Human Services Office
Active dates:1975-1977
Function: Coordinate policies, procedures, and activities of various state human services agencies and county human services boards.
The Office shall present an interim report to the 1976 Legislature and a final report to the 1977 Legislature for the reorganization of the delivery of state and local human services.
History:
The 1975 Legislature recognized the need to address the issue of human services fragmentation at the state level in order to further the partnership with local government and provide better services to people; as provided in Laws 1975, Chapter 434, Section 2, subdivision 24, for the implementation of a "program for standardization of personnel policies, evaluation and fiscal practices, forms and procedures·among the Departments of Public Welfare, Health, Corrections, Employment Services and
the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in the Department of Education and the federal categorical program activities in their
relationships to Human Services Boards", thus the Huiman Services Office was created.
In December 1976, Director William Quirin announced the the 1977 Legislature would be asked to combine 10 departments and agencies into two new State Human Services departments. A Department of Economic Security would include: Employment Services, Governor's Manpower Office, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (then in Education), and Income Maintenance in DPW. A Department of Health and Social Services would include: Departments of Health and Corrections, the Residential and Community Services Bureaus of DPW, and the federally funded aging, developmental disabilities, and health planning and development programs.
Executive Order 114 from 1975 stipulated the Office shall terminate by June 30, 1977. It was placed in State Planning Agency (1977 Minn. Laws Chap. 411). The state planning officer shall have authority for human services development.
Chapter 411 (HF 1052) of 1977 also changed the name of human services regional commissions to human services boards. It expanded the duties of the boards and provided for representation on advisory committees. It provided for notification of intent to establish a human services board and for the awarding of planning and implementation grants by a state planning officer.
Agency heads:
William Quirin, Director of the Office of Human Services (September 1975-
Notes:
Dating on file copies of executive orders seems irregular.
Documents/Articles:
News clippings and documents. Agencies Notebook Collection, 1975-1976.
Record last updated:
10/03/2012
All information on this group from the Library’s collection of agency notebooks has been digitized. These
materials are incorporated into the “documents/articles” section of the record. Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.