VRS News

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  Holly Sunderman at holly.sunderman@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 Holly Sunderman at holly.sunderman@state.mn.us.

Upcoming Forums

Here is the recurring Zoom Link for the 2026 VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forums: CP Forum Link

Past Forums

February 3, 2026: VRS Community Partners + VRS Staff Forum - Video | Presentation | Transcript

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.

If you need an accommodation for this meeting, please contact Holly Sunderman at holly.sunderman@state.mn.us.

VR Community Learning Connections

Cultivating Balance: Enhancing Well-Being to Support Others!

Join us for a VR Community Learning Connections session on Cultivating Balance: Enhancing Well-Being to Support Others! VR Community Learning Connections is a training series that invites VRS, SSB, and Community Partner staff to join together in shared experience to strengthen skills and grow stronger together in serving Minnesotans with disabilities.

• Date: August 7, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Intended Audience: VRS, SSB, and Community Partner Staff
• Presenter: Hailey Peckat, Senior Well-being Program Coordinator, Dedicated Well-being Services, WebMD
• Registration: Registration is required for this event

VRS is pleased to invite VRS Community Partners and VRS Staff to VR Community Learning Conversations training. To receive email updates regarding the VR Community Learning Conversations, please subscribe to the VRS Community Partner and VRS Stakeholder listserv.

• What's the purpose? The purpose of the VR Community Learning Connections training series is to provide an opportunity for VRS staff, SSB staff, and Community Partner staff to join together in shared experience to strengthen skills and grow stronger together in serving Minnesotans with disabilities. This training series also supports our Community Partners in meeting the contractual obligations to provide and train employees that are culturally informed and affirming of the lived experiences of individuals served by the contract.
• Who is Hosting? The VR Community Learning Connections training series is a collaboration between the VRS Staff Development team and the VRS Community Partnerships team.
• Who Should attend? The VR Community Learning Connections training series are open to all Vocational Rehabilitation Services staff, State Services for the Blind staff, and VRS and SSB Community Partner staff.
• Cost: The VR Community Learning Connections training series are free trainings.
• Zoom: The VR Community Learning Connections training series will take place virtually via Zoom.
• Registration: Registration is required for each session. Each training session has a unique zoom link to register. Please register early so we have a sense of attendance before the training date.
• Accommodations: Closed Captioning and ASL interpreting will be provided for all sessions. For additional accommodation requests please contact VRS.StaffDevelopment.DEED@state.mn.us at least 10 business days before each event.
• Questions: If you have questions, please contact VRS.StaffDevelopment.DEED@state.mn.us or sara.sundeen@state.mn.us.

Previous Sessions

Foundations and Implications of Working with People Who are Deaf, DeafBlind, or Hard of Hearing

• Presenters: Elise Knopf, Rehabilitation Area Manager, VRS; Chris Marble, Lead Occupational Communication Specialist, VRS; and Sara Kreiling, Rehabilitation Counselor Supervisor and DeafBlind Outreach, SSB
• Presentation
• Recording

Providing Services to LGBTQ+ Individuals with Disabilities

An Introduction to working with LGBTQ+ Individuals with Disabilities

• Presenter: DJ Ralston, M.A. (They/Them/Theirs), Senior Technical Assistance & Research Analyst at The George Washington University Center for Innovative Training in Vocational Rehabilitation (CIT-VR).
• Recording

Special Considerations for working with LGBTQ+ Youth and Students with Disabilities

• Presenter: DJ Ralston, M.A. (They/Them/Theirs), Senior Technical Assistance & Research Analyst at The George Washington University Center for Innovative Training in Vocational Rehabilitation (CIT-VR).
• Recording

Supporting LGBTQ+ Individuals with Disabilities in Pursuing Work

• Presenter: DJ Ralston, M.A. (They/Them/Theirs), Senior Technical Assistance & Research Analyst at The George Washington University Center for Innovative Training in Vocational Rehabilitation (CIT-VR).
• Recording

Unconscious Bias

• Presenter: Karly Turner, DEED Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator
• Recording
• Presentation

Understanding and Supporting Autistic Individuals on the Job

• Presenters: Abbie Wells Herzog, Autism Specialist, VRS; Jillian Nelson, Community Resource and Policy Advocate, Autism Society of Minnesota; and Marci Jasper, Placement Specialist, VRS
• Recording
• Presentation

Messages

Partner Opportunities

Vocational Rehabilitation Program Contract

Ongoing Solicitation (February 17, 2026 – April 13, 2026)

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (“DEED”) Vocational Rehabilitation Services (“VRS”) requests applications from organizations and businesses to work as a vocational rehabilitation (“VR”) program community partner (“Community Partner”) to provide job-related services to individuals who are eligible for VRS. The State anticipates issuing multiple contracts for this work. 

• Request for Proposals
• Attachments
  • Attachment A: Application
  • Attachments B, C, and E: Responder Declarations, Exceptions to State's Terms and Conditions, Responder Form
  • Attachment D: Cost Detail
  • Attachment F: Checklist
• RFP Sample Master Contract

Deadline

Responders must submit their Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal separately to the Solicitation Administrator via email with the subject line:  “RFP Response and Application [Name of Organization].”

Proposals for the initial evaluation period (21-day publication) must be received by 4:30 p.m., Central Time (CT), Tuesday, March 10, 2026.  Proposals are welcomed beyond March 10, 2026.

By submitting a response, your company is making a binding legal offer for the period of time set forth in the RFP documentation, Section 6, Conditions of Offer.

Technical Assistance

• The contact person for questions is Lori Thorpe (“Solicitation Administrator”) at Lori.Thorpe@state.mn.us
• Please use the email subject line “VRS RFP Question(s): [Organization Name].”
• Questions should be emailed to the Solicitation Administrator no later than 4:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 (“Question Period”).
• An addendum will be posted on a timely basis after close of the Question Period to this RFP publication.

View all DEED's current Competitive Grants and Contracts.

Funding

The VR program received 78.70% of federal fiscal year 2025 funding through grants from the U.S. Department of Education. The federal fiscal year 2025 grants totaled $59,589,639. The required state match for these funds is $16,127,818. The state of Minnesota appropriated $17.3 million to meet the match requirement.