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.
Bemidji
Fergus Falls
Hastings
Little Falls
Minneapolis
Montevideo
Preston
Silver Bay
|
All of our State Veterans Cemeteries will be hosting Memorial Day Programs this Memorial Day weekend. All events will be held Sunday, May 25.
|
|
 |
Please join the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) in celebrating Minnesota Veterans Homes Week May 11-17. This annual event honors our dedicated staff who care for Veteran Residents and their families as well as one another. We’re proud to recognize their ongoing efforts to ensure the highest quality of care is consistently delivered in a warm and welcoming environment, serving those who have served our nation.
Our employees’ legacy of service ensures that our Homes’ Residents live a joyful, meaningful and engaged life amongst their fellow Veterans. During this celebratory week, our goal will be to say thank you to team members through a variety of activities, including staff contests, gratitude walls, dress-up days, and special treats and meals.
You’re invited to follow MDVA’s social media channels beginning May 11 to see what is happening on our eight campuses in Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Hastings, Luverne, Minneapolis, Montevideo, Preston and Silver Bay or send a personalized note to these Homes acknowledging their contributions to their communities. For contact information on all Minnesota Veterans Homes, click here.
For over 13 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 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.
Coming up this week, we're live from Minnesota Wild headquarters, exploring the MN Wild Team Dog Program. We'll meet the founder of Coco's Heart Dog Rescue, learn about the Soldiers 6 program providing service dogs to heroes, and connect with a Veteran who previously received a MN Wild team dog.
More information >>
|
Self-connection, or self-care, is about finding practices that help you thrive, and it can include a range of things. It takes purposeful effort, but it can help you maintain or improve your daily mental wellbeing. It can be helpful to think of it as taking time to connect with yourself and care for yourself as you would others.
Prioritizing time to connect to yourself doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive, and it is important for you to find out what works best for you. Below are a few different ways to nurture your mental wellbeing, from the Mental Health Coalition:
- Physical: Notice and address the stress that shows up in your body. Notice what physical activities reduce or alleviate physical pain, tension and mental stress for you. Some common activities are massages, hugging loved ones with their consent, fitness, dance, aromatherapy, rest and boundary setting.
- Emotional: Involves tending to your own internal emotional world – especially your mood and feelings. Ways to tend to your emotional self can include connecting with others, naming and acknowledging your emotions, psychotherapy, journaling or creative writing, art and setting boundaries for your emotional wellbeing.
- Cognitive: Engages in activities that are intellectually rewarding and/or stimulating. This can include reading, writing, listening to books or podcasts, watching films and psychotherapy.
- Spiritual: This can take many different forms and does not have to be tied to formal religion. It means getting in touch with the less tangible aspects of yourself and the world around you. This can include meditation, breathwork, prayer, connecting with a spiritual or religious community and mantras.
Identify a few ways you’d like to prioritize your own wellbeing. Set aside the time you need to do it, give yourself permission to embrace it if it is hard for you to prioritize yourself, and work toward adding these moments regularly into your life. Know that what taking care of yourself may look like can change over time, and it is okay to adapt to what activities you engage in to fit your needs.
Information provided by the Minnesota Department of Health. Learn more here.
A Veterans town hall meeting is scheduled on May 13, 2025, at 2 p.m., at the Brainerd VA Clinic, located at 722 Northwest 7th St., in Brainerd.
The meeting is open to all Veterans served by the Brainerd VA Clinic and St. Cloud VA and provides Veterans the chance to hear from and have concerns addressed by St. Cloud VA officials.
Veterans can attend in-person, or virtually by joining the meeting on a computer or mobile device at https://tinyurl.com/4v2c7h44. Veterans may also call in (audio only) to listen to the meeting at 1-872-701-0185 and use access code 614 944 484#.
There will be a Native American Veteran Resource Fair at Cedar Lakes Casino in Cass Lake May 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The resource fair will include information about housing, employment, health benefits and more. There will also be a wide variety of service providers onsite.
More information >>
|
Veterans, current service members, military spouses and Gold Star families - you're invited to attend the 19th Annual Veterans Career Fair!
Are you looking for a higher salary and a great career? Work for an employer that recognizes and appreciates your military service and the value you bring to the team!
More information >>
|
Bravo Zulu House will be a Veterans-only facility providing a nurturing, home-like setting where residents gain strength. The goal is to integrate formal therapies and counseling with dog therapy, hydroponic gardening and addressing the deep-seated wounds of war.
Join to celebrate their grand opening. This event is open to the public and is set to include special guests, a ribbon cutting ceremony and much more.
More information >>
|
Join for a free and relaxing outdoor painting class at Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights.
Veterans (and their caregivers) are invited to register one of the class dates at no cost, with the mission to support Veterans connections to nature and one another in a unique outdoor experience.
More information >>
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is committed to investing in both our Veterans and the communities where they live and serve. A healthy community is a suicide-safe community.
One way MDVA contributes to the wellbeing of our state and Veteran communities is by offering free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course certification each month. MDVA also offers this training to our employees.
Trainings are held Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More information >>
|
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games is the largest adaptive sports and rehabilitation event designed exclusively for U.S. military Veterans with disabilities. They are currently looking for volunteers to help with the upcoming games.
Support Veteran athletes, make connections and be part of something unforgettable here in Minneapolis, July 17–22, 2025. For questions, email: [email protected].
Register to volunteer >>
|
On April 16, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Veterans who served at least two periods of service - one that qualifies for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and another that qualifies for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (PGIB) - may be able to receive additional GI Bill benefits.
Am I eligible for additional benefits? If so, what should I do?
If you have previously applied to use VA education benefits, you may be eligible for additional benefits, if:
- You completed more than one eligible period of service, and
- You waived all or part of your MGIB benefits so you could use PGIB benefits.
If you have questions, please reach out to an MDVA Veterans Education Regional Coordinator.
Find your Regional Coordinator >>
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 >>
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 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.
|
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.
|
