Attending: Mary Haug (Chair), Jennie Lightfoot, Chuck Johnson (DHS, committee staff), Jayne Spain (DCFL liaison)

Scheduling Regular Meetings:
After some email and phone dialogue, our regular meeting will be held on the third Wednesday of each month from 9:00 to 11:00 am (separate communication has detail). We will try to hold the meetings at DHS if we can reserve the rooms that are open and accessible to the public.

Review of DES Responses to Questions from Last Meeting:
Staff reviewed materials provided by DES Research and Statistics Office in response to several questions raised at the October Committee meeting (attached). Several additional questions were raised, especially focused on trends by race/ethnic group or by geographic subregion; however, there was an acknowledgment that current data cannot answer questions at this more detailed level.

Overview of Interagency Cabinet Welfare Reform Group:
Staff provided an overview of the Interagency Cabinet group Commissioner O'Keefe is leading through a discussion of welfare reform. The Commissioner is using this group to provide a mid-course review of welfare reform. They have focused on five primary issues (see attached) and have staff work groups working on many sub-issues. The Committee agreed it was important to remain cognizant of this work to prevent overlap and duplication of effort.

Next Steps for Committee's Work:
The Committee decided to spend the next couple meetings taking input from the public to help identify the most important and pressing issues for its work. These meetings will be scheduled in January and February. The invitation to share input will be distributed as broadly as possible (and will be on the GWDC website as well).

The short brainstorming at the meeting suggested the following distribution to at least these groups: counties, workforce centers, foundation, employer groups, unions, MnSCU institutions, Private College Association, all MFIP-related organizations, the Councils of Color, OIC Council, non-profits organizations, advocates, tribes, disability councils, any group represented on the GWDC. Staff will work with other departments and agencies to help ensure wide distribution. Please contact Chuck Johnson (651/297-4727; chuck.johnson@state.mn.us) if you have additions.