Activity at MDVA has been relatively quiet. Activity with the legislature and Governor’s office, for MDVA, has been relatively quiet also. The Minneapolis Veterans Home has been fully funded, and we are ready to begin construction on the third and final phase.

Our office activity has focused primarily in the area of key personnel moves. Brad Lindsay has been serving as Acting Deputy Commissioner of Programs and Services for the past year. He has recently accepted the official position of Deputy Commissioner. A win for Veterans and the agency!

We have also created a new position within the agency for a “Chief of Staff.” This has been filled by Mike McElhiney, who served as our Legislative Director for the past five years. Mike’s primary mission is to ensure all the key supporting functions – finance, personnel, etc. – are in sync in supporting our two separate divisions of Program and Services and the Veterans Homes.

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During this year's Point-in-Time count a Veteran Rapid Response Team was organized by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA). Outreach workers who identified unsheltered homeless Veterans connected these individuals with social workers who specialize in finding housing solutions for Veterans experiencing homelessness. Those social workers invited the Veterans to join the Homeless Veteran Registry and develop a personalized housing plan. Within the seven-county Twin Cities metro area Veterans were offered transportation to a temporary crisis shelter, where they were able to connect with these social workers in person in addition to a warm place to sleep, food, and a "sleep kit" to keep.

The response team operated continuously through mid-afternoon on Friday, Jan. 29 and was a collaboration between MDVA, the American Red Cross, the federal Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Minnesota, the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), the Minnesota National Guard, the City of Saint Paul, and other partners.

Star Tribune Article >>

MPR Article >>

The MDVA was recently recognized by the Governor for the fifth time in six years with the Governor’s Continuous Improvement Award presented by the Governor’s office and the Better Government for a Better Minnesota initiative. This award recognizes significant organizational achievements across Minnesota government. MDVA, provided by the staff at the Minnesota Veterans Home—Silver Bay, created a program called Reducing Psychotropic Medication in Special Care and Skilled Care Households and has implemented it with amazing success.

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On Jan. 22, 2016 SGT Earl W. Kotham was presented with the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service at the Landmark Center in St. Paul. Photos from the event can be found on the MDVA Flickr page.

Event Album >>