We have reason for optimism! We have started vaccinating those who are most at risk, COVID-19 cases are down, hospital capacity is steady, and our kids are heading back to the classroom. The sun is rising on the pandemic.
Minnesotans’ sacrifice and commitment to their communities over the holiday season helped change the pandemic’s trajectory and saved lives. By nearly any metric, the situation is improving. Tens of thousands of Minnesotans have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. While progress is steady, the ramp up will take time, and most Minnesotans need to remain patient. But our friends, family, and neighbors most at risk are beginning to receive the protection they need.
Learn more at mn.gov/covid19
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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.
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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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Today (January 8, 2021) the Minnesota Veterans Homes’ skilled nursing facilities are completing the administration of the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to Residents and staff. A second dose will be given in four weeks.
MDVA is using the Moderna vaccine and started the vaccinations on December 29. “Receiving the vaccine will greatly assist in ending the pandemic,” said Douglas Hughes, Deputy Commissioner - Veterans Healthcare, MDVA.
Staff are strongly encouraged to receive the vaccine and they have provided very positive feedback about receiving it, understanding the importance of the vaccine in keeping our Residents and colleagues safe and healthy.
For ongoing updates about COVID-19 at the Minnesota Veterans Homes, call the Information Line at 651-797-1599 or 1-833-454-0147.
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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
Luverne
Minneapolis
Silver Bay
Dani Donner will join the Silver Bay Veterans Home as Administrator on Jan. 19.
Dani comes to MDVA from Big Fork Valley Healthcare where she has served as the Director for Senior Services. Dani is familiar to many at the Silver Bay Veterans Home as she worked at that facility in various roles over the past 10 years. She left the Silver Bay Veterans Home after obtaining her Nursing Home Administrator license and gathered critical skills in the community. But she always had a goal to return to the home and has worked hard to be selected as the best candidate.
At the November 2020 Minnesota Veterans 4 Veterans (V4V) Trust Fund monthly meeting, the following grants were approved by the eight-member board of directors:
Armed Forces Airport Service Center at the Minneapolis Airport, was awarded $10,000 by V4V for its portion to help fund food products for service men and women. The Armed Forces Service Center (AFSC) is a nonprofit 24 hour military based facility located at MSP Airport, since 1970. The AFSC provides free food, shelter and various services for traveling military and their dependents; Active-Duty, Reserves, National Guard, Purple Heart and Medal of Honor recipients, military retirees and Department of Defense personnel.
V4V awarded $20,000 ($5,000 each) to the auxiliary organizations of the Department of MN VFW, American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart and the DAV. The Auxiliary organizations were asked to identify a high impact project serving MN Veterans and apply the grant money to it over the holiday season. They are to report back to the V4V as to where the grant was applied January 2021. The V4V recognizes the importance these auxiliaries volunteer efforts and their projects and programs serving our Veterans.
Minneapolis Veterans Health Center Voluntary Services was awarded $10,000 in needed gift cards (gas, food, transit, etc.) to be given out by the Voluntary Services at the Minneapolis VA. Board member Don Pankake arranged for the American Legion Auxiliary to accept and administer the grant funds working with the the Mpls VAVS team to purchase the needed gift cards.
The Minnesota Veterans 4 Veterans (V4V) Trust Fund is a 501c (19) non-profit organization established as the result of the 2006 sale of Lake Minnetonka Big Island Disabled Veterans Camp. The non-profit organization has eight board members, two Veterans each who are appointed by the DAV, VFW, MOPH, and American Legion. The board oversees the funds from the sale of the island to the City of Orono and has a grant application process on their website. Grants are made to organizations serving MN Veterans in a way that conforms to the criteria the V4V has documented online a their website.
FARGO, N.D. (Jan. 4, 2020) – The Fargo Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System (HCS) is pleased to announce it has been approved as a priority for future VA Fisher House construction to provide temporary accommodations at no charge for the families and caregivers of Veterans receiving care at the Fargo VA Medical Center.
“This is great news for our area Veterans and their families,” said Dr. Bret Weintraub, Fargo VA HCS Director. “Family support often plays a significant role in the healing and treatment we provide at the Fargo VA. A Fisher House, conveniently located near the Fargo VA Medical Center, will enhance family support and make an important, positive impact on the outcomes for our patients. We’re very grateful to the Fisher House Foundation as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs for prioritizing our request for this Fisher House. And a big thank you to our regional county Veterans service officers, national Veteran service officers, congressional delegations, state leaders, and several other Veteran stakeholder organizations who provided a lot of support for our request for this Fisher House.”
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Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan are excited to celebrate Dr. King with students across the state!
Let’s come together from anywhere you can -- from living rooms to classrooms – to honor Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved Community. We’ll discuss how Dr. King fought for justice and love, worked to end racism and poverty, and what this means today.
The program will feature award-winning director, writer, and producer Matthew A. Cherry. His animated short film and book, Hair Love, follows the relationship between Zuri, her natural hair, and her father.
The celebration begins at 10:30 a.m., January 18, on the Governor's YouTube Channel.
More Information >>
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The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs would like to thank Minnesota Veterans 4 Veterans Trust Fund (V4V) for providing an appreciation meal to the front-line healthcare workers at our Minnesota Veterans Homes and Domiciliary Program.
The Minnesota Veterans Homes got creative with the appreciation meals from food trucks to gift bag with a dinner gift card to home cooked style – enjoyed by all!
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our front-line healthcare workers have exemplified an unwavering dedication to serving our Veterans and their families that we see every day within our facilities. Thank you to V4V for their support and appreciation of our wonderful staff who have gone above and beyond these last several months.
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