Bemidji
Hastings
Minneapolis
Montevideo
Preston
Silver Bay
For over 12 years, the award-winning Minnesota Military Radio (MMR) has been the forum for retelling the stories of Minnesota?s heroes. Vietnam Veteran and volunteer host Tom Lyons shares these stories which are carried on 65 broadcasting stations throughout the state of Minnesota 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.
Listen in this week as we learn about the Minnesota National Guard's Diversity & Inclusion Special Emphasis Program. Discuss how the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs SOAR Program is helping Veterans in need and get an update from the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers.
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Treating mental health conditions swiftly
Mental health plays a big role in overall well-being ? for Veterans and everyone. When you?re mentally healthy, you can enjoy your life and the people in it, feel good about yourself, keep up good relationships and manage stress. It?s normal for your mental health to shift over time. Creating positive habits is a great way to support your mental health.
A mental health condition, or mental illness, refers to a set of symptoms that have been identified by the mental health community. People with mental health conditions experience change in emotions, thinking, and/or behavior. For some, this means extreme and unexpected changes in mood, like feeling more sad or worried than usual. For others, it means not thinking clearly, pulling away from friends and activities you used to enjoy, or hearing voices that others do not. No matter what kind of mental health condition someone is facing, it is possible to heal.
Do you know a Veteran who may have a mental illness? The National Alliance on Mental Illness has this suggestion: If someone you know tells you about a mental health concern, don?t laugh it off or promise it will get better on its own, even if you want to comfort the person. The stresses of deployment and military life put soldiers at risk for mental illness and make treating them more complicated. The military medical system can?t succeed in its mission to ?restore the fighting force? without the help of all personnel to encourage treating mental health conditions swiftly before they can worsen.
Learn more by participating in an online webinar on May 8 from the Minnesota Department of Health. How To Develop a Wellness Plan is a webinar about creating a wellness plan as a suicide prevention tool that can help provide hope and resilience regarding our own mental health and wellbeing. This webinar will help participants to recognize signs of struggle within ourselves, through the holistic approach of The Eight Dimensions of Wellness.
You?re invited to the 2023 Electric Vehicle Showcase on Wednesday, May 10 at the Minnesota State Capitol.
Stop by any time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to see a wide variety of light-, medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles as well as electric and commercial landscape equipment. Learn more about the latest and greatest EVs available in Minnesota, from eBikes to pickup trucks.
This free event, hosted by state agencies and sustainability partners, supports Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) commitment to reduce fleet fossil fuel consumption by 30 percent by 2027. MDVA will proudly be showcasing an EV Polaris Ranger (utility vehicle) from the Minneapolis Veterans Home and electric groundskeeping equipment from the Hastings Veterans Home.
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The Military Action Group (MAG) is a collaborative body of individuals who advocate for improved policies and practices that benefit Veterans in the state of Minnesota, principally through legislation. The MAG operates as a ?think tank? for ideas that - because of the group?s non-partisan approach and independence from established Veteran organizations - seek to provide innovative legislative and advocacy approaches to those who shape policy for Veterans.
The next MAG meeting will be May 15, from 9 to 10 a.m.
State Office Building
Room 300N
100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
St Paul, MN 55155
The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon-Hibbing/Chisholm committee will be hosting their third Veteran Resource Fair at the Chisholm National Guard Armory and the Chisholm Senior Center/American Legion Building on Thursday, May 18, 2022, from 1 to 6 p.m. Regional DAV chapters will have transportation vans providing continuous round trip transportation between both buildings.
There will be a broad mix of Education, Employment, Legal/Financial, Health & Wellness, Community Support, Government Leaders, and Veterans Service Organizations to provide a variety of resources available to meet the needs of regional Veterans, National Guard servicemembers and their families. Additionally, The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon-Hibbing/Chisholm committee is partnering with local libraries to have activities available for youth from 1-5 p.m. so those with young children may attend.
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The Preston Veterans Home will be hosting its first local career fair during Preston Trout Days 2023!
The future Preston Veterans Home will offer meaningful career opportunities, competitive wages, generous benefits and a welcoming environment. Stop by and learn about open positions, meet Home leaders and enjoy refreshments.
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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults.
You?ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You?ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.
This class will be held virtually and requires two hours of self-paced pre-coursework before attending the five-hour, instructor-led,? virtual portion of the class.
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The Wall That Heals is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Washington, D.C. This traveling exhibit allows visitors to view the more than 58,000 names of the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War.
The Wall That Heals will be on display at St. Thomas Academy, and is open to the public at no cost. The Wall will be on display Friday, May 26 starting at 2 p.m. through Monday, May 29 at 2 p.m.
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The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions the VA assumes (or ?presumes?) are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps provide generations of Veterans?and their survivors?with the care and benefits they?ve earned and deserve.
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The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has updated their questionnaire on Veteran Employment. Please take a moment to answer the questionnaire so they can better understand how to?to best serve Veterans in finding a rewarding career.
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The Veterans Crisis Line's new number?988 then Press 1?helps make it easier to remember and share the number to access help in times of need.
Signed into law in 2020, the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act authorized 988 as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. As part of the law, all telephone service providers in the U.S. had to activate the number no later than July 16, 2022.
Veterans can use this new option by dialing 988 and pressing 1 to contact the Veterans Crisis Line. Veterans may still reach the Veterans Crisis Line with the previous phone number?1-800-273-8255 and Press 1?by text (838255), and through chat at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.
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Minnesota Veterans who served sometime between September 11, 2001, and August 30, 2021 may be eligible for a Post-9/11 Service Bonus. More than 17,000 Minnesota Veterans who served in the Global War on Terrorism have already received bonuses totaling $18.5 million in recognition of their service.
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is distributing nearly $25 million in bonuses. As of late November, $18.5 million has been awarded. Eligible Veterans are paid on a first-come, first-served basis, so Veterans should apply today before the funds are gone.
To apply, visit MinnesotaVeteran.org/ServiceBonus.
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If you know of a Veteran-related community event happening in your area you would like to submit to be included in our Friday Digest, please email all event information to [email protected] for consideration.
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