News
- Mellesmoen Earns Her “Supporting Early Social Emotional Development (SESED) CredentialNancy Mellesmoen (Early Childhood Coach) has completed all required coursework to earn the “Supporting Early Social Emotional Development” (SESED) credential, from the Reflective Center at CEED, University of Minnesota. Being deeply rooted in attachment theory, this credential brings the science of development, the brain, relationships and stress biology as tools of integration. These tools are
- Lee-Rokala, Moore, Rangel and Rutland Elected to National CACFP Sponsors Association Board of DirectorsJami Lee-Rokala of Crookston, Minnesota; Melissa Moore of Baltimore, Maryland; Gabriela Rangel of Tuscon, Arizona and Annetta Rutland of Cincinnati, Ohio have been elected to serve a three-year term on the National CACFP Sponsors Association Executive Board of Directors. All bring a great depth of experience in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
- Tri-Valley Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Center Opens in Bethel(Bethel, Minn.)- Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc’s Head Start, Child, and Family Programs is excited to announce the opening of a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start center in Bethel, Minn. The center began services on Monday, September 12, 2022 and is located at 23820 Dewey St. NW. Staff are currently enrolling children and families. To learn
- Tri-Valley Staff Recognized at MinnCAP Annual Training ConferenceTri-Valley Opportunity Council. Inc. staff attended the 2022 Minnesota Community Action Partnership (MinnCAP) Annual Training Conference held on July 26-28 at the Willmar Conference Center in Willmar, MN. The theme for the conference was: “Recover. Resiliency. Response. Renew in 2022.” Staff took part in legislative general sessions, listened to speakers on various topics, and attended
- Tri-Valley Child Nutrition Services Manager, Jami Rokala, serves as the testifier for Rep. Lippert’s HF 4120 Farm to School & Early Care billTri-Valley Child Nutrition Services Manager, Jami Rokala, served as the testifier for Rep. Lippert’s HF 4120 Farm to School & Early Care bill and testified virtually in front of the House Agriculture Committee on March 21. The bill had tremendous support and was referred to the Early Childhood Committee where Rokala also testified on March 29.
- National Nutrition Month “Celebrating a World of Flavors”Spotlighting Guadalupe Ramos-Aguilar and Abigail Galvan for submitting the first video to celebrate National Nutrition Month “Celebrating a World of Flavors”. Their parents, Fancisco and Aurora, submitted this video of a traditional dessert prepared during Lent in their state of Mexico. The dessert is called Torrejas and is simple to cook! Great job to the
- Tri-Valley’s Title I Migrant Education Services team volunteers at Every Meal in Roseville.
The Title I Migrant Education Services team volunteered at Every Meal in Roseville. They helped to package 2,538 bags which is 9,728 meals for Minnesotan children that live with food insecurity. Every Meal works to fight hunger in our community by filling gaps in food access that children face during the weekends, summers and extended - Mobile clinics bring vaccines to workers in rural communitiesMon, 09/27/2021 – 13:36 (U of M story link) The Tri-Valley Opportunity Council has been serving the migrant farmworker community for 40 years and, in partnership with the Mobile Health Initiative at the University of Minnesota, offers mobile health clinics in rural areas. These areas are home to hardworking migrants and immigrants whose contributions to the agricultural industry and
- Tri-Valley Staff Recognized at MinnCAP Virtual Annual Staff ConferenceTri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. staff attended the Minnesota Community Action Partnership (MinnCAP) Virtual Annual Training Conference held at the end of October. Staff took part in legislative general sessions, listened to speakers on various topics, and took part in several educational breakout sessions. In conjunction with the annual training conference, several awards and recognitions were
- Little Free Library Grand OpeningThe Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Le Center Administrative Offices, held a grand opening for their new Little Free Library (Charter # 127722)on Monday, October 18th. The Little Free Library was stocked full of books from donations from Hindi’s Libraries and First Book! Many people also stopped by to donate books, as well as pick out a book or
- Tri-Valley Opportunity Council Celebrates the Grand Opening of the Little Free LibraryLittle Free Libraries are a global phenomenon. The small, front-yard book exchanges number more than 100,000 around the world in over 100 countries — from Italy to Brazil to Japan. Now, a new Little Free Library at 200 East Bowler Street, Le Center will join the movement to share books, bring people together and create
- Catch T.H.E. Bus to the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion on Friday, September 3Tri-Valley Transportation Programs is offering a convenient way to get to the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag, Minn. on Friday, September 3. T.H.E. Bus will be giving rides to the event for only $10 round trip. T.H.E. Bus will arrive in Rollag at 10 am and depart at 4 pm. Reserve your ride
- Federal Mask Requirement Extended for Public TransportationTransportation Security Administration (TSA) has extended the face mask requirement for all transportation networks, including public transportation, through January 18, 2022. TSA’s initial face mask requirement went into effect on February 1, 2021 with an expiration date of May 11, 2021 and was then extended through September 13, 2021. While this announcement extends the date
- Kristen Waechter Earns Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) CertificationOn Monday, June 28, Kristen Waechter (Program Operations Manager) was recognized by Minnesota Community Action Partnership as part of the 2021 class of Certified Community Action Professionals (CCAP). The CCAP designation is a nationally recognized credential earned from the Community Action Partnership in Washington, D.C. She is a staff member with Head Start, Child and
- Community Action Month proclaimed in Minnesota, and CrookstonArticle and photos courtesy of Mike Christopherson and the Crookston Times. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has proclaimed May “Community Action Month.” At this week’s Crookston City Council meeting, Mayor Dale Stainbrook followed suit, declaring Community Action Month in Crookston and presenting the proclamation to Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. CEO Jason Carlson. In Minnesota, Community Action
- Gov. Walz proclaims May ‘Community Action Month’ as the network of 24 Minnesota Agencies and 11 MN Tribal Nations celebrates 57 years of innovative poverty solutions and service(ST. PAUL, MINN. – May 6, 2021) – In Minnesota, Community Action Agencies have worked tirelessly over the past year to meet some of the most pressing needs caused by COVID-19, including providing rental, mortgage and utility assistance, food delivery and socially-distanced food distribution events, and broadband and technology support to name a few. The
- Federal Mask Requirement Extended for Public TransportationTransportation Security Administration (TSA) has extended the face mask requirement for all transportation networks, including public transportation, through September 13, 2021. TSA’s initial face mask requirement went into effect on February 1, 2021 with an expiration date of May 11, 2021. While this announcement extends the date of enforcement, all other aspects of the requirement
- Morrison and Sundeen receive Data Literacy CredentialOn April 21st, 2021 Tara Morrison, Program Design Manager, and Tracey Sundeen, Assistant Director of Program Operations, were recognized at the National Head Start Association Scholarships and Awards Event for obtaining their Data Literacy Credential. The Data Literacy Credential is offered through the National Head Start Association in partnership with Acorn Evaluation. It is a
- Minnesota Housing launches online ‘RentHelpMN’ application, to provide rental assistance for people impacted by COVID-19On April 20th Minnesota Housing launched the COVID-19 emergency rental assistance online application through RentHelpMN.org. About 30 local community-based organizations are working with Minnesota Housing to assist people with their applications, including some Community Action Agencies. “COVID-19 did not create the housing crisis in Minnesota, but it did exacerbate it. This program will help keep
- Tri-Valley Opportunity Council Community Forum Information Now OnlineFor the safety of our community members and partners, Tri-Valley Opportunity Council will not hold in-person community forums in 2021. Rather, the agency has placed the community forum information on its website at www.tvoc.org. Community members and agency partners in West Marshall, West Polk, and Norman Counties are asked to visit the Tri-Valley website, read
- Northwest Minnesota Foundation brings in 3 new board membersBEMIDJI — The Northwest Minnesota Foundation has added three new members to its Board of Directors.According to a release, the new additions include: • Kaitlyn Grenier, a Bemidji resident and co-director of the Native American nonprofit organization Manidoo Ogitigaan.• Jason Carlson, a resident of McIntosh and the CEO of Tri-Valley Opportunity Council.• Crookston resident Kristi
- Governor Walz Proclaims Thursday, March 18, 2021 as Transit Driver Appreciation DayThursday, March 18, 2021 has been proclaimed, “Transit Driver Appreciation Day” by Governor Tim Walz. It’s a day to show appreciation and respect for bus and train operators across the state of Minnesota. Bus and train operators are serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an essential service to those who must use
- MNsure’s special enrollment period begins today (Feb. 16) and runs through Monday, May 17Coverage starts the first of the month after plan selection ST. PAUL, Minn.—Starting today, Minnesotans can begin enrolling into private health insurance plans through MNsure’s COVID-19 special enrollment period. Any uninsured Minnesotan, or those not currently enrolled in a plan through MNsure, will have until Monday, May 17, to enroll into coverage. This includes Minnesotans
- MNsure Announces Special Enrollment PeriodFebruary 3, 2021 | Brokers, Navigators and CACs Beginning Tuesday, February 16, MNsure will open a three-month special enrollment period to help any Minnesotan not currently enrolled through MNsure secure health insurance coverage. This announcement follows the nationwide special enrollment period established by President Biden for those states who use healthcare.gov, the federally run health
- Tri-Valley Senior Programs Set to Re-launch Foster Grandparent Program in Eastern North DakotaTri-Valley Senior Programs is excited to announce the hiring of Penny Millspaugh, a Grand Forks resident, as program manager for the Foster Grandparent Program in Eastern North Dakota. “Re-launching this vital program while we are still in the midst of a pandemic may not be easy, but it is important for both our seniors and
- Insulin Safety Net Program helps Minnesotans access affordable insulinInterested individuals should visit MNinsulin.org to see if they qualify ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program was created to help Minnesotans who face difficulty affording their insulin. The program is made up of two parts. The urgent need program and the continuing need program. 1. The urgent need program – eligible Minnesotans can receive a 30-day supply
- Governor Walz proclaims Thursday, December 10 “Get Covered Day 2021”US Senator Tina Smith and Lt. Gov Flanagan join advocates in urging Minnesotans to get covered ST. PAUL, Minn.—In an effort to highlight the importance of meaningful access to health care and to slow the spread of COVID-19, Governor Tim Walz, has proclaimed Thursday, December 10, “Get Covered Day 2021” in Minnesota, which coincides with “Get Covered
- Deadline to Apply for the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program is Monday, December 7 at 11:59 p.m.The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program provides housing assistance payments to help prevent eviction, prevent homelessness, and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners. The program is designed to cover expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities or other housing-related expenses that were incurred after March 1, 2020 and are past due.Individuals and families interested in
- A sole purpose: High school group holds shoe-boot driveCourtesy of mnsouthnews.com (Montgomery Messenger) A high school group is making a difference for local people who’ve been hit hardest during the pandemic. The TCU Chapter of the National Honor Society recently held a “Shoe-Boot Drive” asking people to donate gently-used shoes or boots to TCU High School. Allie Schley, NHS Secretary, and Nikaija Young,
- MNsure counseling sessions to be held in HalstadCROOKSTON, Minn.— Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. in collaboration with Northern Dental Access Center in Halstad, Minn. will be offering MNsure Counseling sessions on several dates this fall and winter. These sessions are free and open to the public. Counseling dates (subject to change due to weather):October 14, 18November 4, 12, 18, 25December 2, 8, 16