News

Have You Utilized Our Resource Map for New Americans?

On October 2, 2025 by Kirstan Ketter

Our New American Resource Map is an interactive tool that features local resources across the state of Minnesota. All housed in one centralized location, this resource highlights community, cultural, health, education, childcare, legal, food, and workforce resources to support New Americans’ journeys in making MN their home.

LeadingAge MN Strengthens State’s Rural Health Transformation Application

On October 2, 2025 by Mark Schulz

LeadingAge Minnesota submitted comprehensive comments to strengthen the State of Minnesota’s application to CMS’ new Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. Our recommendations emphasize workforce solutions, improved access to care, and sustainable models for aging services in rural communities—ensuring older Minnesotans can continue to receive care close to home.

Bipartisan Bill Reintroduced Aimed at Addressing Nursing Shortage with Unused Visas

On September 18, 2025 by Anna Mowry

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act has been reintroduced – a federal bill that proposes to recapture up to 40,000 previously authorized but unused immigrant visas—25,000 for nurses and 15,000 for physicians.

Drive for Five Initiative Grants - Applications Have Been Released

On September 11, 2025 by Anna Mowry

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is seeking proposals for the Drive for Five Initiative Competitive Grants to conduct outreach, provide education and training, and job placement in high-demand fields, including the caring professions.

HCBS Workforce Incentive Funds to be Distributed Soon

On August 21, 2025 by Jeff Bostic

The slow developing HCBS workforce incentive grant program, officially named the Minnesota Care Force Incentive Grant Program by DHS, which was created and funded by the 2023 Legislature, has just reached the point of distributing funds to providers.

Bonuses from State Funds 

Under the program, HCBS workers, including those in assisted living, are eligible for bonuses from state funds. The law set the amount of bonuses at up to $1,000, but DHS has determined that based on interest in the program across HCBS providers, that bonuses must be limited to $770. 

The DHS contractor has been reaching out to providers to inform them of which employees are eligible for grants and how to access the funds. Those providers who have received grant funds then have 45 days to provide the bonuses to employees who are on the eligible list. In addition, providers should give their employees this form notifying them that they can deduct the grant amount from their state, but not federal, taxes. 

School’s Out, Students Are In: Hire High Schoolers and Help Them Earn Credit

On June 12, 2025 by Anna Mowry

With school out and summer break in full swing, it’s the perfect time for Minnesota high schoolers to gain real-world experience—and get rewarded for it. Students entering grades 11 and 12 now have a unique opportunity to earn high school elective credit while working in senior care settings across the state.

New Interactive Resource Map Now Available

On May 29, 2025 by Kirstan Ketter

A New Americans Resource Map is now available on the LeadingAge Minnesota website! This interactive map of Minnesota’s community organizations, resources, and support is a new tool designed to connect your staff with resources and support that they need outside of work, and to subsequently strengthen our long-term care workforce.

Tell Us: How are Immigration Policy Shifts Impacting Your Workforce?

On May 15, 2025 by Anna Mowry

The federal government is moving to end certain temporary immigration statuses, impacting compassionate caregivers in the aging services workforce.

Results Are In: OnTrack Pass Rates Exceed the State Average

On May 8, 2025 by Anna Mowry

In 2024, over 1,000 OnTrack nursing assistants attempted the state exam to be placed on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry. OnTrack learners’ pass rates continue to surpass the state average.

New Immigration Enforcement Guide: Preparing for ICE Activity

On April 24, 2025 by Anna Mowry

With new changes in immigration enforcement policies, we have released a new free, member-only resource— Immigration Enforcement Guide: Preparing for ICE Activity — to help aging services organizations prepare to create safe, informed, and responsive environments in the event of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.

NETStudy 2.0 Offline Starting Friday Evening until Monday Morning

On April 24, 2025 by Mark Schulz

Late on Wednesday afternoon the Department of Human Services (DHS) notified NETStudy 2.0 system users via a GovDelivery message that the NETStudy 2.0 system will be offline for a server upgrade starting on Friday, 4/25, at 7 p.m. and expected to return to normal operations on Monday, 4/28, at 8 a.m.  During this server upgrade, do not log into NETStudy 2.0 until you receive an all-clear message from DHS.

Free Recruitment Tool: Get Matched to Job Seekers with CaringCareersStartHere.com

On April 10, 2025 by Anna Mowry

Is your organization receiving job seeker matches? CaringCareersStartHere.com is helping connect job seekers with long-term care employers and elevating careers in aging services across the state.

Now is the Time to Submit Your Data Portal First Quarter Data

On April 3, 2025 by Julie Apold

Data submission for Quarter 1, 2025 is now open through April 30 in the LeadingAge Minnesota Data Portal. Take advantage of this opportunity to track your operational performance over time and benchmark your data against others at the state, regional and other comparison groups, such as groups with similar capacity and services.

Nurse Aide Knowledge Test Now Available in Three Additional Languages

On January 30, 2025 by Anna Mowry

As of Jan. 27, 2025, the nurse aide knowledge test became available in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong, in addition to English, as allowed by Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.61.

LeadingAge Launches Leadership Diversity Fellowship

On January 30, 2025 by Anna Mowry

A $250,000 grant from the Next50 Foundation will allow LeadingAge, our national partner, to establish a Leadership Diversity Fellowship pilot program to help a high-potential, racially and ethnically diverse group of 10 fellows enter the field of aging services.

Holiday Pay Litigation Update - Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board

On January 16, 2025 by Mark Schulz

Last week, our attorney filed an amended complaint in our legal challenge of the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s (NHWSB) Holiday Pay Rule. The amended complaint included more information about the harms suffered by our members because of implementing the Holiday Pay Rule at their nursing homes.

Become a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor

On January 9, 2025 by Anna Mowry

Winona State University is offering another round for individuals to become certified instructors of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training certification this April.

CMS Unveils New Program Offering up to $50k Incentives for RNs in Nursing Homes

On January 9, 2025 by Anna Mowry

Yesterday, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News released a breaking story that Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will offer nursing students up to $40,000 in tuition reimbursement and/or $10,000 outright to work for a nursing home or state survey agency.

DEED: Regulations and Demographics Converge to Create a Momentous Long-Term Care Workforce Challenge

On January 9, 2025 by Anna Mowry

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's (DEED) new article highlights the looming impact of federal minimum staffing regulations on Minnesota's nursing homes.

DEED’s Employer Engagement Team: Connecting Employers with Skilled Workers

On January 2, 2025 by Anna Mowry

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has launched the Employer Engagement Team to address workforce challenges by connecting employers with skilled workers, particularly in the Drive for 5 fields: caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology, and trades.