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Happy Holidays from MRCI-CDS!

We wish you a wonderful holiday season. MRCI-CDS will be closed on Monday, December 25th and Monday, January 1st.
The 12/31/23 deadline for the 2023 Satisfaction Survey is quickly approaching! Please use the button below to complete the survey electronically, or return the mailed copy that was sent to you.

We appreciate your participation in the survey, and look forward to implementing your feedback in 2024.
New Minnesota State Law: Sick and Safe Statute MN 181.9413

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time law requires employers to provide paid leave to employees who work in the state of Minnesota. Sick and safe time is paid leave employers must provide to employees, regardless of the number of employees, in Minnesota that can be used for certain reasons, including when an employee is sick, to care for a sick family member or to seek assistance if an employee or their family member has experienced domestic abuse.

An employee earns one hour of sick and safe time for every 30 hours worked and can earn a maximum of 48 hours each year and will be paid out at the employee’s current rate of pay when used. The accumulation rate is same as the Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit for workers under the collective bargaining agreement (programs of CDCS, CSG and PCA Choice).

What can sick and safe time be used for?
·        Employee’s mental or physical illness, treatment or preventive care;
·        If injury of employee or employee immediate family* occurs;
·        Absence due to domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking of the employee or a family member;
·        If public emergency arises.
 
*Immediate family is as defined: child, adult child, foster child, spouse, sibling,
parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandchild, grandparent, or stepparent.
 
The law requires employers to allow the workers request for sick and safe time as the worker needs. The accumulation of hours will appear on the worker’s pay stub which can be accessed through ADP after pay days.
 
For workers who fall under the Collective Bargaining Agreement and have opted out of PTO previously, MRCI strongly encourages families to connect with their County Case Manager under the program of CDCS to ensure there enough funds within all budget lines including taxes as the state law does require the leave.
 
MRCI will send notification to all workers in December with a timesheet for workers.
 
For more information on the new Sick and Safe Law please visit the Department of Labor and Industry website.
We were thrilled to celebrate Veterans Day last month! Veterans hold a spot near and dear to our hearts. MRCI was founded in 1953 to serve disabled veterans after the Korean War. Although we have expanded our service offerings over the years, we still offer programs designed specifically to assist veterans. We thank those who have served and who continue to serve.
Our Veterans Directed Services are expanded! In addition to Minnesota, we have been approved to provide this program in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa!
Thank you to everyone who entered our 3rd annual photo contest! These three are our randomly selected winners.

We look forward to sharing the rest of the photos in our 2024 Calendar and on social media throughout 2024!

Make sure you're following us on Facebook and LinkedIn to see your photos online!

Last call for extra calendars! We have a limited number remaining. Please email Kallie at kwolseth@mymrci.org to request one.
2024 Payroll Calendar

Click the calendar on the right to download a PDF copy.

This calendar can be found on our website throughout the year.

Use the link below to navigate to our site and sign up for weekly email reminders. Never forget about a payroll due date or pay day again!
Updates on Electronic Visit Verification from the Department of Human Services (DHS)

DHS has made an announcement regarding the geofence range for all workers clocking in and out through Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) systems.

As of December 1, 2023 DHS will change the geofence for clocking in and out of any EVV system. The change in geofence will go from 500 miles to 500 feet. You may be asking, how does this effect the participant receiving services, me, or my workers? For all non-live-in caregivers who are currently clocking in and out of the Cashe EVV system, the worker will need to be within 500 feet from the participant’s designated location where services are being offered.

The geofence adjustment will be in effect December 1, 2023. MRCI will continue to work with all families and workers as we transition through this change. Essentially, the Cashe system will not look or act any different than it currently does, workers will need to make sure their location is ‘on’ in app settings as well as be within the designated range of 500 ft while clocking through the app. Please note, this change does not effect live-in caregivers.

Live-in caregivers will be required to document all work hours once per day come December 1st. This means live-in caregivers will need to go into the app or web portal once per day to document the hours worked for the participant. This requirement is a change from what MRCI had previously communicated. This change has come as part of the continued soft launch process the state of Minnesota is currently in with DHS.

As MRCI continues through the EVV soft launch process, MRCI commits to keeping all participants, families, workers and Case Managers updated with information coming from DHS.
To learn more please visit:
·        DHS website Electronic Visit Verification page
·        DHS eList Announcement page

For questions or concerns please contact your program staff or our office at 800-829-7110.

From all of us here at CDS, we THANK YOU for an incredible 2023. We know this year has had some challenges, such as the State mandated implementation of EVV.

With that being said, we are looking forward to a bright 2024! Minimum wage increases and sick and safe leave are wonderful benefits from the state that caregivers so desperately deserve.
Do you make resolutions for the new year?
Always! And I stick to them
Yeah, but I don't achieve them all
No, I don't
I make resolutions year round, not just for the new year!
Last month we asked what your favorite winter time activity is, and the results are in... Staying inside, where it's warm took the lead with 61.3%, followed by Leaving Minnesnowta (17.7%). Snow ball fights and skiing came in close to one another at 11.3% and 9.7%. Stay tuned for the results of the resolution survey next month!
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Every Wednesday, we share photos sent to us by clients and families that define what self-direction means to them. You'll also find important updates, helpful articles, announcements, and more.

Like our page so you don't miss out!
2023 Training Schedule
Each year MRCI is required to assign training to all workers under the 245D programs of Individualized Home Supports (IHS) formerly known as Personal Supports, Respite, and now Homemaker. Below is the calendar of when the training will be assigned. 

Training is assigned in the beginning of the month and is due by the last day of the month. If your worker does not complete the training they will be temporarily suspended and not able to clock in or out through the app, or be paid for the time worked until complete.

If you have questions regarding the completion of the training you can connect with our program staff at 800-829-7110.
Month:
Subjects:
Once per year
CSSP-A/IAPP Annual Review
Homemaker Only
Annually, in June
8 Hour CORE
Homemaker Staff Under the 245D Programs: MRCI now is including the Positive Support Rule training annually. The training has been assigned, please log in and complete by the end of November. 
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1750 Energy Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
 (800) 829-7110