We are excited to share that Lieutenant Governor Flanagan will be joining the weekly provider webinar this afternoon to discuss the Walz-Flanagan Budget to Move Minnesota Forward. The weekly provider webinar is from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. We hope you can join us for this discussion!
Additionally, this morning from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. the Lt. Governor will lead the Minnesota Interagency Council on Homelessness meeting where the Council will discuss the next steps in creating a housing, racial, and health justice oriented strategic plan. These meetings are open to the public and you can register for a link to join here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from GoToWebinar containing information about joining the meeting. Learn more about the Council here.
If you have any questions about your registration for either event, please email Elizabeth Dressel.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has a supply of iHealth over-the-counter rapid antigen tests available immediately to congregate living facilities. Each box contains 90 test kits, and each test kit includes two tests. Facilities can order tests by completing the following order form.
Note: If your facility plans to distribute the tests to residents or staff for personal use (i.e., residents/staff will administer the test on self and read their own test results), a CLIA waiver is not required. However, if your facility plans to administer the tests to residents or staff, the facility will be required to provide their CLIA number and agree to report results. If you have any questions about testing guidance, please contact the MDH Congregate Settings Response Team at Health.R-Congregate@state.mn.us.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), in partnership with the African Career, Education & Resources (ACER) Inc. and the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH), is accepting new applications for the COVID-19 Trusted Messenger Program. Organizations can apply through this online application. The deadline to apply is next Monday, February 28. The grants for new Trusted Messenger organizations will run from March to December 2022.
Trusted Messenger grantees receive funding from ACER to support vaccine peer education and outreach activities, training from MDH on vaccine safety and efficacy and motivational interviewing techniques, and ongoing support from MDH, ACER, MICAH, and their fellow grantees on how to respond to the latest information about COVID-19 variants, boosters and vaccine eligibility, and overcoming misinformation and other barriers to vaccination. Questions about the program can be sent to Josh Leopold (josh.leopold.c19@state.mn.us) and Sue Watlov Phillips (sue@micah.org).
The next webinar Speakers Bureau will be on Wednesday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m. There is still space to sign up to speak. Help us spread the word about this opportunity with the people you work with. Anyone who has lived experience of homelessness is welcome to sign-up to share through the Speakers Bureau. This will be open time each month for lived experience experts to share ideas and feedback with the webinar audience. All the details can be found on this flyer.
There is a monthly prep session held the Tuesday before the webinar. The March prep session will be Tuesday, March 1 from 3:00-3:30 p.m. Follow this link to join the prep session. Please email elizabeth.dressel@state.mn.us or call Elizabeth at 651-248-5548 with any questions or to sign up to join the Speakers Bureau. This will be an ongoing opportunity each month. Anyone is welcome to sign up for future months as well.
Applications are being accepted now for open vacancies on the Task Force through the Secretary of State’s open appointments site. Apply online for the two vacant seats:
-
A public member seat for an individual who experienced homelessness and resided in a shelter
-
A representative from an organization that advocates on behalf of persons with disabilities
If anyone is unable to apply via computer, please reach out to Elizabeth Dressel, 651-248-5548, to request assistance in completing the application. An additional set of questions will be emailed to applicants once they complete the online application through the Secretary of State’s Office. Per the Open Appointments statue, all information provided on the application and supplemental questions is public data. You can find out more about the Task Force’s work to date here.
Please share this information with your network and encourage anyone who may be interested to apply!
-
We have updated the Heading Home Alliance funding page to summarize the resources available to help programs and settings supporting people experiencing homelessness respond to COVID-19. Those resources include Shelter Outbreak Funds, the Minnesota Shelter Emergency Staffing Pool, Vaccine Incentive funding, and the Trusted Messenger program. Find more detail on each of these resources on the Heading Home Alliance funding page.
-
The Department of Human Services is hosting a Housing Best Practices Forum on MSA Housing Assistance vs. Housing Support on Monday, March 14 from 1:00 -2:30 p.m. DHS staff will cover what settings you can use MSH Housing Assistance and Housing Support in and how someone could benefit from the programs. If you are interested in joining, you can register here.
|
