Minnesota Recovery Community Listening Session
Start: Wednesday, April 28, 2021• 6:00 PM • Central Standard Time (US & Canada) (GMT-06:00)
Host Contact Info: littlehardbody@hotmail.com
The Recovery Community Listening Session hosted by Recovery Advocacy Project - Minnesota will be a guided conversation with people in recovery from all pathways, family members, supporters and allies of recovery.
Your voice is important and needed!
The aim of this conversation is to identify advocacy priorities and common barriers and experiences in order to identify content for trainings, education sessions, and campaigns to address those common issues.
All are welcome, so please tell your friends and family by registering and using the tools provided to share this important event! We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday April 28, 2021!
Zoom link information will be provided once you complete the RSVP. Closed captioning on Zoom will be available if needed.
Click Here to RSVP
MDH announces new opioid podcast series
Free podcast provides listeners insight, hope and help
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today announced the launch of a new podcast series, "Stories from the Field," aimed at addressing the evolving opioid epidemic.
The goals are to provide a voice to those who have experienced substance use disorder, offer resources to those helping people who use drugs make safer choices, and to illustrate the complexities of the epidemic. The podcast hosts a series of experts in the health care field, as well as community leaders and others devoted to reducing the number of Minnesotans affected by this crisis.
The opioid crisis continued to escalate in 2020, with 373 overdose deaths reported in the first six months of the year. That’s compared to all of 2019, where a total of 428 total Minnesotans died from an opioid overdose. Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says the impacts of every overdose, fatal or non-fatal, are far-reaching and avoidable.
“We know that every death by overdose is a preventable death,” said Malcolm. “We need to set our sights on providing support and resources to all Minnesotans who are affected by opioid use disorder, and all communities where substance use leads to personal, family, and community suffering.”
The "Stories from the Field" podcast series tells real stories from real people throughout the state and are just one tool in MDH’s opioid overdose prevention work. The series reveals the raw emotions of people who have battled substance misuse, lost loved ones, and managed to get through it. The diverse group of guests represent communities of color, tribal communities, the LGBTQ population, and a variety of economic backgrounds. Community advocates, medical professionals and other front-line prevention specialists discuss the problem, efforts to destigmatize substance use, and possible solutions. They all agree that recovery is possible.
“Podcasts are just one way the Injury and Violence Prevention section at MDH engages with our communities to address the emerging opioid crisis,” said Dana Farley, injury and violence prevention supervisor. “By featuring the work being done throughout the state, we hope to leave listeners with a sense of hope and that help is available.”
To listen to the podcast series, visit Opioids: Prevention, Treatment and Community-Driven Efforts. For more information and other resources, visit MDH’s Opioid Overdose Prevention page. For downloadable graphs and statistics on opioid use in Minnesota since 2000, visit the MDH Drug Overdose Dashboard
Virtual Eviction Expungement Clinic:
Expungement is the process of going to court to ask a judge to seal a court record. People request expungement of an eviction record to make it easier to find housing in the future. Attend a virtual informational session via Microsoft Teams to learn more about the eviction expungement process and have general questions answered by attorneys. Registration is required. Expungement court forms will be provided to all registrants. Funded by the Friends of Hennepin County Library in collaboration with Central Minnesota Legal Services. The link to the live online discussion will be emailed to registrants in advance.
Click on link to register: Thursday, May 13, 1:30-2:30 pm
Virtual Criminal Expungement Clinic:
Expungement is the process of going to court to ask a judge to seal a court record. People request an expungement when they have been denied a job, housing, or a professional license because of a criminal incident that shows up on a background check. Attend a virtual informational session via Microsoft Teams to learn more about the expungement process and have general questions answered by attorneys. Registration is required. Expungement court forms will be provided to all registrants. The link to the live online discussion will be emailed to registrants in advance.
Click on link to register: Thursday, May 20, 9 am to 10 am
Vaccine Opportunities Available at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds
The Minnesota Community Vaccination Program is providing free COVID-19 vaccines at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds for people who live in targeted zip codes. Appointments are available April 14, 2021 to June 9, 2021. This flyer provides additional details about eligible zip codes, how to schedule an appointment and what is needed for an appointment. A free Metro Transit pass will be provided for the day of your appointment and sent in a confirmation text message and email.
If transportation is a barrier for clients and staff to access a vaccine, work continues to bring vaccines directly to congregate sites. Click here to access the request form to submit a request for an onsite vaccinator. Directions on how to fill out the request form can be found here. You should select Human Services as the partner type; Track A as the resource request type; and Shelter or Subsidized/Low-Income Congregate Housing as the site type.
Eligible congregate settings include homeless or domestic violence shelters, encampments, transitional housing, supportive housing, board and lodge or Department of Corrections licensed halfway homes.
Introduction to Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) and MSA Housing Assistance
What: The Housing Best Practices Forum is an opportunity to expand the use of best practices in helping people with disabilities move to the housing they choose.
Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) is a public assistance program that provides monthly income for people who receive federal disability benefits like SSI or RSDI. Some MSA recipients also receive help paying for high housing costs, special diets, representative payees, or guardian/conservator expenses. This presentation will cover the basics of MSA eligibility, special needs payments, how to help transition people from Housing Support settings to MSA Housing Assistance, and recent changes to MSA Housing Assistance that could impact the people you serve.
Who: John Petroskas, Policy Specialist, Housing and Support Services Division
Maia Uhrich, Housing Support Policy and Training Specialist, Housing and Support Services Division
When: Monday, May 24th, 2021 10:00am-12pm
Where: Webinar via WebEx, Registration required
Who should attend: Social services staff from counties and tribes, case managers, providers serving people with disabilities, providers serving people experiencing homelessness, and anyone interested in housing issues.
An archived copy of the presentation will be available by going to Housing Benefits 101 Link and clicking on the Partners Tab.
To request an ASL interpreter or CART for this presentation, please email laura.fox@state.mn.us by 5/3/2021 with the subject "CART request" or "ASL request".
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Millennium Health Signals Report Volume 3 - The COVID-19 Connection:
Tracking 2020 Trends in Drug Use
Tues, May 04, 2021 at 12:00-1:00pm CST - or - Weds, May 05, 2021 at 1:00-2:00pm CST
The COVID-19 pandemic has broad impacts on public health and has been implicated in rising drug overdose deaths. Pandemic related stressors may also increase substance use in general. Millennium Health in uniquely positioned to identify trends in drug use through its proprietary database of urine drug testing (UDT) results. This program identifies national, regional, and state trends in positivity rates for select drugs through December 2020, including an examination of drug use trends after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency.
Click Here for More Information and to Register
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Technology Workforce Month
Our goal is to raise awareness about and break down barriers to tech careers for Minnesota career seekers…and help create a tech talent pipeline for Minnesota employers!
Click Here For More Information
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Office of Equity in Procurement Vendor Kiosk
The Office of Equity in Procurement Vendor Kiosk is available to assist vendors with a variety of tasks, including: registering for a Minnesota Vendor ID number in the Supplier Portal; selecting the appropriate category codes for your vendor profile; helping vendors learn how to do business with the state; searching for state solicitations; downloading solicitation materials; submitting bid responses; answering questions about the Targeted Group/Economically Disadvantaged/Veteran-Owned (TG/ED/VO) small business program; preliminary review of TG/ED/VO certification application materials; and referral to appropriate small business and equity resources.
Services are currently being offered virtually. For more information, please call 651-201-2402.
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Helpful links regarding COVID-19 variants
About COVID-19 - Minnesota Dept. of Health (state.mn.us)
Main CDC site: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/scientific-brief-emerging-variants.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-surveillance/variant-info.html#Concern
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/variant-proportions.html
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Minnesota Second Chance Coalition Microgrants Advisory Committee (MAC) Member
MNSCC is seeking individuals to serve on our new Microgrants Advisory Committee (MAC) for our pilot Microgrants program. MAC members, in conjunction with the MNSCC Board of Directors, will establish a Microgrant application, review, selection, and evaluation process. This is a 1 year position with a stipend available. Those with lived experience in the criminal legal system are highly encouraged to apply. Learn more about the position here.
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To make a referral please call 952-826-8475
Mental Health Care For Children, Adolescents and Adults - PrairieCare (prairie-care.com)
 Click Here for Referral Form
FEMA Begins Processing Applications for Funeral Assistance
FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Click Here for More Information
Vinland Spring Newsletter
Click Here for Newsletter
To sign up to receive Newsletter, Contact: mollyg@vinlandcenter.org OR https://www.vinlandcenter.org/contactus/
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