Blue Link

Dear Bethesda Team Member,

We have all faced new challenges in our personal and professional lives, especially with situations beyond our control and we want you to know you are not alone. Because you are an important part of our team and we care about your well-being, we are excited to introduce Blue Link, a free Bethesda program designed to support you. The name “Blue Link” combines our Bethesda blue color with our goal of linking team members to resources that help you cope and thrive during these uncertain times. As a team, we support one another, experience joys and challenges together, and care for each other.

We’re glad you’re on our team, and we’re here for you.

Para traducción al español, haga clic aquí

Tarjumaadda Soomaaliga, guji halkan

If you need further assistance, please contact Bethesda’s Human Resources team.

Food Assistance

Sometimes money is tight and there isn’t enough to buy basic necessities like food for yourself or your family. If you need food, there are many places that can help you.

Minnesota Food HelpLine

Minnesota Food HelpLine can provide solutions to food needs. If you or someone you know is struggling to put food on the table, call 1(888)711-1151 or fill out a form online: www.hungersolutions.org

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Trained staff at United Community Action Partnership will help you complete the required information to receive the benefits they are eligible for as soon as possible. For more information, go to www.unitedcapmn.org

Food Shelves

Contact the food shelf in the county where you live, either by calling or going online to their website:

Mental Health Well-being

If you need someone to listen and show they care, reach out to any of the resources below. There are people who want to listen, to offer support and encouragement, and who can help you through this. Please know that you’re an important part of our team. We care about you, and you matter.

Suicide Prevention & Support

If you or someone you know is in crisis or in need of immediate assistance, the following resources are free and available 24/7:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or visit the website
Crisis Call Line in Minnesota: Call **CRISIS (**274747) or visit the website
Crisis Text Line: Text MN to 741741 or visit the website
The Trevor Project: Call 1(866)488-7386 or visit the website
If you need emergency shelter: Call UCAP at 507-537-1416 or visit the website

Woodland Centers

Bethesda and Woodland Centers are offering free mental health check-ups. Call (320)235-4613, mention the “Bethesda Mental Health Check-Up EAP,” and schedule a session. If there’s a waiting list, you’ll be prioritized. These sessions focus on helping you manage issues and maintain mental health but do not include diagnostic assessments. Bethesda is invoiced directly, ensuring anonymity. For information, visit the Woodland Centers Website.

UNUM Employee Assistance Program

Unum’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides comprehensive support for employees and their eligible family members, helping them manage life’s demands with licensed counseling, practical resources, and emergency services.

Key offerings include:

Available 24/7 through the HealthAdvocate portal, these services ensure support is accessible anytime, giving you peace of mind whenever you need it. For more information, call 1(800)854-1446 or visit Unum’s Life Balance page: www.unum.com/lifebalance.

Kandiyohi County Public Health

There are a wide variety of thoughts and feelings that can occur when difficult things happen. If you need help, call Kandiyohi County Public Health at and press 4; or click on a link below:

Spanish: Hay una gran variedad de pensamientos y sentimientos que pueden ocurrir cuando suceden cosas difíciles. Podemos conectarlo con los recursos necesarios. Llame a Salud Pública del Condado de Kandiyohi al (320)231-7800 y presione 4.

Somali: Waxaa jira fikrado badan oo sheega in wel-wel dhaco xiliga dhibaatadu dhacdo. Waxaanu kugu xiriirin karnaa meel kasta oo aad caawimaad ka heli karto. Soo Wac Xarunta Caafimaadka Guud ee Kandiyohi (320)231-7800 Riix 4.

Minnesota Department of Health

It’s normal to experience increased stress and anxiety, which can affect people differently. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) offers tools and resources for healthcare workers and other individuals to address common mental, emotional, and psychological concerns from hardships.

For more information, visit these MDH resources:

Calm App

Whether you have 30 seconds or 30 minutes, Calm’s diverse content library has resources to fit your schedule and needs. Explore guided meditations, specialized music playlists for stress and focus, mindful movement videos and audio, relaxing Sleep Stories, tailored content for children, expert-led masterclasses, and much more.

To get started:

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Offers help in coping with farm and rural stress through the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline. Visit the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline website. Or call 1(833)600-2670 or text FARMSTRESS to 898211 for free and confidential help 24/7.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota

NAMI Minnesota is dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illness. For resources and ongoing support, go to NAMI’s website.

Public transportation

Sometimes you need a ride to work, the grocery store, school, a doctor’s appointment, or another location. The CCT transit bus offers transportation to people of all ages.

CCT Central Community Transit

Provides safe, reliable, cost-effective transportation to all residents in Kandiyohi, Meeker, and Renville counties. For more information, go online to www.cctbus.org or call:

Willmar office: (320)214-7433

Olivia office: (320)523-3589

Litchfield office: (320)693-7794

Services

If you need help with something and don’t know where to turn, contact these resources, which offer help in a variety of areas such as transitional housing, legal services, gambling hotline, child care, employment training, and much more.

PACT for Families

PACT for Families is a collaborative that helps fill gaps in services and reduce duplication. PACT for Families has compiled resource guides for counties in its service area.

Childcare

If you are in need of child services or daycare, please visit, https://licensinglookup.dhs.state.mn.us/, This link will take you to a search page where you can look up various licensed childcare options to meet your needs.

United Community Action Partnership

United Community Action Partnership offers innovative programs and services to address meeting basic needs, education, employment training, transportation services, housing counseling, affordable housing solutions, emergency services, transportation, community economic development projects, after-school programs, weatherization, energy efficiency, asset-building, financial literacy, child development, and services and opportunities for returning military veterans, home-bound seniors and people with disabilities. UCAP’s primary goal is to answer questions and quickly connect people with the services that are needed. Call (320)235-0850 ext. 1137 or go to www.unitedcapmn.org.

Blue Link is a free Bethesda program that links team members with information and resources available to help in a variety of ways.

If you need further assistance or, if you have suggestions for information to include on this page, contact Bethesda’s Human Resources team: email [email protected] or call Baillee at (320)214-5603, Amy at (320)235-8244, or Liz at (320)214-5691.