Recent content from Jessie Van Berkel
Group home rental licenses: Tool for oversight or discrimination?
Lawmakers are considering whether to exempt small group homes and assisted living facilities from rental licensing regulations. City officials are worried.
What the Minnesota Department of Human Services breakup means for you
State leaders hope splitting up the agency that serves about 1.5 million Minnesotans will lead to better service and more accountability.
Frustration builds as some rural Minnesotans struggle to get to medical appointments
Nonemergency medical transportation companies provide a federally-mandated service, but some say it's difficult to stay in business.
Stuck in jail: Minnesotans with mental illness languish in lockup
The wait time to access treatment for those in jail is at an all-time high. A new report suggests fixes, but they are complicated and costly.
Minnesota lawmakers eye additional oversight for peer recovery services
Legislators are considering regulations to rein in 'wild West' of peer addiction recovery services.
Many Minnesotans with disabilities earn far less than minimum wage. A push for equal pay continues.
Advocates want Minnesota to join other states ending subminimum wages, but the goal remains divisive as others fear people will be left out.
Minnesota addiction treatment centers closing, despite demand
As drug overdose deaths remain high, treatment providers said 2023 stood out for the number of program closures.
Study proposes reimbursement rate fix for Minnesota's broken mental health system
Lawmakers warn changes to provider reimbursement rates in the near future could be limited with a looming state budget deficit.
More Minnesota school staff, students train to combat teen overdoses
Naloxone has been administered at least twice in Twin Cities area schools so far this school year as the opioid crisis reaches students.
Minnesota volunteers who advocate for abused kids fear end of program could leave kids in danger
The state could become the second in the nation not to use volunteers, a move officials with the State Guardian ad Litem Board said is needed.