VRS News

Overview

Stay up-to-date by subscribing to receive new email messages from VRS and reviewing recent messages from VRS to Community Partners.

Email Updates
Forums
Messages
Partner Opportunities
Funding

Email Updates

To sign up for updates, please contact Karla Eckhoff, karla.f.eckhoff@state.mn.us.
Forums

VRS is pleased to invite community partners and VRS staff to regular VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forums. The forums take place on the first Tuesday of the month, every other month, from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. To receive forum registration information and zoom links prior to each forum, please contact Karla.Eckhoff@state.mn.us.

Upcoming Forums

October 5, 2021: VRS Community Partner + VRS Staff Forum
- 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Register in advance for the forum at this link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItce2oqD4sHMsqLh7-KT8CACZ1B2HnV6o. Note: the registration link is different for each forum. After registering, you will receive an email with the meeting link.
December 7, 2021 (VRS Community Partner + VRS Staff E1 PBA and General PBA Training)
- 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Register in advance for the forum at this link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItfuCvrj4oGWsxsThidm-I8nDptuAiOvM. Note: the registration link is different for each forum. After registering, you will receive an email with the meeting link.
Past Forums

2021

August 3 - DEED Vocational Rehabilitation Services and State Services for the Blind Strategic Overview
- Video
- Transcript
- Presentation - PPT | PDF
June 29
- Video
- Transcript
- Presentation PDF | PPTX
June 1
- Video
- Transcript
- Agenda
- Presentation
May 6
- Video
- Transcript
- Agenda
- Presentation
February 2
- Video
- Transcript
- Agenda
- Presentation
2020

November 30
- Video
- Transcript
- Agenda
- Presentation
August 21
- Video
- Transcript
- Agenda
May 15
- Video
- Transcript
- Agenda

Partner Opportunities

Project Search Employment Services Provider Agency

DEED-VRS is requesting Letters of Interest (LOI) from VRS Community Partners with a VRS Professional and Technical (P/T) Contract to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), Job Placement, and Job Coaching services for students with disabilities participating in the Project SEARCH programs at the following sites:
- Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare (St. Paul)
- Hennepin Healthcare (Minneapolis)
- State of Minnesota (St. Paul)
Request for Project Search Letters of Interest

Project Search Working Agreement Template

Questions should be emailed to Alyssa Klein, VRS Transition and Pre-Employment Transition Coordinator: alyssa.klein@state.mn.us.

Deadline

Letters of Interest must be emailed to Alyssa Klein, alyssa.klein@state.mn.us, by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.
Funding

The VR program receives 74.9 percent of its funding through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For federal fiscal year 2020, the total amount of grant funds is $42,740,250. The required state match for these funds is $11,514,652. The state of Minnesota has appropriated $14.3 million - 25.1 percent of the total - to exceed the matching requirement.

Bulletin Title	Date
VRS COVID-19 Vaccination/Testing Policy FAQ	9/14/2021
VRS COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination and Testing Policy for State Vendors	9/7/2021
VRS Project Search Provider Opportunity	9/3/2021
VRS Webinar on VirtualJobShadow.com: A Career Readiness Resource for Delivering Transition and Pre-ETS Services	9/1/2021
VRS Join us for a webinar on eTrac: A Closer Look	8/31/2021
VRS Project Search Provider Opportunity	8/12/2021
VRS Applications for VRS Community Partners Committee due TOMORROW	8/5/2021
VRS Applications for VRS Community Partners Committee due August 6	7/26/2021
Canceling 8/3 VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum	7/21/2021
Townhall: DEED & VRS-SSB Strategic Overview – Focus on Services to Individuals with Disabilities	7/21/2021
VRS PBA Training Follow-Up	7/19/2021
VRS Invitation for Applications for VRS Community Partners Committee	7/16/2021
VRS Budget Bill Signed	6/30/2021
VRS PBA Training Tomorrow!	6/28/2021
VRS July 1 PBA Changes	6/18/2021
VRS Forum Today - 6/2! Register Now!	6/1/2021
VRS Webinar on eTrac: A Tool for Providing Multiple Pre-ETS Services	5/25/2021
VRS_Reminder! Register-Forum Tomorrow!	5/6/2021
VRS_Job Exploration Training Session	5/5/2021
VRS_4/6 Forum Rescheduled to 5/6	4/1/2021
VRS Important update regarding authorizations and invoices for Pre-ETS services	3/26/2021
VRS Forum Materials, Registration	3/3/2021
VRS Register! Forum Tomorrow	2/1/2021
VRS Register for 2/2 Forum	1/29/2021
DEED-VRS/SSB E1 MN Announcement	1/25/2021
MRA MAPS Community Virtual Mapping Training	1/15/2021
VRS_Update 1/14/21	1/14/2021
VRS_Happy New Year	1/6/2021
VRS_Reminder! Forum Monday 11/30	11/25/2020
VRS Update 11/23	11/23/2020
VRS Virtual Technology and Transition Training Event	10/9/2020
MRA Virtual Pre-Employment Transition Services Training Series, October 19-23	9/30/2020
VRS Deadline Friday! MOU Community Partner Survey	8/26/2020
VRS Regional Transition/Pre-ETS Meeting Announcement	8/21/2020
VRS Reminder! Community Partners Forum Friday!	8/20/2020
VRS MOU Community Partner Survey - Please Respond	8/17/2020
VRS Community Partners Forum 8/21/20	8/10/2020
Update on DHS/DEED MOU Work	8/7/2020
VRS Regional Transition/Pre-ETS Meetings Updated Info	7/31/2020
VRS Regional Transition/Pre-ETS Meetings	7/31/2020
VRS 2020-2023 State Plan	7/29/2020
VRS PBA Changes 7/20	7/20/2020
VRS Request for Letters of Interest to Participate in a MN DEED-VRS and Princeton Public Schools Pre-ETS Pilot	7/6/2020
VRS Correction to 7/2 Update	7/6/2020
VRS Update 7/2	7/2/2020
VRS External Training Announcement: Fundamentals of Student Financial Aid	6/23/2020
VRS Webinar Moving Forward with Customized Employment During COVID-19	6/22/2020
VRS Moving Froward with customized Employment During COVID-19	6/22/2020
VRS Request for Letters of Interest to Participate in a Pre-ETS Pilot	6/19/2020
VRS MOU Stakeholder Engagement Request	6/12/2020
VRS Save the Date Announcement	6/10/2020
Happy 100th Birthday, VRS and SSB	6/2/2020
VRS Reminder! VRS Forum Tomorrow	5/14/2020
VRS Jan Thompson retirement announcement	5/13/2020
VRS Update 5/8	5/8/2020
VRS Update 4/27	4/27/2020
DEED-VRS/SSB and DHS Interagency Employment First Advisory Committee Announcement	4/24/2020
VRS Update 4/16	4/16/2020
VRS Updates 4/3	4/3/2020
VRS Webinar: The ADA and Employing People with Disabilities	4/3/2020
VRS Webinar Announcement: Virtual Job Shadow	4/1/2020
VRS COVID Update 3/26	3/26/2020
VRS Training Announcement for eTrac: A Tool for Providing Multiple Pre-ETS Services	3/26/2020
VRS Key Messages from February 2020 Community Partner's Committee meeting	3/25/2020
VRS Pre-ETS Webinar 3/25	3/24/2020
VRS Community Partners Update 3/23	3/23/2020
DEED VRS/SSB and DHS Employment First Engagement Opportunities	3/17/2020
VRS COVID 19 Update for Providers	3/16/2020
VRS Professional and Technical Contract Providers Pre-ETS Webinar	3/10/2020
VRS State Rehabilitation Council-General seeks applicants	2/25/2020
VRS Pre-ETS Questionnaire	2/6/2020
VRS Key Messages from the January 2020 CRP Advisory Committee Meeting	2/5/2020
VRS State Rehabilitation Council 2019 Annual Report	1/8/2020
MOU Webinar Link & Questions/Responses	12/30/2019
VRS Key Messages from the December 2019 CRP Advisory Committee Meeting	12/30/2019
VRS December Updates	12/16/2019
VRS MN Customized Employment Training	12/10/2019
Webinar Reminder: Collaborating for Employment-DEED and DHS Partnership	12/9/2019
Webinar Announcement: Collaborating for Employment-DEED and DHS Partnership	11/18/2019
VRS Reminder: Due Monday! CRP Advisory Committee Applications	10/29/2019
A New Leader for Vocational Rehabilitation Services	10/28/2019
A New Leader	10/24/2019
VRS Key Messages from the September 2019 CRP Advisory Committee Meeting	10/16/2019
VRS Reminder: Applications to the VRS CRP Advisory Committee due 11/4	10/15/2019
VRS Shakopee Office Open House	10/9/2019
VRS Updates on the MOU, WIOA 511, and LUV limits	10/2/2019
VRS Pre-ETS Training for P/T Contractors – link to materials added	10/2/2019
VRS Pre-ETS Training for P/T Contractors – 2nd date added!	9/27/2019
VRS Pre-ETS Training for P/T Contractors	9/26/2019
VRS Invitation for Applications to the VRS CRP Advisory Committee	9/18/2019
VRS State Rehabilitation Council-General seeks applicants	9/9/2019
VRS Transition in Leadership	8/19/2019
VRS Key Messages from the May 2019 CRP Advisory Committee Meeting	5/28/2019
VRS: Pre-Employment Transition Services	5/24/2019
Upcoming Minnesota Customized Employment (MN-CE) Training dates	5/17/2019
VRS Key Messages from the April 2019 CRP Advisory Committee Meeting	5/2/2019
VRS P/T Contract Amendment Requests Spring 2019	4/16/2019
VRS/SSB and DSD Partnership Update	4/12/2019
VRS Key Messages from the March 2019 CRP Advisory Committee Meeting	4/4/2019
VRS MN Customized Employment Training	4/4/2019
VRS Key Messages from the February 2019 CRP Advisory Committee Meeting	2/28/2019
VRS Invoice and Report Requirements	2/15/2019
VRS Placement 101 Training	2/1/2019
VRS State Rehabilitation Council-General seeks applicants	1/25/2019
VRS State Rehabilitation Council 2018 Annual Report	1/10/2019
VRS Walz-Flanagan Announce Commissioner for DEED	1/4/2019