Taking Authority Over Autism

James Clark, Inspector General of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, talks about how his office is fighting fraud and working to protect taxpayer funded services.

Pacer has a unique program that brings puppets to the classroom to teach students about inclusion and acceptance.

https://www.pacer.org/events/puppets/

If you've received healthcare in Ramsey County, the place you normally get care for you and your family could have moved. They've got a new location, and Sheletta's going to tell you where, along with the new services they're offering on the latest episode of her podcast.

Help is available for families who lost a Medicare provider after Minnesota’s revalidation process. Sheletta chats with her friends from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to offer resources available to help families access the services they need. 

https://mn.gov/dhs/find-care/

Sheletta chats with her friends from Ramsey County about how important it is to test for lead in soil, in your homes, and in your children.

• https://www.ramseycountymn.gov/residents/health-medical/healthy-homes/lead-home
• https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/lead/home/testlead.html
• https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead#resources-and-more-information

Sheletta chats with her friends at the Mall of America about their new artful arches that celebrate their inclusive spirit as well as their new partnership with Fraser to make the mall more accessible to all shoppers.

Benjamin E. Mays, a St. Paul public elementary school, will become Afrocentric in the fall, adopting a new progressive teaching model. 

Is your adult child with autism aging out of school-based services and needs help landing a job? Sheletta chats with Mindshift Works, a Minnesota-based organization that helps employers find wonderful workers on the spectrum. 

https://mindshift.works/

 Looking for something fun for your high-functioning autistic child to do this summer? The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers many outdoor skills programs for beginners. From overnight camping trips to fishing lessons, there's bound to be something fun and exciting for your children to enjoy.

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/ican/index.html

If you're looking for an opportunity to help victims of sexual violence, Ramsey County is training volunteers to staff its crisis line. Sheletta chats with Liz De La Torre to find out more about the program.

With the trauma that the Hispanic community is experiencing with Operation Metro Surge, one organization is working to address mental health, protective factors, and opioid education in a culturally responsive way. Sheletta chats with Karina Kelton of Raices Latinas Minnesota about the programs and services they provide to Washington County residents.

Sheletta chats with Shelley Neilsen Gatti at the University of St Thomas and Annette Lee from St. Paul Public Schools about a really unique program that provides a non traditional program that creates a pathway to get more diverse teachers in the classrooms.

When Sheletta's father-in-law moved into their home, he felt alone and isolated from his friends. She wishes she had known about Friends & Co. to help him find a phone buddy to chat with to lift his spirits. Featuring Emma Lucchesi from Friends & Co., discussing the ‘Coffee Talk’ program, which connects older adults through meaningful conversation and community. 

Moms with autism oftentimes go without eating. The long days and even longer nights don't lend themselves to a sit down breakfast with the kids. Dinners can be daunting. So how do you get a nutritious, quick meal?  Sheletta found a sweet surprise in the frozen food section at her local Hy-Vee grocery store that allows busy moms to have a tasty treat!

Cannabis is legal in Minnesota, but that doesn't mean you should be lax about where you store it. Kids with autism are inquisitive and will reach for things they're not supposed to have. Sheletta talks with her friends in Minneapolis about a program that will give you a bag to lock up your goodies, free of charge, so you can keep your kiddos safe.