If you are interested in speaking to a member of our Human Resources team regarding employment opportunities with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, fill out our Job Interest Form to be contacted about available opportunities.
Any Minnesota Veterans Home Location
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Medical Services Clinic Coordinator (application deadline Sept. 30)
This position will be working out of one of the eight Minnesota Veterans Homes, Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Hastings, Luverne, Minneapolis, Montevideo, Preston or Silver Bay as agreed upon by the agency and incumbent.
Bemidji
Minneapolis
St. Paul
Join Minnesota Military Radio this week and hear from the Department of Veterans Affairs on flu shots, Vet Center Program services and resources and Veteran debt management. Guests include Director Pat Kelly, Vet Center Program Director Judith Huerta and Director of Operations Dawn Eggers, who will share important information and resources available to Minnesota Veterans.
For over 16 years, the award-winning Minnesota Military Radio (MMR) has been the forum for retelling the stories of Minnesota’s heroes. Retired Command Sergeant Major, Veteran and volunteer host Doug Wortham shares these stories which are carried on 72 broadcasting stations throughout the state of Minnesota, and broadcasted nationally on the Wreaths Across America Radio Network, in an effort to preserve the stories of our Veterans and keep listeners up to date on things happening at MDVA and in our Veteran community here in Minnesota.
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Would you like to promote a Veteran-related community event happening in your area? Please submit details and we will consider it for a future issue of Friday Digest. Email all event information to mdva.communications@state.mn.us.
Talking about mental health and suicide on a community-level can help raise awareness and support suicide prevention efforts and encourage those who need extra support to connect to services.
Surrounding people and families with supportive neighborhoods, businesses, faith communities, schools and services is a critical way to support every person. Communities that work together in an intentional and proactive way are vital to changing the narrative about mental health and suicide.
Those who have mental health concerns and who are at risk of suicide, or those who are close to a person who died by suicide, can be particularly affected by the language that we use. In the end, our goal is to reduce stigma so that individuals reach out for the help that they need. The heart of what we say should be respectful and place emphasis on care and concern.
What we want is a positive narrative. Ideas for action include:
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Focus on normalizing mental health over stigma reduction.
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Promote help seeking and sharing support services or resources for those in need.
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Emphasize that suicide is preventable and there are actions individuals can take if they are having thoughts of suicide or know others who are or might be. Resources such as the 988 Lifeline and through established local service providers and crisis centers.
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Know the warning signs as well as risk factors and, equally important, know what is effective to protect individuals (protective factors).
Information provided by the Minnesota Department of Health
 The Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum extends their thanks to all of the Veterans and Veteran Service Organizations who mobilized to make their Grand Opening Weekend this past weekend a great success.
Moving forward, the new museum facility (21702 Haven Road, Little Falls, MN 56345) is open Thursdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all fall and winter, and seven days a week next summer.
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The Federal VA will host a Veterans Resource Fair and Claims Clinic on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Minnesota National Guard Armory in Faribault.
The event will provide Veterans from Dakota, Goodhue and Rice Counties with an opportunity to file a claim on the spot and speak directly with representatives from the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
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Join us for the Pain Resource Fair showcasing the full range of pain management services available at the Minneapolis VA.
All Veterans and caregivers are welcome to stop by, explore the resources and speak with staff about options for managing pain and improving quality of life.
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There will be a Veteran Benefit Review event for Veterans and spouses from Sherburne, Benton, Wright and Anoka Counties.
Make sure you and your spouse are receiving every VA benefit you're entitled to. Representatives from a wide range of agencies will be on-site to review your case, answer questions and help with claims.
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Join Every Third Saturday at Viking Lakes for the ETS Walk to Stay in the Fight, an event dedicated to raising awareness about Veteran suicide and standing alongside those who’ve served.
The 2.3 mile route around the lakes serves as a symbolic reminder of the 23 Veterans lost to suicide every single day
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The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), Colonel Colvill Camp 56 will be dedicating a record 170-plus new footstone markers for Civil War soldiers who have been in unmarked graves for decades. The ceremony will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN in the GAR section by the cannon. Minnesota Historical Society Director and CEO Kent Whitworth will be the keynote speaker.
The Lakewood Cemetery has the largest number of Civil War Veterans buried in Minnesota, with about 2,500. With the footstones recently ordered from and received through the VA, SUVCW will have dedicated approximately 450 of the estimated 900 needed.
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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be providing S.A.V.E training for faith communities.
It will be virtual and offered at two different times on the same day, Sept. 29. One session is 12:30 - 2 p.m., the other is 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Training is free and open to anyone wanting to learn about ways to help prevent suicide.
More information >>
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Join DAV Auxiliary Mayo SE Unit 28 and DAV Mayo SE Chapter 28 in honoring those who served at a Veteran Appreciation Event on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dodge County Fairgrounds, 100 11th St. NE, Kasson, MN.
Enjoy a free meal, vendors and kids’ activities while celebrating Veterans and their service.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first-aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.
Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop—ASIST can be learned and used by anyone.
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Operation Homefront’s Military Child of the Year Awards celebrate and recognize the tremendous achievements of outstanding military children.
Each year, hundreds of military teens (ages 13–18) are nominated by a parent, teacher, mentor or guardian. Candidates for the Military Child of the Year Awards demonstrate resilience, strength of character and the ability to thrive in the face of the challenges of military life.
Military Child of the Year Award recipients receive a $10,000 cash award, a laptop and are flown with a parent or guardian for a 3-night stay in Washington, D.C.
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Food insecurity knows no boundaries – impacting all walks of life, including those who have served our nation. There’s a new effort to make sure our heroes have food to eat.
The Minnesota Veterans Food Pantry serves as a key fundraising platform of the Minneapolis VA’s pop-up food pantry, which occurs every third Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Those in need will receive a food box that includes shelf stable items (boxed meals/canned items), frozen items (meat/fish) and fresh items (fruits/vegetables).
Staff members are also on site to connect Veterans with other resources available through the VA.
More information >>
A new scam is currently targeting Veterans and their spouses. Postcards are being mailed out promoting a so-called "Veterans Saving Program," claiming that recipients may qualify for additional benefits.
These benefits promise an additional $185 monthly payment, free dental coverage and other programs.
Please be aware that this program does not exist.
Informational video >>
You can also learn more about the many scams targeting Veterans from the AARP's Veterans Fraud Center.
More information >>
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The Veterans Crisis Line's number—988 then Press 1—helps make it easier to remember and share the number to access help in times of need.
Veterans can use this option by dialing 988 and pressing 1 to contact the Veterans Crisis Line. Veterans can also reach the Veterans Crisis Line by text (838255) and through chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
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