Forums
VRS is pleased to invite VRS Community Partners and VRS Staff to regular VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forums. To receive email updates regarding the Forums, please subscribe to the VRS Community Partner and VRS Stakeholder listserv.
- What is the purpose? VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forums create a consistent communication opportunity for Vocational Rehabilitation Services staff and staff from Community Partners to hear VRS leadership and Community Partnerships updates. Hearing the same information at the same time facilitates a shared point of reference for VRS staff and Community Partners.
- What's the structure? VRS leadership and VRS Community Partnership team program specialists lead the forums, with speakers pulled in from all areas of our program to address specific topics.
- Who should attend? Any and all VRS Community Partner staff and VRS Staff are encouraged to attend.
- When will the meetings happen? VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forums are recurring meetings on the first Tuesday of every other month (even calendar months) from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Forum Accommodations: ASL Interpreters and Live-Closed Captioning are be provided for each VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum. If you need any other accommodation, please contact Sara Sundeen at sara.sundeen@state.mn.us.
- Forum Recording and Materials: A recording and transcript of the forum and any shared meeting materials will be posted after each VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forums on this webpage.
- For More Information: If you have any questions about any forum, please contact Sara Sundeen at sara.sundeen@state.mn.us.
Upcoming Forums
December 2, 2025 - CANCELED
Forums occur on the first Tuesday of even months from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Here is the recurring Zoom Link: CP Forum Link
Past Forums
October 7, 2025: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video | Presentation | Transcript
August 5, 2025: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video | Presentation | Transcript
June 3, 2025 (Forum canceled)
April 1, 2025: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: 32Em%yB%) | Presentation | Transcript
February 4, 2025: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: 32Em%yB%) | Presentation | Transcript
December 3, 2024: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: %M3SE^bs) | Presentation | Transcript
October 1, 2024: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: YIV!9wqz) | Presentation | Transcript
August 6, 2024: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Presentation
June 4, 2024: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: 6N3+&zI^) | Presentation | Transcript
April 2, 2024: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: +^1F8VUw) | Presentation | Transcript
February 6, 2024: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: 5.=fg8pn) | Presentation | Transcript
October 3, 2023: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: &W75mA&N) | Presentation | Transcript
June 6, 2023: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: S2gTWW1=) | Presentation | Transcript
February 7, 2023: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video (passcode: @JyXN.54) | Presentation
December 6, 2022: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video | Presentation | Transcript
October 4, 2022: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video | Presentation | Transcript
CP Conversations
The Community Partnerships Team hosts regular office hours. These are virtual and open to any contracted community partner.
Office hours are from 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. on the Second Friday of the month. Recurring Zoom link.
These office hours will have updates from the Community Partnerships team and have time for questions and answers. Any contracted partner staff is welcome to attend.
Here are the scheduled dates for 2024:
- Wednesday September 4, 2024 - CANCELLED, no office hours
- Friday, October 11, 2024
- Friday, November 8, 2024
- Friday, December 13, 2024
2025 will continue with office hours on the second Friday of the month from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
If you need an accommodation for this meeting, please contact Sara Sundeen, Community Partnerships Program Specialist at sara.sundeen@state.mn.us.
Past CP Conversations
Previous recordings, these are no longer recorded.
October 4, 2023
September 6, 2023 - Youth Team
August 2, 2023 - Extended Employment and Long Term Supports
June 7, 2023
May 3, 2023
March 1, 2023 - Workforce1 Provider Access
February 1, 2023 - Customized Employment
November 2, 2022- Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
October 5, 2022 - Discussing Service Needs and Reading Authorizations
September 7, 2022 - Performance Based Agreements (PBAs)
August 10, 2022 - Travel and Transportation
Partner Opportunities
Project SEARCH Provider Agency
DEED-VRS is announcing an "Engagement Request" opportunity for VRS Community Partners with a DEED-VRS Master Contract to become the "Provider Agency" at the following Project SEARCH sites:
- M Health Fairview – Ridges in Burnsville
- M Health Fairview – Southdale in Edina
- M Health Fairview – St. John's in Maplewood
Applicants can apply for one, two, or all three sites.
A Project SEARCH Provider Agency provides Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), Job Placement, and Job Coaching services (as needed) for students with disabilities participating in the Project SEARCH program.
Questions and Answers
A question and answer period for this Engagement Request was open from August 5 through August 30, 2024. Here are the questions asked during that time along with their answers:
Deadline
Letters of Interest must be emailed to Alyssa Klein, alyssa.klein@state.mn.us, by 4:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) on Friday, September 13, 2024.
Webinar Recording: Learn more about the Project SEARCH Engagement Request
DEED-VRS hosted a live webinar on Friday, August 9, 2024. This webinar gave an overview of Project SEARCH, the role of the Provider Agency, and the Engagement Request process.
