Dear neighbors,
First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who came to the mental health town hall I hosted last week! We had a great conversation about the importance of mental health services and what we can do to ensure every Minnesotan has access to the support they need to thrive. If you weren’t able to make it, you can watch the town hall here.
The Public Safety and Judiciary budget we passed this year will help people struggling with mental health issues who come into contact with law enforcement. Most notably, it includes Travis’s Law, legislation that requires law enforcement agencies to refer to available mental health crisis teams when responding to mental health crisis calls. This law will help better meet the needs of the person in crisis.
The budget also includes several measures to help survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and similar crimes. It will:
An application portal for the state’s Main Street COVID Relief Grant program opened this week. More than $64 million is available in grants for Minnesota-owned and -operated businesses that have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants range from $10,000 to $25,000.
Applications will close on September 29 at 11:59 p.m. You can find information about eligibility, frequently asked questions, and more on the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s website.
Northeast Youth & Family Services (NYFS) is a nonprofit organization that’s been serving residents of the northeastern suburbs since 1976. They partner with 15 local governments – including Hugo, North Oaks, White Bear Lake, and White Bear Township – to provide a variety of services, including:
NYFS also provides school-based therapy and support to students and their families. These services are available at 15 schools in three districts, including White Bear Lake Area Schools and Mounds View Public Schools. More information about the organization, which has an office in White Bear Lake, is available at nyfs.org.
I appreciate hearing from community members, so please don’t hesitate to share questions, ideas, or feedback with me. You can reach me at rep.ami.wazlawik@house.mn or (651) 296-3018.
Sincerely,
Ami Wazlawik
State Representative