Augustnewsletter2015

August Newsletter

2015

I am going to start my part of the newsletter this month with a brief, basic primer on how Tri-Valley procures health insurance for eligible employees.

Due to special legislation, Community Action Agencies are allowed to participate in self-insured insurance pools with local units of government. In Tri-Valley’s case we are members of the Northwest Service Coop’s City/County/Other Governmental Agency pool. The pool has around 35 members consisting of cities, counties, libraries, corrections, community action, housing authorities, etc. Together the members pool together approximately $22 million in premiums to cover over 4,000 individuals.

From time to time, I will be asked why Tri-Valley participates in a self-insured pool. The answer overall is fairly complex and nuanced but there are a couple of points I make during any discussion about Tri-Valley’s pool membership. The first point is that the Northwest Service Coop keeps administrative costs very low. Roughly 94.5 cents out of every dollar paid by participants goes to actual health care costs. According to a Minnesota Department of Health study in 2013, that is almost 2 cents per dollar lower than the average in Minnesota. That means Tri-Valley gets to access Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s network and negotiated provider discounts with an admin rate approximately 24% below average. Also, pool membership allows members to share risk. Through high case pooling and stop-loss reinsurance that the pool collectively purchases members can limit the risk presented by extraordinarily large cases. Tri-Valley has both benefitted from this arrangement and indirectly contributed to help other members over the years.

Was Tri-Valley a contributor or beneficiary this year? Unfortunately, we were a beneficiary. Details are still being worked out by Management and the Board of Directors but we will see an increase in premiums this year that is higher than it has been in recent history. Internal communication will go out as soon as the rates for 2016 are finalized.

In addition to considering Health Insurance options, Tri-Valley’s board will also consider responses to an RFP for 401(k) retirement services. Three companies are vying for Tri-Valley’s retirement business. Participants can expect to hear who the board selects as our retirement services provider shortly after Labor Day. I close this month with a “Thank You” to an individual who has been contributing to the mission of Tri-Valley for 32 years but has now decided to seek new challenges. Phil Wold is retiring with his last day being October 2, 2015. Thanks, Phil for all you have done over the years.

In This Issue:

In This Issue:

* CEO News and Notes * Winnebago Library Visit * Bloggers Wanted * Sleepy Eye Gets Muddy * Crookston Nite 2 Unite * Tri-Valley Walking Challenge

* Cowboy / Cowgirl Day in Rochester * Upcoming Events * Breckenridge Open House * Tri-Valley Proclamation * St. Cloud Roadeo Roundup * Toddler Head Start Teacher Aims to Better Community

Blue Earth Library Visits Winnebago

Sleepy Eye Head Start Gets Muddy

The Blue Earth Library came to the Winnebago center’s parent meeting on Wednesday, July 29th and read a Pete the Cat book. They also did an activity with the kids and gave them some bubbles at the end of story time. For the month of July Winnebago’s parent meeting focus was on the importance of reading. The kids were also given a book to take home to continue reading.

On Saturday, August 1st, seven Sleepy Eye Head Start employees and one volunteer went to a “Dirty Girl Mud Run” event in Wyoming, MN. The event was to raise awareness for early detection of breast and ovarian cancer. Great job concurring the course everyone!

Bloggers Wanted!

If you are interested in writing an occasional blog article for the Tri-Valley blog page, please email Mitch at mitch.bakken@tvoc.org.

Crookston Nite 2 Unite Tri-Valley took part in Crookston's Nite 2 Unite on Tuesday, August 4th. Approximately 2,500 people attended and enjoyed the event!

Cowboy/Cowgirl Day in Rochester Tri-Valley Migrant and Seasonal Headstart in Rochester had a Cowboy/Cowgirl Day on Wednesday, August 12th.

Along with Cowboy/Cowgirl Day, the center also had a miniature horse come visit. The children enjoyed petting and brushing the horse.

Staff that completed the Walking Challenge – “Visit Tri-Valley” •

Michelle Borchardt – Hutchinson Head Start

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Lorie Palusky – Monticello Head Start

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Corrie Goodyke – Administrative Office

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Cindy Boudreaux – Administrative Office

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Linda Peterson – Polk County Human Services

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Tomi Hollenkamp – Brooten Head Start

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Shirley Haire – Monticello Head Start

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Heidi Simmons – Administrative Office

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Jessica Luckow – Administrative Office

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Amanda Roue – Administrative Office

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Mitch Bakken – Administrative Office

Upcoming September Calendar Items:

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Lindsay Vokaty – Monticello Head Start

* Sept. 8 - Tri-Valley Board of Directors meeting * Sept. 12 - King of Trails (Crookston) * Sept. 13 - Pioneer Days & Harvest Festival (Crookston) * Sept. 19 - Migrant and Seasonal Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council

Bus Roadeo in St. Cloud Breckenridge Open House The Breckenridge Center held their 50th Anniversary Open House on July 21st from 2 - 4 pm. Community members, parents, Parent Policy Council Representatives, Title I Program Coordinator, Breckenridge Public School Business Manager and Secretary, and a few community partners including MET and University of Minnesota Extension were in attendance. Fun was had by all!

Group shot of small bus drivers - systems included: Metro Bus, Semcac (Rolling Hills Transit), SMART Transit Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit, Transit Alternatives - Otter Express, Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. and Western Community Action — at MnDOT-St. Cloud.

50th Anniversary (1965-2015)

Did You Know?... * You can receive more information on Tri-Valley’s programs and services by calling 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020. * You can keep up with Tri-Valley news on the TVOC website at www.tvoc. org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TVOCInc and on Twitter at @TriValley_TVOC.

Danube Center Staff, Child, and Families Day

* Everyone can receive the Tri-Valley Newsletter. If you know of anyone who would like a copy please have them contact Mitch Bakken at 218-281-5832 or mitch.bakken@tvoc.org.

The Danube center staff were recognized by Tri-Valley CEO Jason Carlson and Board Chair LeRoy Vonasek for their attention and training to bus safety. July 13 was proclaimed "Danube Center Staff, Child, and Families Day." Great work Danube! Click on the picture to read the proclamation.

Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. (TVOC) is a community action agency headquartered in Crookston, MN. It is our Mission to provide opportunities to individuals and communities in order to improve the quality of our lives. In existence since 1965, TVOC provides services in 84 counties in Minnesota and Northeast North Dakota. For more information on services offered by TVOC please call 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020. This information is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Contact us at 1-800-5847020 or by calling the Telecommunication Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Owatonna native crowned Miss Minnesota Latina 2015, aims to better community Article and Photo by ASHLEY STEWART astewart@owatonna.com (Owatonna People’s Press) OWATONNA — Shaylma Salinas of Owatonna always saw herself working behind the scenes.

“I thought I’d be successful, but I’d be helping someone else bring something to light because I was always scared,” she said.

And Salinas admits she still is.

“I’m a little scared yet, but I feel like I can use this experience to help others,” she said.

But something changed this spring.

In addition to graduating from Hamline University with bachelor’s degrees in political science and biology in May, Salinas was also crowned Miss Minnesota Latina 2015.

“I was just in shock,” she said.

Salinas, who has considered herself shy since high school, said she decided to compete in her first pageant this spring after watching Miss Universe 2014.

“I was like, ‘Wow, these women aren’t only beautiful on the exterior, they’re beautiful on the interior and they’re doing great things in their own communities,’” she said.

So, in February she applied to compete in the May 23 pageant in St. Paul.

“I really, really liked it,” Salinas said. “It really challenged me to get out of my comfort zone.”

And with her new-found confidence, she’s aiming high.

Since being crowned Miss Minnesota Latina, Salinas has returned to Owatonna and is working as a toddler head-start teacher at Tri-Valley Head Start, studying for law school, and hoping to start a chain of Operation: Move for School in the community.

Operation: Move for School, which was started by a former Miss Minnesota Latina, is a non-profit organization working to improve nutrition and physical fitness for youth and adults in underdeveloped communities in Minneapolis.

The organization also offers an eight-week fellowship program where high school seniors and juniors can learn about the disparities and controversies surrounding sexual, physical, nutritional, mental and economical health in urban areas.

“Through discussion and activities, they will make connections about how it resonates to their own communities,” Salinas said. “Students will then create their own plan to improve their neighborhood and by the end of the summer, implement it.”

(Owatonna native crowned Miss Minnesota Latina 2015, aims to better community continued on next page.)

(Owatonna native crowned Miss Minnesota Latina 2015, aims to better community continued.)

Salinas wants to bring that program to Owatonna.

“I think it’s important to have a program like this located in southern Minnesota,” she said. “It’s a great way for students to learn how they can give back to their community and at the same time learn leadership skills.”

Salinas said the program would be geared toward people between the ages of 10 and 21.

“It’s not set in stone, but I hope to have something before the end of the summer,” she said.

Salinas said she knew she wanted to do a service project in Owatonna after a 10-day mission trip in April with her church, Iglesia Linaje Escogido, to El Salvador.

“It was probably the best decision I ever made,” she said. “One of the things I set myself to do, before the pageant, was to do a service project to help youth in my own community.

“After I got back, I said, ‘Once summer starts, I’m going to flesh out some ideas.’ Then, I won the crown, and it gave me a chance to reach out to more people and organizations.”

Salinas said she’d like to believe she would’ve wanted to start the organization here before winning the crown, but she said she doesn’t know if she would’ve had the confidence to do something big.

“I know I would’ve done service projects here and there, but I don’t think I would’ve thought bigger,” she said.

Salinas will compete in the 2015 Miss U.S. Latina Pageant from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

“I’m nervous, of course,” she said.

But Salinas said, if she doesn’t win, she doesn’t think she will continue to pursue pageantry.

“It just happened to come my way, and I wanted to try it,” she said. “It was something personal I wanted to do to get outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself.”

Salinas said her dream is to attend law school to create change surrounding medical policy and legal issues within the health care system.

“I really want everyone to have accessible health care and quality care,” she said.

She said she doesn’t know exactly what that will entail, but she’s ready.

“I am only 22, so I still have a lot of growing up to do, but I feel like I’ve done so much and I feel like I have the potential do something more,” Salinas said. “I’m always aiming high.”