Bridging the gaps between our community & the resources they need
Bridging the gaps between our community & the resources they need
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Community Health Alliance

St. Louis Park Fire Chief, Steve Koering, and our founder, Amy Lucht, who serves as the fire department care coordinator, are on the front lines each week building a community health road map with St. Louis Park's long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. 


Hennepin County Public Health has secured a NACHO Grant by partnering with Care Resource Connection and the St. Louis Park Fire Department to focus their efforts on education, infection control, and COVID-19 testing and reducing community infection spread.

St Louis Park Fire Department Open House

Everyone is Welcome to Join Us

Everyone is Welcome to Join Us

Everyone is Welcome to Join Us

 Our Community Health Fair was a successful new addition to the St Louis Park Fire Departments Open House. Thank you to our team of community partners for your collaboration and support! We are proud to have this as an annual event during their Fire Department Open House. #communityhealth #nonprofit #teamappreciation 

Everyone is Welcome to Join Us

Everyone is Welcome to Join Us

We look forward to meeting you at the Fire Department Open Houses in both St Louis Park in September and Fridley at the Public Safety Open House in October! Please check with your local fire department for dates and times. 

Learn more about our Community Health Alliance

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Learn how it works and why it's different

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Awards

 I’m honored to accept this award from the St Louis Park Fire Department. Chief Steve Koering’s command at the helm during this challenging time continues to embolden the communities engagement for health and wellness. I share this award with our SLPFD LTC Collaborative Group, who advocated alongside SLPFD with Henn Co PH, The Metro Coalition, and MDH connecting resources while we built the road map bridging the gaps for LTC to be a voice at the table during a pandemic. Our pandemic collaborative story shined the light on the importance of community health alliances partnering with MDH to fill the gaps and create community synergy with a proactive emergency COVID plan. Our commitment and resiliency are part of what others across the county and state follow during this pandemic focusing on infection prevention and sharing resources in LTC, SNFs, and Senior Independent Living Buildings. #communityhealth #villa #monarchstrong #towerlightonwooddale #silvercrestproperties #sholom #greatlakesmanagement #mnhealth #hennepincounty #teamcollaboration #covid19response 

Covid-19 Vaccination Initiative

We are incredibly proud of our community health alliance with SLPFD to deliver vaccines to at-risk populations.


CRC bridged the partnership between Park Nicollet MTM Pharmacy to hold vaccine clinics. While the logistics were complex, Park Nicollet believed in this mission, and we are delighted to partner with them!


The first vaccine clinic was held on Tuesday, May 18, where Park Nicollet trained firefighters from SLPFD to administer vaccines under the direction of a Park Nicollet pharmacist. We are looking forward to building on the success of our first event to help all Minnesotans receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Community Health Alliance in Action

Equity in Access to Care

Community Vaccine Clinics

Community Vaccine Clinics

 Breaking the barriers for lack of access to COVID Vaccines & Boosters for staff was on display today at Perspectives, Inc. Their dedication to the health and wellness of their staff and clients is exactly what we want to support and celebrate in our communities. “Connecting the Right Resources at the Right Time is key for measurable results!” Our Community Health Alliance continues to grow each week with new partners working alongside our collaborative group. We are incredibly thankful to Kim & Johnathan at Axis Medical Center for making this vaccine clinic possible. And a special shout out to our vaccinators at St Louis Park Fire Department- Well done team! #communityhealth Perspectives, Inc. Axis Medical Center 

Community Vaccine Clinics

Community Vaccine Clinics

Community Vaccine Clinics

 Another successful vaccine clinic at Perspectives Inc. Our Community Health Alliance is all about empowering health by removing barriers to access to care. #communityhealth 

SLPHS CNA Class 2021-2022

Community Vaccine Clinics

First Graduating CNA Class!

 The St Louis Park High School CNA class had a great day of speakers and demonstrations! Thank you Talia Pletcher from The Estates at St Louis Park for sharing your expertise! And a huge shout out to Fire Chief Koering who did a great job with donning and doffing! It’s great to see the first CNA class get ready to enter the healthcare field in St Louis Park! A HUGE shout out to the Spring Lake Park OEC and CNA program for helping us bring this to St Louis Park High School! #communityhealth #equityineducation #infectionprevention #healthcare 

First Graduating CNA Class!

First Graduating CNA Class!

First Graduating CNA Class!

 Let’s all give a big round of applause and welcome the first Nursing Assistant students who completed the NATCEP program to St. Louis Park High School! The team included SLP HS Teacher Allison Luskey, Dr. Ann Hayden, Kara Mueller Career and College Readiness SLP High School, and Steve Koering SLPFD Fire Chief. I’m humbled to be part of this great team who took on this labor of love over the past 6 years. The students will soon take their nursing assistant certification exams and some already have job interviews for open CNA positions throughout the city. Chief Koering was named an honorary instructor on the last day of class! A special thank you also to Bill & Jenny Neiss from the Spring Lake Park OEC & NATCEP Programs who also helped bring this across the finish line for the entire team. Thank you to everyone who helped these students have equitable access to a bright future. Next semester's class is full with a waitlist! #cna #team #school #jobinterviews #equity #career #communityhealth #celebrations2022 #thankyou #chiefsmessage 

Community Health Workshop

First Graduating CNA Class!

Community Health Workshop

 Chief Steve Koering and I are looking forward to our Community Health Program Workshop in Orlando, FL. #communityhealth #womeninfire #firedepartment 

Congrats CNA Grads!

First Graduating CNA Class!

Community Health Workshop

 Congratulations to the St Louis Park High School Nursing Assistant Class Graduates! And a special thank you to Allison Luskey who has been an amazing instructor! It was a pleasure to come to class and have job opportunities from our SLP LTC/SNF Collaborative before graduation! These students are empowered today as their community's mission is to re-envision and help create equitable access by working alongside the SLPFD Community Health Alliance coordinating programs and community partnerships to create bright futures. We wish you all the best of luck on your certification exams! #nursing #health #jobopportunities #schools #communityhealth 

Over 100 Covid Boosters!

Chief Koering Advocating

Chief Koering Advocating

 Thank you Jessica & Polaris Pharmacy for working with our St. Louis Park Fire Department paramedics for a Covid boosters clinic at Park Shore Campus. Over 100 boosters - well done! #thankyou #covid #communityhealth 

Chief Koering Advocating

Chief Koering Advocating

Chief Koering Advocating

 Chief Koering was able to speak to the Governor & Lt. Governor today about our SLPFD Community Health Alliance and the innovative collaboration our partnership founded in St Louis Park. The city leaders were able to share the collaboration of empowering communities with equitable access to care and services, and the impact state leaders can make with additional funding support for public safety. Thank you to the City of St Louis Park for leading the way for other communities to have a Community Health Alliance with their Fire Departments and Public Safety Divisions. And thank you to Perspectives for sharing our nonprofit & community health collaboration with an amazing partner testimonial! #communityhealth #publicsafety #thankyou #collaborations #firedepartment 

CEMT Vaccinators

Chief Koering Advocating

United Healthcare Partners

 When Governor Walz extended our vaccination efforts we proudly answered that call to action! Today the SLPFD Community Health Alliance partnered with Cub Pharmacy to host our 4th vaccine clinic at Perspectives. We didn’t just stop there the SLPFD also vaccinated residents who were homebound and unable to get vaccinated without our help. #communityhealth #vaccinated #publichealth #partnershipsmatter #firefighters 

United Healthcare Partners

Nursing Home Vaccine Clinics

United Healthcare Partners

 Another successful vaccine clinic at Perspectives Inc. Our Community Health Alliance is all about empowering health by removing barriers to access to care. #communityhealth 

Reached 200 Boosters!

Nursing Home Vaccine Clinics

Nursing Home Vaccine Clinics

 Our Community Health Alliance partnership had another productive week administering COVID-19 boosters! Thank you to Jessica with Polaris Pharmacy you are so appreciated by our entire team. And thank you to the leadership teams at both Ebenezer Tower Light Senior Living and Parkshore Senior Campus! And a special thanks to all the Firefighters who came in on their days off to help administer over 200 boosters. Our Community Health Alliance is proud to say there is a real community health team focused on the quality of life here in St Louis Park. #communityhealth #polarisrx #silvercrestproperties #towerlightseniorliving 

Nursing Home Vaccine Clinics

Nursing Home Vaccine Clinics

Nursing Home Vaccine Clinics

 It’s all hands on deck this week at Villa Healthcare with Polaris Pharmacy as our St Louis Park Community Health Alliance was given the green light by MDH for our trained St Louis Park Firefighters to help administer Covid Boosters. #covid #communityhealth #villa 

St Louis Park Public Schools Collaborative United Way Grant

Purpose Driven Paychecks Grant

 

By Liz Williams, Program Officer, Career Academies


Earlier this spring, Greater Twin Cities United Way shared news about Purpose Driven Paychecks, our new $400,000 funding opportunity through Career Academies. As we conclude this school year and look ahead to the next, I am honored to announce our partners and the innovative and equity-centered approaches they are taking to ensure all students in Minnesota have access to wealth-building, purpose-driven work experiences.


About Purpose-Driven Paychecks

Purpose Driven Paychecks (PDP) is a funding opportunity to catalyze school-business partnerships to fill the gaps that exist in our current school-to-employment ecosystem. Our vision is that all students in Minnesota can access wealth-building, purpose-driven work experiences aligned with the career pathway of their choice.

We know that a successful career pathways strategy includes high-quality work experiences for youth that are aligned within a specific industry pathway, allowing for youth to advance in one career field or transition to another, all while increasing pay or experience.

Since our work began in 2015, the education field has made progress in aligning work and career pathways, but there remains a gap. Our current system often misses an opportunity to align academic and work experiences around a student’s interests, strengths, and career aspirations. Our youth tell us time and again: They are looking for paychecks, but more than ever they are looking for a purpose in the work they do.

The Purpose Driven Paychecks funded partners bring a deep focus on students furthest from justice in the education system: Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander and Students of Color, students with disabilities, and students from low-income households. Many of the organizations in these partnerships intentionally and unapologetically provide culturally specific approaches and supportive work environments for young people who may be navigating their first formal work experience. The funds and technical assistance received through PDP will catalyze these types of supportive experiences into a sustainable infrastructure that will remain long after grant funding has ended.


Our Vision in Action

Purpose Driven Paychecks will support work experiences for over 400 students, with 245 new students receiving jobs. Of the students served, over 80 percent are Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander Students of Color, students with a disability, and/or students from low-income households.

Partnerships offer industry-aligned certifications like Digital Literacy, Mine Safety, or Certified Nursing Assistant. These certifications all track to high-wage, high-demand careers projected to grow in the funded partner’s local area. According to one of our partners, “If we want to meaningfully challenge the persistent economic disparities that confront communities across Minnesota, it is crucial to building pipelines to economic success that disrupt the status quo.”

Here are just a few examples of how PDP partners are working to create high-quality, culturally relevant work experiences for youth furthest from justice.

Chinese American Chamber of Commerce: “Let’s Get IT” is a unique, culturally specific partnership between the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Asian Media Access, and Hmong College Prep Academy. Focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander youth, students from Hmong College Prep’s IT pathway will access training and internship placement in web development through Asian Media Access and culturally relevant entrepreneurship training through the Chinese Chamber.

Native Skywatchers: Native Skywatchers in an innovative partnership with Mankato Area Public Schools that expands a Science-Art-Culture pathway for American Indian students centering on Indigenous culture and positive identity development. This partnership supports students through a culturally affirming learning experience, then progresses to hiring them as after-school leaders for middle school students. The experience also includes focused support for students to engage in the district’s many career pathways opportunities.

Genesys Works: Genesys Works partners with multiple Twin Cities area school districts. Genesys Works serves students in multiple suburban districts and has many long-standing employer partners including Optum, Medtronic, and Target. Utilizing Purpose Driven Paycheck funds, they will develop a new approach to their year-long internships that supports a cohort of African American youth through culturally affirming career pathways experiences.


What’s Next

The nine funded partners for PDP begin programming this summer. As part of the award, our partners will come together to share best practices, and challenges and learn from one another. These learnings will inform the second round of PDP funding in Spring 2023 and contribute to the broader Career Academies strategy that seeks to create seamless transitions for youth as they move from high school to post-secondary learning.


Funded Partners

The following organizations comprise our first cohort of Purpose Driven Paychecks partners:

  • Chinese American Chamber of Commerce
  • Genesys Works TC
  • Itasca Area Schools Collaborative
  • Ka Joog
  • Native Skywatchers
  • New Vision Foundation
  • MPS Transitions Plus
  • Reve Academy
  • St. Louis Park Public Schools


Get Involved

  • Learn more about Greater Twin Cities United Way’s innovation initiatives.


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