota was recognized as one of seven states where Republican legislators stated they would not support the budget bill if people with disabilities or other vulnerable groups were adversely impacted.
Our work is not complete. The next years will continue some of our current challenges and bring new ones. Projections continue to show a steady increase in the population of people needing waivered day and employment services at the same time that costs are increasing and funding is becoming scarcer.
Member organizations have MOHR by their side leading, advocating, and protecting valuable resources. And if you aren’t a member, now is an excellent time to join. You can learn more about membership on our website. Thank you to our member organizations for your continued investment in us.
Respectfully,
Robin Harkonen
President, MOHR Board of Directors
