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.
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Join the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum as they host free a virtual program, via Zoom, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Settle into the rich storytelling of Alex Kershaw and hear his accounts of specific Minnesotans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Program begins at 7 p.m.
More information & registration >>
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The holidays can be a joy-filled season, but they can also be a very stressful time that can bring up painful memories or experiences. Join the Minnesota Department of Health’s Suicide Prevention Unit, along with guest speakers from across the state, for a three-part overview of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. The Eight Dimensions of Wellness is a framework developed by SAMHSA used to encourage a holistic approach focused on interconnected dimensions that contribute to an individual’s overall wellbeing. During these sessions, we will discuss each of the eight dimensions and set goals for how to improve and maintain overall wellness and connect to support during the holiday seasons and beyond.
For more information or to register:
The Yellow Ribbon Advance Director provides vision, leadership for Yellow Ribbon Advance, a military-to-civilian career transition program. The program provides opportunities for military affiliated students and their families to transition to careers with supported placements working employers regionally and nationally while completing their degree.
The Director is the University expert on work based learning and other career ready/career transition programming for active military, Veterans and their family members and brings significant understanding of workforce and competency-based learning models to the university. The Director ensures the goals and objectives of the federally funded project are achieved.
More information >>
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 2 hours of self-paced pre-coursework before attending the 6 hour instructor led, virtual portion of the class.
More information >>
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The Minnesota Department of Administration requests proposals for Veterans memorials and commemorations to be awarded for groups celebrating, recognizing, and honoring the sacrifices of those who served in the military, including memorials, commemorations, facilities, and park features.
A total of $102,375 in Fiscal Year 2025 is dedicated for this competitive grant program. Grant applications are due 4:30 p.m. Central Time on Jan. 24, 2025. For more info, see the Office of Grants Management’s website (OGM) and the RFP document.
Additionally, the Office of Grants Management is seeking Veterans or individuals with experience in developing Veterans memorials and commemorations to participate in our grantmaking process by serving as community reviewers who will read and evaluate grant proposals. A small stipend is available, and all work will be done remotely. Grant review is scheduled to begin in Feb. 2025. More information on the community grant reviewer opportunity is available, as well as the community reviewer interest form. Community reviewer interest forms will be accepted until all positions needed for the review process are filled.
Please contact Sara Spiess, Grants Specialist Sr. at [email protected] with questions.
Many Veterans seek support and help with filing VA benefits claims for the payments they deserve. Be cautious of "claim predators" - unaccredited companies or individuals targeting Veterans' benefits for profit.
How to identify claim predators:
- Charging High Fees: Predatory companies charge absurd fees or require you to pay a portion of your VA benefits. Never pay anyone a fee to file an initial claim for benefits.
- Making Dishonest Promises: Don't trust anyone who claims they can help accelerate the claims process and obtain a 100% disability benefits evaluation. Remember, only VA has the authority to determine disability ratings.
- Requiring Binding Contracts: No one should ever charge a fee to file an initial claim for VA benefits. Never sign a contract agreeing to pay an unauthorized individual/company a percentage of your benefit payment in exchange for help with your VA claim.
Learn more about VA accredited representatives >>
Sadly, an average of 100 Minnesota Veterans die by suicide each year. Two-thirds of these deaths are by guns.
To help prevent Veteran suicide, MDVA is partnering with the VA Healthcare System to distribute free gun locks. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a locked gun can mean the difference between a tragic outcome and a life saved for someone in crisis. Though Veterans are well-versed in firearm safety, all gun owners should understand that during emotional or stressful times, delaying access to a gun could mean the difference between life and death. Gun locks can prevent someone in crisis from tragically taking their own life.
In an effort to reduce these preventable tragedies, MDVA is offering free gun locks. To request a gun lock, please email [email protected] with your name and address. This information will not be shared; requests are confidential.
For more information on MDVA’s suicide prevention efforts, visit MinnesotaVeteran.org/EndVetSuicide.
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 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.
More information >>
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is spreading awareness to families of deceased Veterans on reporting a Veteran’s death, available benefits for survivors, and protecting against posthumous scams.
Survivors may be eligible for benefits such as VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) or survivors pension. Family members should report the death of a Veteran as soon as possible to stop current benefits. If the death is not reported promptly, survivors or executors of the Veteran’s estate may have to repay any overpayments received.
To report the death of a Veteran:
Calling is the fastest way to report the death of a Veteran so VA will stop benefit payments, but there are other options available for reporting.
- By Phone: Call VA 800-827-1000 (TTY: 711) and select 5. Agents are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
- In Person: Go to a VA regional office. Find the nearest VA regional office.
- By Mail: Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center PO Box 4444 Janesville, WI 53547-4444. Include your relationship to the Veteran and any supporting documents that can help us verify the Veteran’s identity. Examples of supporting documents are:
- o Death certificate or other public record of the Veteran’s death
o Discharge document (like a DD214)
- If you report in person at a VA regional office or by mail, provide copies of:
- Death certificate or other public record of the Veteran’s death
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Discharge document (like a DD214)
Provide as much information as you can when you first report the notice of death to VA. While you don’t have to have everything, VA will need as much information as possible to help verify the Veteran’s identity. This information includes:
- Full name
- Social Security number or VA claim number
- Date of birth
- Date of death
- Branch of service
Best practices to avoid posthumous scams are (for the Survivor):
- Save important files such as the Veteran’s military service/treatment records, discharge papers, and copies of their VA claims.
- Go to VA.gov - For guidance on creating an account and obtaining a VA security PIN to securely access benefit information. A VA Security PIN is an additional way to secure direct deposit accounts from theft and protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
- Never give out PII via text and be cautious of suspicious hyperlinks or unfamiliar hyperlinks.
- If a survivor is missing a VA benefits payment, identifies a discrepancy in payments, or find suspicious activity with their direct deposit account, contact VA immediately at 800-827-1000.
- Review all documents thoroughly. Survivors should never sign a blank form for someone else to complete later. They should always review the completed form before signing and retain a copy of the completed form for their records.
- For protection against identity theft scams, notify the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and notify the Veteran’s financial institutions so all accounts can be closed or transferred appropriately.
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According to AARP, scammers also use names published in obituaries to pretend to be long lost relatives of the deceased. When it’s time to write your loved one’s obituary, leave out the birthdate, middle name, home address, birthplace, and mother’s maiden name.
- To report a missing VA benefits payment, please call the VBA National Call Center at 800-827-1000. You may also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission if funeral homes charge to set up funeral honors or schedule a burial with VA’s National Cemetery Administration by visiting reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- For other scams predators use, visit www.VA.GOV/VSAFE.
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 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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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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