Area students awarded Workforce Development Scholarships
MOORHEAD – Thirty-one students at Minnesota State Community and Technical College have been awarded Workforce Development Scholarships in the final round of awards for the 2020-21 academic year.
Local winners include:
Hayli Tollagson, Glyndon
Gale Gross, Hawley
Jakia, Thompson, Ada
Madison Berggren, Moorhead
Ravand Ramadnan, Moorhead
Benjamin Oberg, Moorhead
The $2,500 scholarships are funded by the Minnesota Legislature to help ease the shortage of skilled workers in high-demand career fields. The scholarships target students enrolled in the program areas of advanced manufacturing, agriculture, early childhood education, health care services, information technology and transportation.
In all, M State awarded 106 Workforce Development Scholarships worth $265,000 for the current academic year. Students in more than 40 M State programs and on all four M State campuses were eligible for the awards.
Scholarship recipients must be Minnesota residents, enroll in a minimum of nine credits per semester and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. For qualifying students, the scholarship can be renewed for a second year, bringing the total award to $5,000.
“The Workforce Development Scholarships have an incredible impact on the students who receive these awards,” said M State President Carrie Brimhall. “These scholarship cover nearly half of the cost of full-time attendance at M State, greatly reducing the students’ need to borrow or work while they’re taking classes. We believe these scholarships mean students can be more successful in their studies.”
Health officials begin statewide COVID-19 survey of Minnesota households
Survey includes free COVID-19 testing and will assist in responding to COVID-19 in Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is conducting a voluntary statewide survey between Sept. 14 and Sept. 30 as part of an ongoing effort to better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in Minnesota.
The modified Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER, survey will include a household questionnaire as well as free virus and antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Information learned from the survey will help health officials and others who are part of the COVID-19 response make decisions that best meet the needs of our communities.
“Through the CASPER survey, we hope to better understand how COVID-19 is spreading in Minnesota and how it is affecting people,” said Dr. Ruth Lynfield, MDH state epidemiologist. “With a new virus, we have to learn as we go and adapt our response based on new data. Information we gather in this survey will allow us to refine our recommendations to best meet the needs of our Minnesota communities in the prevention of COVID-19.”
The goals of the survey are to:
Understand how COVID-19 has spread in Minnesota communities.
Understand what caused COVID-19 to spread in certain areas.
Explore how COVID-19 transmission and infection rates differ among regions in Minnesota.
Identify the percentage of people infected with COVID-19 that have no symptoms.
Improve health messaging and help stop COVID-19 spread.
During the survey period, teams of public health professionals will visit randomly selected households in 180 preselected sites around Minnesota. After agreeing to participate, one member of the household will complete a questionnaire. All household members who consent can receive a COVID-19 test using a swab to test for current infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and an antibody test using a finger stick to draw a few drops of blood to see if someone has previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Participants with positive results for either test will be contacted by a nurse to receive additional information. All questionnaire responses and results will be kept private.
For more information visit: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/casper.html
Free Walk-In Mental Health Clinic available to Clay County residents
MOORHEAD – Clay County residents can access mental health screenings, referrals to services, and other supports through a free, weekly walk-in mental health clinic at The Village Family Service Center in Moorhead.
From 9 am to 5 pm Wednesdays, Sept. 16 through Dec. 9, a Licensed Professional Counselor from The Village will be on hand to meet with Clay County individuals whose mental health has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The assessments will be available in person at The Village, 815 37th Ave. S., or online via Zoom.
“COVID-19 has taken a great toll on mental health in the community, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to increase access to services by offering a walk-in mental health clinic to all residents of Clay County at no charge,” said Joni Medenwald, The Village’s Minnesota Division Director. “The walk-in clinic is available to assist any resident who may be concerned about their own mental health or that of a loved one to receive a free screening and referral options should they be needed.”
Examples of residents who may benefit from the walk-in mental health clinic include adults who are struggling with depression or anxiety because of the pandemic, those who have been furloughed or laid off, parents whose children are struggling to adjust to new school routines, childcare workers, and foster parents. To maintain social distancing guidelines, walk-in visits will be limited to one adult or one child plus one adult.
The walk-in assessments, resources, and related in-home family therapy services are possible thanks to Clay County CARES funding. For more information, call The Village in Moorhead at (701) 451-4811.
Senior Connections Update
MOORHEAD – While the Moorhead Senior Center and senior activities remain suspended, Moorhead Community Access will air three virtual programs weekly, including:
• Bone Builder exercise program – airing Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 3 pm;
• Coping with Grief and Loss, airing Tuesday and Thursday at 3 pm; and
• Just Keep Moving, airing Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 pm
Additional programs will be added soon. You can view these programs on channel 99 (Midco) and channel 69 (Sparklight/Cable One), or from your phone, computer, or tablet by visiting the Moorhead Access website and click to stream Moorhead’s Access channel.
Senior meal pick up will continue, Monday-Friday, at the Hjemkomst Center. Seniors can order a meal by calling 218.299.5519, one day in advance, leaving a message with their name and phone number. In times of inclement weather, meals will be delivered.
The City of Moorhead sincerely hopes that conditions improve and it is safe to gather again in 2021.