Community Resource Connections:
Our goal is to help you gain access to the services that will allow you to participate in preventative health care. Staying healthy is easier, and far less expensive, that getting well.
We are established nonprofit service providers and caregivers in your community. We are NOT county, state or federal employees, nor do we work for health management systems like Prime West Health. We are reimbursed through contracts and grants that enable us to serve you without charging for that service.
We are trained and certified by MNsure to assist with online application for health insurance in Minnesota. The online application is faster and more reliable than paper applications submitted to the county system.
We work cooperatively with your County and State Human Service Departments, Minnesota Care, and MNsure. We serve as your advocate and guide. We also work with area MNsure Brokers who can help you choose the best Qualified Health Plan; if that is what you qualify for through the MNsure application system.
Staff in all of our locations respond to this number: 218-333-0880
How Our Services Work:
- You call a convenient site and schedule an appointment
- We explain how MNsure works and what items are needed at your appointment
- We provide computer and internet access; and we enter your data
- We provide document printing and faxing at no cost to you
- We help you create your own MNsure online account
- We guide you through the MNsure application question by question
- We assist you in interpreting application questions and how they relate to your situation
- You receive a copy of your completed application and account information
- We will keep a copy of your account information and application on file; but only with your written approval
- We help troubleshoot application problems
- We provide advocacy if an appeal is needed
- We cannot choose for your or recommend Qualified Health Plans; but will refer you to certified Brokers who are able to educate and guide you
By telephone: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm Call ahead to be seen in person.
A nonprofit that provides free services and resources to students of all ages to help them pursue postsecondary education.
Services we provide include:
• Individual assistance completing applications for admission, financial aid and scholarships
• College resource guides covering a range of topics related to preparing for and going to college
• Internet access for researching educational information and scholarship opportunities
• Access to career assessment tools
• Assistance developing educational plans
• Participation at college fairs, community events and other awareness activities
• One-on-one mentoring: in person, virtual, phone, text or email
• Small group workshops on topics of interest (FAFSA, college admissions, essays, scholarships, and more)
• Encouragement, support and accountability
Below I’ve provided a link to The College Place and a link to our Opportunities Guides. The guides are also free of charge, and I encourage you to order as many as you need.
If you are interested in any of the services listed above, feel free to contact me via email or phone, or you can set up an appointment with me using Calendly to learn more. Here is my link: https://calendly.com/mandyschram
Link to The College Place: https://www.ecmc.org/studentseducators/college-access-centers/the-college-place-northern-minnesota
Link to the Opportunities books: https://www.ecmc.org/studentseducators/student-resources/opportunities-guide-and-workbook
usiness hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CT
Local phone: 218-308-7933
minnesotatcp@ecmc.org
A 501(c)3 nonprofit agency. Our mission is to work with individuals and families to grow a healthy community.
Services include Mental Health Counseling/Therapy (specializing in working with survivors of childhood trauma and intimate partner violence; teen through adult) and Advocacy (support and referrals for individuals who are affected by bullying or abusive behavior and do not qualify for services with local intimate partner violence/sexual assault agencies).
To speak with an advocate call: 218-209-7000
Jami Rokala, MN, RDN, LD, CLC
Birthing and Breastfeeding Services
Doulas and Lactation Services
Stephanie Holthus, Certified Lactation Counselor
Assisting individuals with disabilities to live independently, pursue meaningful goals, and have the same opportunities and choices as all people.
A disability resource center for Seniors, Veterans & People with Disabilities of all ages.
Services Include:
Advocacy
Independent Living Skills
Information and Referral
Peer Mentoring/Group Support
Transition
Choice & Traditional PCA Services
Homemaking Services
Respite
Support Planner Services
Assistive Technology
Home Access Ramp Services
Accessibility Resources
SENIORS: We are your Aging-in-Place Specialists!
Primary office located in Hibbing MN with branch offices in: Duluth, Brainerd, Walker, Aitkin and Bemidji
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. This new benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers*.
Eligible households can enroll through Paul Bunyan Communications, a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application.
You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting http://www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877-384-2575.
*Paul Bunyan Communications is a participating broadband service provider but we do not sell laptop, desktop computers, or tablets and therefore are not a participating provider for that part of the program.
Disability Hub MN offers information about community resources related to people with disabilities, including housing, home and community-based services, and disability and cash benefits. This statewide service is a ‘no wrong door’ information and referral service for people with disabilities, their families, and support team. Disability Hub MN can be reached statewide by calling toll-free at 1-866-333-2466. The Hub is available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to provide one-to-one assistance to help people learn about their options and connect with the supports and services they choose.
At https://disabilityhubmn.org/ users can chat online with a Hub staff and/or view other Disability Hub MN resources and tools.
The Minnesota P.E.O. Home Fund was established in 1929 to provide charitable grants to individuals who lack financial means to provide housing, medical care, and other necessities of life for themselves. This fund primarily serves Minnesotans who may be facing unique challenges related to advanced aging, illness or disability. Charitable grants provide a bridge of support to positively impact the recipient’s life and well-being as they navigate their present struggle.
Patrick Lochwood
Stonewell Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency specializing in Medicare health plans and partnered with a long-term care specialist.
P.O. Box 604 Bemidji, MN 56619
Hours of availability: By appointment
Temporary and emergency shelter for homeless families and pregnant women.
Village of Hope promotes self worth and independence through the provision of temporary shelter and supportive services for families experiencing homelessness. We are unable to house individuals without families.
Residents are selected in accordance with the following eligibility criteria:
- The family unit must be homeless as defined by HUD guidelines.
- The primary applicant must be at least 18 years old and either pregnant or have primary guardianship/custody of one or more dependent children ages 17 or younger.
- All qualified households whose income at the time of initial occupancy does not exceed 50% or greater of the statewide or area median household income as determined by HUD and adjusted for families of five or more.
- Extended family members residing with the family prior to application for shelter at Village of Hope will be included in the definition of the “family unit”.
- The applicant must not be currently abusing alcohol or drugs.
- The applicant must be stable on psychiatric medications and prescribed medications for medical conditions and be willing to take them as prescribed.
- The applicant’s criminal history will be reviewed on an individual basis. Certain offenses may result in denial of admission. These may include sexual offenses requiring the tenant to register with local officials, violent crimes against persons or property, assault, arson or destruction of property.
- The applicant must not pose a risk of serious harm to self or others.
- The applicant must express a definite and informed desire to enter the emergency shelter program, including actively participating in a housing search and case management program.
- The applicant must be willing to accept group living including:
~A tolerance and respect for other shelter residents and staff,
~A willingness to adhere to shelter rules,
~A willingness to fully participate in maintaining the shelter and sharing cleaning and maintenance duties. - If applicant is eligible for Group Residential Housing (GRH), the applicant must be willing to assist VILLAGE OF HOPE in verifying the requirements including documentation of:
~Disability and/or chemical dependency,
~Income and/or asset verification confirming applicant fits the requirements of the program.
Intake Procedures
Clients or referents call the central intake number (218-751-0722). General questions are answered regarding eligibility, homelessness, and anticipated openings. Referents that are not able to be accommodated immediately are placed on an optional waiting list while every attempt is made to assist the referent in identifying an alternative shelter plan.
Upon vacancy of a family unit the waiting list is reviewed and families with the highest level of need are invited to participate in the application process. This process includes the opportunity to:
1. View the facility
2. Review the terms of the agreement to participate in a housing search and case management
3. Review the resident rules
4. Sign releases of information to verify homelessness
5. Sign releases of information to verify income
Homelessness is determined by utilizing a checklist for eligibility and receiving the verification by a third party in writing, on the Minnesota Housing ”Housing Status Verification/Referral Form” whenever possible. In cases where no written independent verification is possible from a shelter, a case manager or other 3rd party, clients must complete and sign the Minnesota Housing “Housing Status Self-Certification Form” .
Once homelessness is verified, in writing, on the forms provided by Village of Hope, and exclusionary criteria are determined not applicable, applicants are forwarded to the Executive Director for review.
If an applicant is approved, they are accepted and will be allowed to move into Village of Hope. Once a room is available, the homeless advocates will coordinate a move-in date and time with the applicant.
The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. For more than five decades, the Epilepsy Foundation and our network of nearly 50 partners have helped to:
Connect people to treatment, support and resources;
Fund innovative research and the training of specialists; and
Educate the public about epilepsy and seizure first aid.
The greater Bemidji Area is a strong regional hub offering the best in education, health care and lifestyle. The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce is proud of the region’s vitality and continues to strive, prosper and grow.
The Chamber’s core purpose is to advocate for the business community by providing leadership, communication and act as a referral resource.
Governed by a board of directors, the Chamber is comprised of a number of volunteer councils and committees that are guided by the program of work. There are many partnerships and collaborations that the Chamber has created over the years. Unity and working together has become a strategy the board feels strong about.
For nearly 40 years we have been advocating for and serving the LGBTQ+ community, those living with HIV, and all folks facing barriers to equitable healthcare. Since our formation through the Minnesota AIDS Project and Rainbow Health Initiative merger—and later the acquisition of Training to Serve—we have continued to grow and identify new ways to commit to our mission.
These past few years have challenged and strengthened this unified team in ways we could have never expected. We decided another change was needed to continue moving forward: a name that grounded us in our legacy and proudly proclaimed our purpose.
Our Mission
While our name has changed, our purpose has not. We are as dedicated as ever to working for equitable health care access and outcomes for people who experience injustice at the intersection of health status and identity. We center individuals and communities at risk of and living with HIV or facing barriers to equitable health care access and outcomes because of their identity as gender, sexual, and/or racial minorities.
- We help people navigate healthcare systems by breaking down barriers, particularly LGBTQ+ people and those affected by HIV.
- We work to End HIV by building on our four-decade legacy of providing the most comprehensive array of Minnesota AIDS Project’s wrap-around services for people with HIV. As a disease of injustice, the only way to end HIV is to end health disparities.
- We offer unique and specialized mental and chemical health services by and for the communities we serve. Our care is trauma-informed, harm-reduction based, sex-positive, and meets people where they are. We turn no one away for inability to pay.
- We work to empower people on the margins with relevant information, support, and connection to resources that allow them to lead healthier lives. Our legacy of four decades fighting HIV and LGBTQ+ health disparities has given us insight and experience that we can bring to the broader movement for health equity.
- We educate and train providers about how to deliver better care for the diversity of LGBTQ+ and HIV communities through a lens of intersectionality.
We are Rainbow Health Minnesota, and we will do whatever it takes for each and every person to be cared for and respected.
Our Purpose
We bring our purpose to life in two primary ways:
- Directly serving and supporting the needs of people who need help with compassionate care that breaks down barriers to better health.
- Fighting for better health systems for those erased and excluded by educating care providers, policymakers, and one another.
The strategic actions we are taking to fulfill our purpose include:
- Work to End HIV.
- Expand our training and systems change enterprise.
- Respond to the growing needs of older LGBTQ+ and HIV communities.
- Increase community engagement and empowerment.
- Explore targeted LGBTQ+ direct care services.
- Strengthen operational and financial stability.
Primary Administrative Offices
2577 West Territorial Road
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 612–341–2060
Toll Free: 800–243–7321
Fax: 612–341–4057
Email: info@rainbowhealth.org
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Rainbow Behavioral Health Clinic
2577 West Territorial Road
Saint Paul, MN 5511
Phone: 612-373-9160
Fax: 612–341–4057
Email: clinic@rainbowhealth.org
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Duluth (Case Management Only)
400 East 3rd Street
Duluth, MN 55805
Phone: 218–786–8128
Toll Free: 800–731–2437
Fax: 218–786–6951
Hours:
Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
The colleges and universities of Minnesota State are here to support students through every step of their educational journey. Our students are people first, and their lives are complex. Students face challenges that make progress towards their academic goals difficult, including mental health, grief and loss, housing and food insecurity, as well as challenges related to child and family care, transportation, and access to technology. Our students overcome many challenges and obstacles to achieve personal and academic success, and Minnesota State is committed to help them navigate their lives and their commitments to learning.
Students who access basic needs support and resources are more likely to experience academic success and persist to graduation.
Minnesota State has partnered with United Way 211 to establish a statewide basic needs resource hub. The basic needs resource hub provides Minnesota State students access to basic needs resources and support available on their campus and in their community via phone, text, or chat 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
United Way 211 provides free and confidential health and human services information. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to connect you with the resources and information you need. If you’re looking for information about services available in your community for you or a loved one, they can help.
Text MNHELP to 898-211(TXT211) or call 211 (toll free at 1-800-543-7709) to speak with one of their highly trained information and referral specialists. Your call is completely confidential, and they have call menus in English, Spanish, and Hmong. Interpreters are also available for any language.
Visit the 211 website to learn more or to explore resources and support that may be available.
Check out website for a list of services which include: Behavioral Health, Child Welfare Programs, Addiction and Dependencies Programs, Housing Programs, Residential Services, Foster Care, Child Abuse Prevention Programs, Family Preservation Program, Parent Support Services, Elder Services, and many others.
Community Mental Health Center:
Provide psychotherapy to adults, adolescents and children as well as Psychological evaluations. Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Service (ARMHS), Children’s Therapeutic Support Services (CTSS) and Care Coordinators to assist with intakes
Substance Use Disorder (SUD):
Individual and group outpatient services for youth and adults; including Comprehensive Assessments.
Foster Care and Adoption:
Supporting adoptive parents with the matching process through finalization of a special needs child. Professional foster care for youth ages 0-21- and 24-hour case management services. Families must meet MN DHS requirements to become a licensed provider.
Winnie Way:
Therapeutic transitional living program, providing support to adolescent girls who have been sexually exploited and/or trafficked. Serves girls ages 16-21. Programming is client-centered approach and trauma-informed care model. Residents receive services tailored to their individual needs and treatment goals. Contact: Colbi Ikola @ 218-820-0121
Hawkins Home:
Transitional living program for girls ages 16-21. This home offers supportive and structured living environment with a focus on building the skills and competencies necessary for a successful transition into young adulthood. Programming is individualized and based upon client-identified goals and areas of need. Contact: Colbi Ikola @ 218-820-0121
The Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care is a program of the Minnesota Board on Aging. Regional ombudsmen and volunteers work to enhance the quality of life and services for people receiving long-term services and supports. The program also advocates for reform in long-term care through changes in state law, federal law and administrative policy.
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An Ombudsman is an independent consumer advocate who:
- Investigates complaints about the health, safety, welfare and rights of Minnesotans receiving long-term services and supports
- Works to identify problems and resolve individual concerns
- Provides information and help with long-term care services, consumer rights and regulations
- Resolves disputes between consumers and providers about long-term care services
- Works with providers to promote a culture in which people have and can make choices.
Ombudsmen can help:
- Residents of nursing homes and board and care homes, including veterans’ homes
- Residents of adult care homes, such as housing with services, assisted living, customized living or foster care
- People receiving home care services
- Medicare beneficiaries who have concerns about getting into or being discharged from hospitals
- Anyone seeking help with long-term services and supports.
Ombudsmen work with residents, families and service providers to promote person-centered care and to identify issues in the long-term care system and advocate for change. They also handle complaints and problems from individuals related to:
- Quality of care and quality of life
- The Patient, Resident and Home Care Bill of Rights
- Discharge or eviction from nursing homes, board and care homes, veterans’ homes, assisted living and other long-term care or home and community-based service settings
- Termination of services, including home care, adult foster care, hospice, Elderly Waiver, Community Access for Disability Inclusion waiver and other long-term care community-based service programs
- Public benefit programs, such as Medicare, Medical Assistance, veterans’ services, long-term care insurance and other programs that directly affect an individual’s long-term care needs.