Policy Updates

July 2025 Policy Changes

Published July 16, 2025

We have had two significant events which include the 2025 legislative session and a recent compliance audit that have required us to make a few revisions that affect our company’s policies and procedures for our licensed 245D services.

Please see the explanations below for what changed in the policies.

Reporting and Review of Maltreatment of Minors – Language was added for mandated reports to report instances where students have seven or more unexcused absences in a school year to comply with statutory language.

Client Service Rights – Language was added which states that our clients “Have access to personal possessions and financial resources at any time.” to comply with statutory language.

Client Grievance – The name, address and telephone number of our new Executive Director, Mike Greenbaum, was added to comply with statutory language.

Employee Drug, and Alcohol Free Workplace – The word “Chemical” was added to state Our commitment to a drug-free workplace is compromised when any client, employee, volunteer, or visitor is under the influence of drugs, alcohol or chemicals that impairs their ability to provide services or care during scheduled program or work hours. To comply with statutory language.

The policies may be viewed in full using the link below, or you may contact a Program Director directly to have a copy mailed to you. These policies will be in effect as of 08/01/2025. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Download Policies & Procedures Handbook

January 2025 Policy & Procedure Updates

Published January 8, 2025

Below is a list of Merrick’s program policy and procedure updates that impact service delivery.

1. The Client Grievance Policy was rewritten to clarify the difference between a concern and a formal grievance. There are now two documents which will be used by our managers to address concerns and grievances separately.
2. There is a new policy titled Policy and Procedure on Program Support Ratios and Service Rates. The purpose of this policy is to establish our procedures that ensure a consistent process for requesting service units, billing appropriate service rates, and sufficient support ratios are provided. This new policy will be effective March 1, 2025.
3. The Program Abuse Prevention Plans have updated demographics. Beginning in 2025, Merrick will be collecting data on client ethnicity in order to provide more inclusive programming that is tailored to each person’s preferences.
4. The Guiding Principles of Merrick Program Services was updated to include information on our newer services including Positive Supports and Individualize Home Supports and also includes a new statement on informed choice.

These documents can be downloaded as a PDF below, and we will mail a hardcopy to you with written request. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Download Client Grievance Summary and Resolution Notice
Download Client Concern Summary
Download Program Policies & Procedures – January 15, 2025 Edition

October 2024 Policy & Procedure Revisions

Published October 11, 2024

The 2024 legislative session made a few revisions that affect our company’s policies and procedures for our licensed 245D services. According to MN Statutes, chapter 245D.10, subdivision 4, we must provide a written notice to all persons or their legal representative and case manager at least 30 days before implementing any procedural revisions to policies affecting a person’s service-related or protection-related rights under section 245D.04 and maltreatment reporting policies and procedures. The notice must explain the revision that was made and include information on how to access a copy of the revised policy or procedure. The license holder must document the reasonable cause for not providing the notice at least 30 days before implementing the revisions.

*Due to the effective date of 7/1/2024 of the legislative changes, we are unable to provide you with a 30-day notice before implementing the revisions. Please see the below explanations for what changed in the policy. You may go to our website at www.merrickinc.org for a link to these policies and may contact a Program Director directly to have a copy mailed to you.

Reporting and Review of Maltreatment of Minors – Language was updated to reference a new statute, 142B.54 on the internal review requirements for reports of maltreatment of minors.

Admission – Language was updated to refer to the 45/60 day meeting for Intensive Services to be called the initial planning meeting and timeline language was updated to meet the revised statute language.

Download Program Policies & Procedures – 2024 Revised Version

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions.