VRS_Connect with VRS in April: Forum, CP Conversation

Vocational Rehabilitation Services header

Dear VRS Community Partners,

I’m pleased to share two opportunities to connect with VRS in April! In the message you’ll see the invites for our regularly scheduled bi-monthly VRS Community Partner + VRS Staff Forum and our second monthly Community Partners Conversation. You will also find information about our first Community Partners Conversation that was held in March. You may be wondering what the difference is between the two opportunities.

The VRS Community Partner + VRS Staff Forum creates a consistent communication opportunity for Vocational Rehabilitation Services staff and staff from Community Partners to hear VRS leadership and Community Partnerships updates. Hearing the same information at the same time facilitates a shared point of reference for VRS staff and Community Partners. VRS leadership and VRS Community Partnership team program specialists lead the forums, with speakers pulled in from all areas of our program to address specific topics. VRS sends an agenda ahead of each forum, and there is a MS form open throughout the month to submit questions that are answered during a Q&A time. All VRS staff and Community Partners staff are welcome to attend.

The VRS Community Partners Conversations meetings are meant to be casual office hours for VRS Community Partners to connect directly with VRS Community Partnerships program specialists. We hope this opportunity will provide support and community building for VRS Community Partners. VRS Community Partnerships program specialists lead the meetings, provide a short training on a particular topic for that month, and facilitate a discussion with open questions and answers. VRS sends the training topic ahead of each Community Partners Conversation. This enables organizations to identify for whom each monthly topic is most appropriate and beneficial. Any Community Partner staff are welcome to attend – from direct service to billing to supervisors.

To receive emails on these opportunities to connect and other important topics for VRS Community Partners, please contact Karla Eckhoff at Karla.F.Eckhoff@state.mn.us and ask to be added to our email list.

Register! April VRS Community Partner + VRS Staff Forum

VRS Community Partners and VRS Staff are cordially invited to attend the April VRS Community Partner + VRS Staff Forum on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

  • April Forum Date: April 5, 2022
  • April Forum Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • April Forum Agenda: To Be Announced
  • April Forum Registration: Register in advance for this forum: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsduCqqzgjHcsirZ-h4aexUafYFZBwqGU. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the forum.
  • April Forum Accommodations: ASL Interpreters and Live-Closed Captioning will be provided. If you need any other accommodation, please contact Janeen Oien at Janeen.Oien@state.mn.us.
  • April Forum Recording and Materials: A recording and transcript of the forum and any shared meeting materials will be posted after the VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forums on the “forums” tab of the VRS Community Partners website.
  • April Forum Contact: If you have any questions about any forum, please contact Janeen Oien at Janeen.Oien@state.mn.us.

Register! April VRS Community Partners Conversation

VRS Community Partners are cordially invited to attend the April VRS Community Partners Conversation on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

  • April CP Conversation Date: April 6, 2022
  • April CP Conversation Time: 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
  • April CP Conversation Training Topic: Navigating the Community Partners Website and Resources
  • April CP Conversation Zoom Registration: Register in advance for this meeting: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsd-6grD4uGkarLBh7iGeMTTWETrjvQRM. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
  • April CP Conversation Accommodations: If you need an accommodation for the April CP Conversation, please contact Sara Sundeen at sundeen@state.mn.us.
  • April CP Conversation Questions: You can submit questions ahead of time using this form: CP Conversations Question form.
  • April CP Conversations Contact: If you have any questions about the CP Conversations, please contact Sara Sundeen at Sara.Sundeen@state.mn.us.

Follow-Up: March VRS Community Partners Conversation

Thank you to the 90 plus attendees who joined us for the first Community Partners Conversation on March 2, 2022. It was wonderful to see the level of engagement and conversation with VRS Community Partners. The following materials from the March Meeting and posted on the “CP Conversations” tab of the VRS Community Partners website.

  • March CP Conversation Meeting Summary
  • March Mini Training Topic Materials: Communication Strategies for Community Partners with VRS Teams
  • March Mini Training Topic Recording: The March mini training topic was not recorded in March. The mini training topic portion of future CP Conversations will be recorded and posted on the “CP Conversations” tab of the VRS Community Partners website.

Conclusion

Thank you for your partnership – we’re thrilled to be connecting in these ways. If you have any questions, please reach out to me or a VRS Community Partnerships Program Specialist.

  • Janeen Oien: Community Partnerships Program Specialist, 763-204-1354, Janeen.Oien@state.mn.us.
  • Jess Outhwaite: Community Partnerships Program Specialist, 763-233-8829, Jessica.Outhwaite@state.mn.us.
  • Anne Paulson: Community Partnerships Program Specialist, 651-259-7135, Anne.Paulson@state.mn.us.
  • Sara Sundeen: Community Partnerships Program Specialist, 651-247-9121, Sara.Sundeen@state.mn.us.
  • To find out which Community Partnerships Program Specialist is the dedicated liaison for a particular Community Partner, go to: https://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/disabilities/partners/listing.

My best,

Kim

Kim Babine
VRS Director of Community Partnerships
651-259-7349
Kim.Babine@state.mn.us