Jaelynn Blenkush, Program Director of the Jackson Square program, made sure our client’s had a great time and it worked!  Thank you Jaelynn!

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Give OUT Day is the national day of giving for the LGBTQ community – a 24-hour online fundraising event  that unites the LGBTQ community nationally to raise critically needed funds to support hundreds of nonprofits serving and advocating for the LGBTQ community.

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On January 31, 2017, Minnesota announced the launch of new savings accounts that could lift hundreds of people with disabilities out of poverty by allowing them to accumulate savings without jeopardizing their public health insurance coverage and other government benefits.

Nearly a decade in the making, the new accounts are considered a breakthrough for many of the roughly 600,000 Minnesotans with disabilities, who often are forced to impoverish themselves to qualify for public services. For the first time, people with disabilities and their families can set aside up to $14,000 a year for certain expenses without getting cut off from Social Security, Medicaid and other government programs.

Minnesota is among the first states in the nation to offer the accounts, known as ABLE accounts, which are considered among the broadest new benefits for the disability community in a quarter-century. Modeled after 529 college savings accounts, ABLE accounts allow money to grow tax-free to pay for a broad array of items — from housing to assistive technology — that can help people with disabilities live more independently in the community. Individuals can keep their Medical Assistance regardless of their account balance.

State and federal rules have long trapped many individuals with disabilities in poverty, particularly if they need the broader array of services covered by public health insurance. Since 1983, for instance, most of those trying to qualify for Minnesota’s version of Medicaid, known as Medical Assistance, must spend down their income to 80 percent of the poverty level and hold no more than $3,000 in assets. And Supplemental Security Income, a federal benefit also known as SSI, has an asset cap of just $2,000.

Since former President Barack Obama signed the ABLE Act into law in 2014, 16 states have opened the special accounts to the public.

Besides helping to preserve eligibility for public programs, the new ABLE accounts offer tax benefits that resemble those of a college savings plan or an IRA. Interest and investment profits are not taxed as long as the money is used to cover qualified disability-related expenses. Parents of eligible minors may open accounts for their children.

For more information, visit https://savewithable.com/mn/home.html

http://m.startribune.com/for-minnesotans-with-disabilities-able-accounts-could-ease-poverty/412235103/

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Hello Everyone,

I’d like to take a minute to introduce myself. Some of you may have already met me or introduced yourselves to me at the management meeting but I joined Pinnacle Services at the end of July as the new Human Resource Director. I am delighted to join such a passionate organization and look forward to meeting each of you individually.

I come to Pinnacle with over 10 years of experience in training and development and recruitment and staffing.  In my most recent role, I worked with Fortune 500 companies on talent acquisition.  My experience is enhanced by my Bachelor of Science degree in Family Social Science.

I am excited to get to know everyone and in an effort to do so, I am leading in the organization and planning of our annual Employee Recognition Event.  We have mailed invites to everyone who has been with the company for a year or more.  I look forward to seeing everyone at this event.  In the meantime, if you see my door open or an opportunity to introduce yourself and say hello, I welcome the opportunity to meet everyone on an individual basis.

Feel free to reach out to me at 612.977.3128 or email me at  Ashley.ellingson@pinnacleservices.org with any questions, comments, or ideas!

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This is a rewarding cause, and it’s clear that working together to collect as many pairs of gently worn shoes as possible will have a big impact on the people who need them.  The shoes that are donated will go to Shoe Away Hunger, where they will be sold for $2.50 a pair.  The money collected during shoe sales will then be used to buy groceries from local food shelves, where a whole week’s worth of groceries can be provided.

In addition, Pinnacle Services is working with Good in the Hood to secure generous donations of book bags that will be filled with personal hygiene items and school supplies.  These book bags will be given to homeless youth in our area.

Our hope is to donate more than 100 pairs of shoes and book bags.  We are well on our way to reaching that goal!  Our HR department has been keeping track of the donations, ensuring we are on track, sending out positive reminders when the donations slow down, and keeping our donation bins tidy and organized.  We truly appreciate their help, as well as all of the donations made by our generous and community-minded employees. Thank you, and keep up the great work!

UPDATE 8/4/16:  The numbers are in and our Pinnacle team donated 199 pairs of shoes to Good in the Hood!  That’s almost 4 years of meals for families in need!

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Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree
• Proficient with Excel, Access, and Outlook
• Valid Minnesota Driver’s License with acceptable record required.
• Strong Communication Skills
• Flexible work schedule including traveling to meetings as needed

Preferred:

• Knowledge of CDCS and CSG programs and policies related to the care of those with special needs.

Apply Here : https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=12169481

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Did you know that last year marked the 14^th year in a row that Gallup ranked Nurses as #1 on a list of “Most Trusted” professionals?

On Friday, May 6, Pinnacle’s Nursing Department–all 4 of us!–joined nurses around the country in celebrating National Nurses Week. Every year, National Nurses Week runs from May 6 to May 12, which is Florence Nightingale‘s birthday. While only officially recognized by the U.S. government since the 1990s, the roots of Nurses Week can be traced back to 1896.

The Pinnacle nurses celebrated Nurses Day on May 6^th with a leisurely outdoor lunch served on the patio, followed by a lively tour and event at an assisted living facility in Roseville. Back at the office, we found a banner strung up in the Nursing office and gift bags filled with goodies for each of us, courtesy of the Program Department managers and directors. What a relaxing and delightful way to kick off this year’s National Nurses Week!

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5 Reasons to Support the Best Life Alliance

1.  Minnesotans believe people with disabilities and older adults should live in and contribute to their communities. Community-based services provide greater opportunity to build strong connections with neighbors and the community. A 5% rate increase supports this belief.
2.  Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and Caregivers support your family; shouldn’t they be able to support their own?
3.  A 5% increase will help to recruit and retain consistent staff; this is crucial to quality care. Low wages lead to higher staff turnover, creating more stress, less stability and lower quality care.
4.  DSPs and caregivers who support people with disabilities and older Minnesotans have demanding, highly-skilled jobs. A 5% increase shows we value these employees and their commitment to this field.
5.  Community-based services are some of the largest employers in rural Minnesota. A 5% rate increase will support dedicated staff who will put dollars to work in their local communities.

Get Involved!

Best Life Alliance. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.arrm.org/ARRM/Advocacy/Best_Life_Alliance.aspx

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