Regional Quality Councils

The Regional Quality Councils (RQCs) were developed from the State Quality Council. The RQCs work to examine and improve services for people with disabilities in their specific regions. The RQCs also encourage community involvement and advocacy.

Currently, there are four Regional Quality Councils:

  • Arrowhead (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis counties)
  • Metro (Hennepin, Scott, and Dakota counties)
  • Region 10 (Olmsted, Houston and Wabasha counties)
  • West Central (Clay, Grant, Otter Tail, Polk, and Pope counties)

 

Who is on the Regional Quality Council?

 The Regional Quality Council is a group made up of people with disabilities, their families, county workers, the Department of Human Services, community members, and service providers.

 

What does the Regional Quality Council do?

Previous work:

The Regional Quality Councils conducted Person-Centered Quality Reviews from 2017-2019.  The Person-Centered Quality Reviews were interviews that consisted of 10 topic areas ranging from housing to employment to support staff, and beyond. The goal of these interviews was to better understand the role of choice and control in different areas of people’s lives and how that affects their overall quality of life.

Current work:

The Regional Quality Councils have shifted their work away from Person-Centered Quality Reviews towards quality improvement work. The goal of this work is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities based on the results of the Quality Reviews in each region. 

The RQC’s do this by:

  • Connecting with the community through listening sessions, focus groups and informational interviews.
  • Collaborating with community partners to include all voices in the disabilities community.
  • Gathering and reviewing data on the quality of services and supports for people with disabilities.
  • Tracking and monitoring different systems that shape the quality of life for people with disabilities.
  • Creating and sharing resources for different audiences.
  • Attending conferences and trainings to learn new ways of improving the quality of services and supports for people with disabilities.

Each Regional Quality Council is implementing quality improvement projects within the following areas:

  • Arrowhead: Community connections and services and supports
  • Metro: Employment and support staff shortage
  • Region 10: Community connections and natural supports

 

Regional Quality Councils 2019 Year in Review

The Regional Quality Councils collaborated together on many tasks and projects. Work accomplished in 2019 includes, but is not limited to, reviewing and updating our Person-Centered Quality Review tools, evaluating and streamlining the Agile Apps Database, and participating in State Quality Council meetings and workgroups. The RQCs also worked together on conferences, community outreach efforts, presentations, marketing materials, and website updates.

Click HERE to read the Regional Quality Councils Year in Review.

 

Share Us!

Read and share our Regional Quality Council (RQC) Handout 

Read and share our Regional Quality Council (RQC) Brochure

Get Involved Today!

Are you interested in getting involved with the RQC as a reviewer, interviewee, council member, or other participant?

Contact your local RQC coordinator/manager for more information;

Contact Us

 

Where can I learn more about the State Quality Council?

You can find general information on the State Quality Council’s DHS page.