DENNY: I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

JULIE IS OFF THIS WEEK AS WE ADJUST OUR SHOW TO COMPLY WITH THE MAYOR'S RECENT COVID-19 DECLARATION.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

MINNESOTA STATE AUDITOR JULIE BLAHA JOINS US TO DISCUSS HER OFFICE AND WHAT IT IS UP TO AFTER THREE YEARS SINCE HER START.

WE WILL SHED LIGHT ON HOW THE PANDEMIC IS IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE WILL BE JOINED IN STUDIO BY GUESTS TO DISCUSS WHAT IS NEEDED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES GET THROUGH THESE TRYING TIMES.

THESE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION COMING UP NOW ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ DENNY: HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

AS OF JANUARY 12TH, SUPERIOR SCHOOLS HAVE RETURNED TO MANDATED MASKING.

AFTER ONE WEEK BACK FROM THE HOLIDAY BREAK, 65 STUDENTS AND 20 STAFF MEMBERS TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

THIS MEASURE TOOK EFFECT JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE MAYOR EMILY LARSON ENACTED DULUTH'S 30 DAY MASK MANDATE, WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT TODAY AT 5:00 P.M.

THE ESMOND BUILDING, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SEAWAY HOTEL, CAUGHT FIRE MONDAY MORNING IN SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES, CREATING QUITE THE FRENZY IN DULUTH'S LINCOLN PARK CRAFT DISTRICT.

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE BUILDING HAS CAUGHT FIRE SINCE CHRISTMAS EVE.

SOME POWER LINES WERE TURNED OFF TO SUPPORT FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS.

FIREFIGHTERS FROM SUPERIOR ASSISTED THE DULUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IT TOOK NEARLY SEVEN HOURS FOR THE LARGE BLAZE TO BE PUT OUT.

A SNOWMOBILE STRUCK TWO-TIME BEARGREASE MARATHON WINNER RYAN REDDINGTON'S TEAM WHILE HE WAS TRAINING ON THE TRI-COUNTY CORRIDOR TRAIL IN BAYFIELD COUNTY, WISCONSIN.

THE COLLISION LEFT ONE OF REDDINGTON'S DOGS WITH A BROKEN LEG AND IN NEED OF SURGERY.

REDDINGTON HAS FILED A POLICE REPORT WITH THE BAYFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AUTHORITIES SAY THERE ARE NO SUSPECTS AT THIS TIME.

THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS, ALSO KNOWN AS NAMI, HAS SET UP A WIDE VARIETY OF FREE ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH CLASSES.

THE CLASSES WERE DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS.

THIS PROGRAM OFFER IS GOING ON THROUGH FEBRUARY.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT THE NAMI WEBSITE.

NOW TO OUR FIRST DISCUSSION.

WITH MILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING INTO THE STATE'S TREASURY, IT IS MINNESOTA STATE AUDITOR JULIE BLAHA'S JOB TO MAKE SURE THE FEDERAL CARES ACT AND ARPA FUNDS ARE SPENT WISELY.

HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT HER OFFICE AND THE IMPORTANT WORK IT DOES IS STATE AUDITOR JULIE BLAHA.

AUDITOR BLAHA, THANKS FOR BEING HERE ON A RATHER SONY NIGHT -- S NOWY NIGHT.

JULIE: CONGRATULATIONS ON 60 YEARS.

DENNY: WHAT IS THE JOB OF THE STATE AUDITOR?

JULIE: IT IS DIFFERENT IN EVERY STATE, BUT IN MINNESOTA WE SEE OVER $40 BILLION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

WE DO THAT SO WE CAN PROTECT THE LOCAL DECISIONS PEOPLE MAKE.

WE THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK WE DO IS DONE LOCALLY.

OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN NEIGHBORS FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, WHAT THEY FIGURE OUT HAPPENS.

WE HAVE EXAMINATIONS.

YOU HEAR ABOUT THESE THE MOST, AUDITS.

WE PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT.

EVERYTHING FROM TRAINING TO SOFTWARE FOR A TOWNSHIP.

FINALLY WE TAKE ALL THIS DATA.

WE PUT IT TOGETHER IN REPORTS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON FACTS.

DENNY: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU AUDIT LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING?

JULIE: WE ARE CHECKING STANDARDS.

FIRST, ARE YOU KEEPING TRACK OF THINGS PROPERLY?

DO YOU HAVE ALL THE PREVENTATIVE PROCESSES IN PLACE SO YOU AVOID MISTAKES IN THE FIRST PLACE?

AND WE ARE DOUBLE CHECKING TO MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO.

WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU WERE GOING TO DO, HOW DID YOU DO IT, AND DID YOU DO IT?

DENNY: HOW DO YOU NOTIFY THAT AN AUDIT SHOULD BE CONDUCTED?

JULIE: AUDITS IN GENERAL ARE DONE ANNUALLY.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSUME THAT AUDITS ARE PUNITIVE.

MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING OF IRS PERSONAL AUDIT, VERY DIFFERENT.

AUDITS ARE NOT PUNITIVE.

THEY ARE NOT EVEN PRIMARILY INVESTIGATIVE, THEY ARE PREVENTATIVE.

THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE YOU AVOID PROBLEMS.

IF SOMETHING DOES GO WRONG AND WE NEED TO FIX SOMETHING, WE MAY DO AN INVESTIGATION.

TO START INVESTIGATIONS, THOSE ARE TYPICALLY STARTED WITH A TIP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REQUIRED TO TELL US WHEN THEY SEE A PROBLEM.

A LOT OF TIMES IT IS CITIZENS CALLING US.

DENNY: WHO SETS THE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS?

JULIE: IN THE U.S., MINNESOTA, WE FOLLOW NATIONAL STANDARDS.

THESE ARE THE GOVERNMENT BOARD OF AUDITING ACCOUNTING STANDARDS.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE SHOCKED THAT WE CAN GET A LITTLE STUCK IN THE ACRONYMS IN MY OFFICE.

THESE ARE NATIONAL STANDARDS.

OUR JOB IS TO APPLY THOSE.

WHEN SOMETHING IS SPECIFIC TO MINNESOTA, WE CAN HELP DEVELOP MORE SPECIFIC STANDARDS.

DENNY: IN MINNESOTA, ARE ALL GOVERNMENT UNITS EVENTUALLY AUDITED?

JULIE: NO.

MOST GOVERNMENT UNITS ARE OPERATING AT A LARGE ENOUGH LEVEL THAT THEY NEED TO BE AUDITED.

A LOT OF SMALLER TOWNSHIPS MAY NOT BE FULLY AUDITED, BUT HAVE OTHER CHECKS THAT HAPPEN EVERY COUPLE YEARS.

ALL THE COUNTIES, MOST CITIES ARE HAVING SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL EXAMINATION EVERY YEAR.

DENNY: CAN LOCAL RESIDENTS REQUEST AN AUDIT OF THEIR TOWN/ JULIE: YOU CERTAINLY COULD.

WE GET REQUESTS FROM RESIDENTS, SOMETIMES FROM LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WE CAN TAKE A SPECIAL LOOK.

RIGHT NOW WE ALREADY AUDIT OVER 200 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.

WE A LOT OF TIME CHECK THE AUDITS OF ENTITIES THAT USE A PRIVATE FIRM AS WELL.

DENNY: IF A PERSON HAS A CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE MISUSE OF FUNDS, WHAT DID THEY DO?

CALL YOUR OFFICE?

JULIE: SIMPLY GO ON THE INTERNET, TYPING IN OSA MINNESOTA.

YOU WILL COME TO OUR SITE.

TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.

SOMETIMES WE CAN QUICKLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IF YOU CALL IN.

OTHER TIMES WE WILL DO A MORE DETAILED INVESTIGATION.

ON AVERAGE, MINNESOTA, WE ARE LUCKY THAT WE ARE A GOOD GOVERNMENT STATE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF ISSUES I THINK THAT OTHER STATES HAVE, WHICH IS GREAT FOR US IN MINNESOTA.

BUT WE ARE ALWAYS READY TO TAKE A LOOK WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A CONCERN.

DENNY: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

TIME GOES QUICKLY ONCE WE ARE ON THE AIR.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TALKING WITH YOU, AUDITOR.

WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP ON A SNOWY NIGHT.

JULIE BLAHA, MINNESOTA STATE AUDITOR.

THANK YOU.

JULIE: YOU BET.

♪ DENNY: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."

EACH WEEK WE HEAR FROM AN AREA JOURNALIST ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE COVERING.

OUR GUEST TODAY IS MARSHALL HELMBERGER, THE PUBLISHER OF THE TIMBERJAY.

♪ >> WE ARE REPORTING ON GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP'S DECISION TO INSTALL EQUIPMENT TO TREAT WELL WATER AT THE TOWN HALL.

LAST YEAR ONE OF THE TOWN BOARD MEMBERS HAD INSISTED ON GETTING THE WELL WATER AT THE HALL TESTED.

THOSE TESTS CAME BACK SHOWING LEVELS OF ARSENIC SEVERAL TIMES THE ESTABLISHED DRINKING WATER LIMIT.

ARSENIC IS NOT THAT UNCOMMON UP HERE SINCE IT OCCURS NATURALLY IN THE GLACIAL TILL.

IT IS SOMETHING MOST WELL OWNERS IN THE AREA ARE NOT TESTING FOR, HOWEVER.

BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TESTING HAS INCREASED SINCE OUR STORY APPEARED.

THE ARSENIC LEVEL AT THE TOWN HALL WAS A BIGGER ISSUE THAN IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THE HALL WAS LOCATED LESS THAN A MILE FROM LAKE VERMILION.

MANY CABIN OWNERS ON THE LAKE DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN WELLS AND REGULARLY USE THE OUTSIDE SPIGOT AT THE HOTEL FOR DRINKING WATER.

THAT PRACTICE ENDED ONCE THE WATER TESTS REVEALED THE PROBLEM.

PERHAPS SEASONAL RESIDENTS WILL START TO USE THAT WATER AGAIN IN THE FUTURE IF THE NEW TREATMENT PROCESS THAT THE TOWNSHIP IS PLANNING TO INSTALL PROVES EFFECTIVE.

THE NEW SYSTEM WILL COST ABOUT $7,000 TO INSTALL AND WILL TREAT THE WATER FOR EXCESS IRON AND MANGANESE, TWO OTHER METALS COMMON IN WATER HERE.

HIGH ARSENIC LEVELS IN WELL WATER KNEW THE CAMPGROUND AT THE LAKE VERMILION STATE PARK FORCED THE DNR TO ABANDON ITS PLANS.

INSTEAD THEY INSTALLED A LAKE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM TO SERVE THE CAMPGROUND, WHICH WAS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN HAD THEY JUST BEEN ABLE TO USE WELL WATER.

♪ AND WE ARE ALSO REPORTING ON A NEW STUDY BY THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY AND THE DNR THAT DOCUMENTS THE PERIOD OF ICE COVERAGE ON MINNESOTA LAKE'S, WHICH HAS SHORTENED BY 50 YEARS INASMUCH AS THREE WEEKS IN SOME CASES.

THE PERIOD FROM THE START OF ICE COVERAGE TO ICE OUT HAS DECREASED BY 10 TO 14 DAYS SINCE THE LATE 1960'S AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

EVEN MORE FOR THAT FOR LAKE VERMILION WHERE THE AVERAGE PERIOD OF ICE COVERAGE HAS DROPPED FROM 165 DAYS IN THE LATE 1960'S TO JUST 142 DAYS CURRENTLY.

ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THAT INCREASE COMES FROM LATER ICING DATES.

THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE TO FOLKS IN OUR AREA.

MILDER FALLS HAVE BECOME A CONSISTENT PATTERN IN RECENT YEARS IN OUR REGION.

THAT MEANS LAKES ARE FREEZING UP CONSIDERABLY LATER THAN THEY USED TO.

ICE OUT DATES ARE COMING FOUR TO FIVE DAYS EARLIER IN SOME CASES.

IT IS DEFINITELY IMPACTING WINTER RECREATION IN THE REGION, PARTICULARLY ICE FISHING AND SNOWMOBILING.

THERE IS NO REASON TO NOT THINK THIS TREND WILL CONTINUE, IN OTHER WORDS THE ICE DURATION WILL DECREASE.

THE CLIMATE IS AFFECTING THE AVERAGE LAKE TEMPERATURES.

THE AVERAGE JULY SURFACE TO BUTCHER HAS INCREASED ON AVERAGE.

THAT HAS SERIOUS RAMIFICATIONS FOR NATURAL LAKE HABITATS.

♪ MARSHALL: WE ARE ALSO REPORTING ON A PLAN BY A GROUP OF THREE TWIN CITIES ENTREPRENEURS WHO RECENTLY PURCHASED THE LONG BRANCH SALOON ON FALL LAKE.

THE THREE PARTNERS CALL THEMSELVES THE TRAVAIL COLLECTIVE.

THEY HAVE BEEN REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL IN OPERATING UNIQUE RESTAURANTS IN THE TWIN CITIES AREA.

AT A RECENT MEETING, THEY OUTLINED THEIR PLANS TO HAVE FOOD SERVICE AT THE SALOON THIS SPRING.

THEY HAVE PLANS TO DEVELOP SIGNIFICANT LODGING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY, STARTING WITH RV'S AND EVENTUALLY STARTING TWO SMALL CABINS.

THEY ARE ENVISIONING AN EVENT CENTER.

THE SITE HAS ABOUT 900 FEET OF SHORELINE ON FALL LAKE, WHICH OFFERS A DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE BOUNDARY WATER, SO IT IS A POPULAR LOCATION.

I AM SURE IT WILL BE VERY POPULAR.

THEY WILL NEED TO UPGRADE SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE, INCLUDING CONNECTING THE PROPERTY TO BE USABLE SEWER AND WATER.

-- TO MUNICIPAL SEWER AND WATER.

IT CERTAINLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN WYNTON IN DECADES AND COULD BE A REAL ATTRACTION FOR VISITORS.

FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT HEARD OF WYNTON, IT IS A TINY FORMER SAWMILL TOWN.

♪ DENNY: THE CURRENT WORKFORCE CRISIS IS IMPACTING MANY PEOPLE HERE IN THE TWIN PORTS.

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE FACING PARTICULAR CHALLENGES.

ALMANAC NORTH PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARC NORTHLAND, A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, AND AN IMPACTED INDIVIDUAL ABOUT THEIR FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCES.

MEGAN: BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD ABOUT A 10,000 OPEN POSITIONS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WITH HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES.

THOSE ARE PEOPLE RECEIVING SERVICES IN GROUP HOMES AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES AND OTHERS AS WELL.

>> INDIVIDUALS DEPEND ON THESE SERVICES.

THERE ARE DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR INDIVIDUALS IF THEY CAN'T GET ACCESS TO CARING PROFESSIONS.

THEY MAY HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR NURSING HOME.

THEY MAY LOSE THEIR JOB.

THEY ARE DEPENDENT ON INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR DAILY LIVING.

THEY DEPEND ON THAT TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIVE LIVES.

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST STARTED, WE DIDN'T REALLY GET TO SEE FAMILY OR FRIENDS LIKE WE USUALLY WERE ABLE TO.

SO THAT WAS REALLY HARD.

I COULDN'T WORK FOR SIX MONTHS, SO I COULD NOT SEE MY FRIENDS AND COWORKERS.

WE HAD TO FACE TIME A LOT.

IT DEFINITELY CHANGED.

MEGAN: VOCATIONAL PROVIDERS HAD TO JUST SHUT DOWN.

THEN THEY TRIED TO REBUILD.

THEY HAD TO FURLOUGH STAFF, NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO GET STAFF BACK.

IT IS NOT EASY TO DO.

>> WE MADE A PRIORITY THESE LAST FEW YEARS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN OUR STATE.

WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THIS FUNDING IS GEARED FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.

WE WERE ABLE TO INVEST SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY, OVER $650 MILLION LAST YEAR, SO BOLSTER HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES.

PART OF WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN IS MAKE SURE WE COULD PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE COULD RAISE WAGES, BECAUSE WAGES HAVE BEEN SO DEPRESSED IN THIS SECTOR FOR SO LONG.

WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RAISE THE WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.

THAT COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THAT IS A PERMANENT COST TO THE STATE.

NOW WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT BESIDES INCREASING THE WAGE, WHAT OTHER BENEFITS ARE OF VALUE TO THE CARING PROFESSION?

I THINK SERVICES LIKE CHILDCARE, TUITION BENEFITS, GOOD HEALTH AND MEDICAL BENEFITS, PAID TIME OFF.

WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN WE ADD TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THESE PROFESSIONS?

THOSE ARE WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR, THOSE TYPES OF BENEFITS.

>> THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH PEOPLE THAT MAY BE VACCINATED, BUT STILL GETTING A BREAKTHROUGH OR CAN'T GO TO WORK.

>> I REALLY WISH THERE WAS MORE TRANSPORTATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ESPECIALLY IN DULUTH.

THERE IS ONLY LIKE ONE OR TWO ADAPTIVE BUSES OR CAP COMPANIES -- CAB COMPANIES.

WHEN I CALL SOMETIMES, THEY ARE SOMETIMES FULL.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE LIMITED STAFF, SO IT IS HARD TO GET TO PLACES SOMETIMES.

>> WHEN I HEAR MY CONSTITUENTS ASKING FOR A TAX CUT OR RETURN OF SOME OF THIS ADDITIONAL REVENUE, I KNOW WE HAVE SO MANY MORE NEEDS THAT WE ARE NOT MEETING.

I HAVE SO MANY USES FOR THAT FUNDS THAT I HOPE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT MEETING THE NEEDS OF EVERYONE.

I THINK WE ARE SEEING THAT DURING THE COVID CRISIS.

BUT FOR THIS COMMUNITY, IT WILL BE LOOKING AT BENEFITS AND WAGES FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS AND WORKING WITH PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN OFFER SERVICES.

NOW THEY ARE ASKING FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE STAFFING CRISES.

THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FILL POSITIONS OR HAVE PEOPLE OUT SICK WITH COVID, SO THEY HAVE A REAL NEED RIGHT NOW FOR WORKERS.

>> IT IS DIFFICULT.

DENNY: ARC NORTHLAND LISTS A NUMBER OF RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ON ITS WEBSITE.

AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES, THERE'S A REAL CONCERN ABOUT LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON THIS COMMUNITY OF GREAT VALUE.

JOINING US NOW IS JON NELSON, WHO SERVES AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, INC., OR RSI, IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.

RSI SERVES ADULTS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH BOTH PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE BARRIERS.

ALSO JOINING US IS TERRY MCCABE, WHO IS THE VISION DIRECTOR FOR HOME & COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES AT ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.

WELCOME ON THIS VERY SNOWY FRIDAY NIGHT.

WHAT IS THE JOB OF RSI?

JON: RSI IS A NONPROFIT BASED IN DULUTH, STARTED SERVICES IN 1978.

WE SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN GROUP HOMES, BUT ALSO SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN HOMES, PROVIDING HELP WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING, HELPING THEM WORK AND HELPING THEM PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY.

DENNY: HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

JON: IT HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE IMPACT ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

ORGANIZATIONS LIKE RSI RIGHT NOW IN MINNESOTA ARE AVERAGING A 30% VACANCY RATE IN POSITIONS.

THAT MEANS 30% OF OUR WORKFORCE IS NOT THERE.

WE ARE SPREAD THAT THIN IN TRYING TO SUPPORT PEOPLE.

PROGRAMS LIKE RSI ARE HAVING TO ASK PARENTS TO TAKE PEOPLE HOME.

WE ARE HITTING THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE LOSING SERVICES AND NOT HAVING A PLACE TO GO.

DENNY: BIG CHANGES BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

TERRY, YOU ARE THE SUPERVISOR OF AGING AND ADULT DISABILITIES FOR THE NORTHERN PART OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL?

TERRY: OUR JOB IN HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES IS TO ASSIST PEOPLE FOR ELIGIBILITY -- TO ASSESS PEOPLE FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CONNECT THEM TO THOSE SERVICES.

DENNY: WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

JON: ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE.

WHEN COUNTY CASE MANAGERS WHO WORK FOR TERRY CONTACT US, THEY MAY BE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THEIR OWN APARTMENT WHO NEEDS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR MEAL PLANNING.

IT ALSO COULD BE SOMEONE WHO HAS GOT EXTREME AND COMPLICATED NEEDS, PHYSICAL NEEDS, MEDICAL NEEDS, SO THEY NEED 24 HOUR SUPERVISION.

SO IT REALLY IS A WIDE SPECTRUM OF SERVICES.

DENNY: WHAT KIND OF HOUSING AVAILABILITIES ARE THERE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY?

TERRY: INTERESTING STATISTIC.

ON OUR COORDINATED ENTRY HOUSING WAITLIST, WE HAVE 73% OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT LIST HAVE A DISABILITY OF LONG-TERM DURATION.

IT CAN BE A PHYSICAL DISABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY.

THAT IS ONE ASPECT OF HOMELESSNESS.

THE OTHER ASPECT JON AND I PROBABLY SEE MOST OFTEN IS PEOPLE WHO ARE PERHAPS LIVING IN A GROUP HOME, FOR EXAMPLE, AND AREN'T ABLE TO STAY THERE ANYMORE.

THERE IS NOT A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO TO.

PEOPLE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, THEIR NEEDS MAY BECOME TOO GREAT FOR THEIR FAMILY.

DENNY: ARE THERE A NUMBER OF GROUP HOMES IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY?

TERRY: YES, THERE ARE.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1159 ADULT FOSTER CARE FEDS.

WE ALSO HAVE CUSTOMIZED LIVING, ALSO KNOWN AS ASSISTED LIVING.

LONG-TERM CARE LIKE NURSING FACILITIES.

DENNY: DO YOU TRY TO HAVE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES IF THEY CAN?

HOW DO YOU WORK ON THAT?

TERRY: YES, THAT IS THE GOAL OF HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, TO ALLOW FOR THAT CHOICE SO PEOPLE CAN REMAIN IN THEIR OWN HOMES, THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES WITH THE SERVICES THEY NEED, LIVING IN THE MOST INTEGRATED SETTINGS POSSIBLE.

DENNY: WHO QUALIFIES FOR OUTPATIENT COUNSELING?

JON: IT COMES DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF NEED AND IF THE PERSON IS ABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES.

MOST OF THE TIME THEY JUST NEED OUTPATIENT.

MOST OF THE FOLKS WE ARE SUPPORTING ARE ON MEDICAID.

AS TERRY DESCRIBED, THEY ARE GETTING AN ASSESSMENT FOR THE LEVEL OF SERVICES THEY GET.

THE CHALLENGE IS WHETHER YOU NEED A FEW SERVICES OR A LOT OF SERVICES.

YOU COULD BE LIVING IN YOUR OWN APARTMENT, HAVE A JOB, AND RIGHT NOW YOU MAY NOT HAVE A STAFF PERSON TO HELP GET YOU OUT OF BED OR MAKE A MEAL OR HELP SHOWERING OR GET DRESSED.

THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WE DON'T HAVE THAT CAN GET OUT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE.

DENNY: IS THERE ALSO SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN?

JON: ABSOLUTELY.

RSI OPERATES THREE FOSTER CARE HOMES IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY FOR CHILDREN.

IT'S JUST AS DIFFICULT.

A LOT OF KIDS PLACED OUT OF THE HOME HAVE COMPLEX NEEDS, EITHER BEHAVIORAL OR MEDICAL NEEDS.

IT'S HARD TO FIND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO WORK WITH THAT LEVEL OF NEED IN A GOOD ECONOMY, AND NOW IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND SOMEONE.

DENNY: ARE MOST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THEIR OWN HOMES, OR NOT REALLY?

JON: I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY ARE IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

DENNY: AT WHAT POINT THEN MIKE THEY NEED RESIDENTIAL HELP OTHER THAN THEIR OWN HOME?

JON: FROM OUR EXPERIENCE, DO THE Y NEED WI -- ARE THEY PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK WITH THINGS THEY CAN'T THEMSELVES?

IF THEY ARE AT RISK WHERE THEY CAN'T EAT HEALTHY OR MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, THAT IS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR 24 HOUR SUPPORTS.

DENNY: HOW DOES THE COUNTY RESPOND?

DOES SOMEONE MAKE A PHONE CALL OR SOMETHING AND SAY I HAVE SOMEONE THAT REALLY NEEDS SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE COUNTY?

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

TERRY: WE GET THOSE CALLS EVERY DAY.

DENNY: YOU DO?

TERRY: YES.

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, THAT IS WHERE THE CHOICES ASSESSMENT COMES IN.

WE ASSESS WHAT NEEDS YOU HAVE AND MATCH YOU WITH SERVICES TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.

THAT IS OPEN TO ANYBODY IN THE STATE REGARDLESS OF INCOME.

DENNY: OUR TIME IS UP ALREADY.

JON NELSON, TERRY MCCABE, WE REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING WHAT RSI IS ALL ABOUT.

THAT'S OUR TIME FOR NOW, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST UPDATES BY FOLLOWING ALMANAC NORTH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

OR VISIT THE WDSE WEBSITE FOR PROGRAM UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATION.

AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP FOR ON-DEMAND VIEWING OF ALMANAC NORTH AND YOUR FAVORITE PBS PROGRAMS.

HERE AT THE STATION, WE WISH YOU ALL GOOD HEALTH.

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON.

GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY, AND BE KIND.

♪