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The sun is rising across Minnesota. Vaccines have arrived and the light at the end of the tunnel is much brighter today than it was at the beginning of the four-week dial back. In November, Minnesota faced a dire situation. With exponential case growth and hospitals on the brink of catastrophic capacity issues, Governor Walz took concrete steps to reverse the surge of the pandemic in Minnesota.
There is strong evidence we are starting to turn a corner thanks to the hard work of Minnesotans over the last few weeks to keep each other safe. But we are not out of the woods yet. The rates of community spread, hospitalizations, and deaths put our state well above the high-risk threshold, and are still significantly higher than this summer and fall. Hospitals remain concerned about capacity as COVID-19 continues to spread in our communities across Minnesota. We must keep up our safety efforts.
On December 16, 2020, Governor Walz announced a way forward that helps bridge the gap to vaccination. It does so by continuing to protect hospital capacity while prioritizing getting our kids back in the classroom and supporting Minnesotans’ quality of life.
Learn more at mn.gov/covid19
As we continue to respond to COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) remains committed to serving Minnesota Veterans and their families. We are following CDC, CMS and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidance. Changes in our operations continue to provide a safe environment for both the Veterans and families we serve and our employees.
Minnesota State Veterans Homes
For updated information on how the Minnesota Veterans Homes are responding COVID-19 and the most up to date policies in place, please visit our COVID-19 Veterans Homes page.
Minnesota State Veterans Cemeteries
For updated information on how the Minnesota State Veterans Cemeteries are responding COVID-19 and the most up to date policies in place, please visit our COVID-19 State Veterans Cemeteries page.
General agency updates and other resources
For information on financial assistance for Veterans, GI Bill payments to Veteran students, and other COVID-19 related resources, please visit our MDVA COVID-19 Response page.
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Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one? Connect with the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are Veterans themselves.
You can reach the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, or text to 838255, or chat online 24/7/365
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The National Alliance on Mental Illness - Minnesota is putting out Zoom meetings for mindfulness, stress support, and some counseling.
More Information >>
Attention Veterans: If you think you have been exposed to COVID‑19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, or if you are feeling sick or ill with other symptoms, your first step is to CALL the VA Health Care System at:
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Minneapolis: 612-467-1100
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Fargo: 701-239-3700 extension 2319
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St. Cloud: 320-252-1670, or 800-247-1739
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Sioux Falls: 605-336-3230 or 605-336-5001
The medical staff will advise you on next steps based on your symptoms. In a medical emergency, call 911.
As we face this challenging time together, we know that some of our Veterans have experienced interruptions in employment resulting in health care coverage. We want those Veterans to know, VA is here. Please contact us at VA.gov, or call us at 1-877-222-VETS (8387). If you are a Veteran in need, or know a Veteran, please share with them.
MDVA is now offering a COVID-19 K-12 Distance Learning Support Grant to help mitigate the negative financial impact a family experiences by implementing their school district’s distance learning or hybrid learning plans by providing a one-time grant.
Applicants for the COVID-19 K-12 Distance Learning Support Grant must demonstrate a negative financial impact on or after August 1, 2020. A closing date for the K-12 Distance Learning Support Grant will depend on the availability of funding, but not later than June 30, 2021.
More information is available at MinnesotaVeteran.org/COVIDRelief
MDVA has had a tremendous response to the COVID-19 Disaster Relief and Special Needs Grants for Minnesota Veterans. We began accepting applications on Monday, April 6. We are striving to complete application processing as soon as possible.
Eligible applicants must be:
- A Veteran or the surviving spouse of a deceased Veteran as defined by MN Statute 197.447;
- A Minnesota Resident, and;
- Negatively financial impacted by COVID-19.
It’s easy to apply:
- Veterans can apply for the Disaster Relief Grant on our website.
- To apply for the Special Needs Grant, Veterans should work with their County Veterans Service Officer.
Applications will continue to be accepted until the $6.2 million in funds are depleted. Veterans can apply through their County Veterans Service Officers or online at MinnesotaVeteran.org/COVIDRelief
COVID-19 Disaster Relief Grant application status
The MDVA team is working as quickly as possible to process the applications for the COVID-19 grants.
As applications are uploaded into our system, we send an email to applicants to confirm that step has been completed. If we need any additional information to support your application, we will email you. Thank you for your patience while the MDVA COVID-19 team works diligently to input and process the applications.
The current estimated processing time is approximately 8 business days.
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The needs of Minnesota Veterans do not diminish during this time, and MDVA needs staff to serve and care for our Veterans. We have a significant need for Certified Nursing Assistants and Resident Assistants in our Veterans Homes.
Working for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is a rewarding career with great State of Minnesota Benefits. If you know anyone seeking a fulfilling career supporting Minnesota Veterans and their families, please encourage them to explore opportunities with MDVA.
Interested in working at MDVA? You can sign-up here to receive employment information directly from our Human Resources department.
A full listing of positions can be found at the Minnesota Careers website. Some of our current job openings include:
Fergus Falls
Hastings
Luverne
Minneapolis
Silver Bay
Local volunteer leaders in Detroit Lakes, MN are finalizing modified plans for the annual wreath ceremony events to take place safely as scheduled starting at 11 a.m.
More information >>
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With the holiday season upon us and the coronavirus pandemic continuing to intensify, our nation faces unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety. VA offers many virtual self-care resources to assist with stress management, including several free mobile apps for anyone to download. The VA App Store houses a suite of mental health apps, designed in partnership with multiple VA offices. If you encounter Veterans or others who are struggling, consider recommending one of the many options available.
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