C-NOTES: July 25, 2023

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT

Officer Mental Health Awareness Campaign: Accept – Prevent – Treat

The MCPA is proud to partner with 12 other organizations to bring awareness to the mental health of first responders. The Minnesota Public Safety Wellness Initiative recently announced the launch of its Accept – Prevent – Treat campaign. 

Founded in 2022, the Initiative is a group of 12 Minnesota organizations that want to bring attention to the concern of mental health among Minnesota's public safety professionals. The mission is to bring awareness to the issue while promoting acceptance, prevention, and treatment. We hope all community members will support first responders in their efforts to stay and be well. As you all know very well, when a tragedy happens in a community, public safety professionals absorb that pain. First responders experience significantly more traumatic events than the average person, resulting in higher rates of stress-related conditions like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and PTSD. The Minnesota Public Safety Wellness Initiative believes supporting wellness for first responders is a shared community responsibility that starts with a culture of awareness and compassion. Accept – Prevent – Treat is a mantra for all who share in this mission. 

As part of this campaign, the MN Public Safety Wellness Initiative is urging every community in Minnesota to support public safety organizations in their efforts to accept, prevent and treat mental injuries that stem from traumatic on-the-job experiences.

The MN Public Safety Wellness Initiative includes the MCPA as well as:

  • Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association 
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota
  • League of Minnesota Cities 
  • Metro Cities 
  • Minnesota Sheriffs' Association 
  • Minnesota Association of Small Cities 
  • Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training 
  • Minnesota Inter-County Association
  • Association of Minnesota Counties
  • Peer Support Advisory Board 
  • First Responder Chaplain Division of the Spiritual Care Association

Here is a flyer that outlines our awareness campaign, and here are two recent interviews that highlight this new Initiative:

Follow the MN Public Safety Wellness Initiative on Facebook and Twitter. Please share this information on your department's social to help get the word out into your community.

Media Coverage:
MPR - New campaign to 'accept, prevent, treat' mental health concerns of Minnesota first responders
WCCO - First responder mental health

Jeff Potts, Executive Director
[email protected]

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF THE ADULT-USE CANNABIS LAW

After months of hearings and negotiations, the adult use cannabis bill was passed and signed into law.  As of Aug. 1, 2023, this new law legalizes and decriminalizes adult use cannabis, expunges prior convictions, and establishes a statewide regulatory framework for the new industry. This free webinar from the League of Minnesota Cities will outline what we know so far about statewide structure and what the role of cities will be in regards to retail locations and licensing.   
Date: Tuesday, July 25
Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Learn more and register online.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA SEEKS POLICE CHIEF

The City of Council Bluffs (Population 62,799) is seeking candidates for the position of police chief. Council Bluffs is the county seat of Pottawattamie County and the 10th largest city in Iowa. It is located on the east bank of the Missouri River, across from Omaha, Nebraska. For more information and a complete job description, see www.councilbluffs-ia.gov or contact Jeff Cayler at Cayler Consulting, LLC, as shown below.

Jeff Cayler
Cayler Consulting, LLC
[email protected]
(712) 830-3794

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS GRANT PROGRAM

Need funding to support your community engagement efforts?

The MN Chiefs of Police Foundation (MCPF) has opened the second round of its Community Partnerships Grant Program with $25,000 in available funding to help your agency deepen trust and partnerships with your community. This grant cycle opens Monday, June 26, and closes on August 4, 2023. All MCPA member agencies are eligible to submit a grant application. However, an agency is not eligible to apply if it has already received a grant this year. 

Don’t miss this opportunity! The deadline to apply is August 4. Learn more and apply.

DATE CHANGE FOR SEPTEMBER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

If you are registered for the September leadership academy, please note it has changed to the following dates: Monday, September 25-Thursday, September 28, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Susan at [email protected].

LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LAP)

Take advantage of the Legal Assistance Program (LAP). This is a great opportunity for all Chiefs and Command Staff members to get legal assistance at a very affordable rate ($150 per year). And, a reminder to those who signed up for LAP last year, the plan year ends June 30. Be sure to renew to avoid any lapses in coverage. 

Some highlights of the first year:

  • We had approximately 100 participants
  • Several members reached out to Legal Assistance
  • The Attorneys representing our members were very responsive and successful in resolving issues
  • The services were valuable and very appreciated.

The new plan year begins July 1, and renewal invoices have been sent out already. If you didn't receive your renewal invoice, or if you want to join the program for the first time please use this link. The cost is unchanged from last year at $150 and payments are due June 30. If you did not enroll in the program during its first year, you should strongly consider enrolling for 2023-2024.

If you have any questions about how it works or what the plan covers, please contact MCPA Executive Director Jeff Potts at 952-292-1128. The deadline to sign up for the one year sign-up period is August 1 with the exception of new chiefs or command staff members. They can sign up at a prorated amount any time.