Hometown Heroes Assistance Program: Passed

All of us at MnFIRE are thrilled to announce that the Minnesota legislature passed the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program this week. This is a hard-fought, long-in-the-works win for the state’s fire service, and will ensure that every Minnesota firefighter will have access to education, prevention and care needed to handle a cardiac, emotional trauma or cancer diagnosis.

While a few final details are still being worked out, the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program will:

  • Provide a statewide “Critical Care” policy for all Minnesota firefighters which covers diagnoses of cancer or cardiac issues. Coverage amount is $20,000 per diagnosis.
  • Create a MnFIRE Assistance Program (MnAP) for all Minnesota firefighters targeting emotional trauma issues unique to the fire service, and ensure additional support for firefighters who remain in need beyond initial treatment sessions.
  • Support ongoing annual MnFIRE Awareness training for every Minnesota firefighter. Changing the current culture in the Minnesota Fire Service is integral to long-term reduction of the incidences of cancer, emotional trauma and cardiac.
  • Sustain annual MnFIRE Awareness Training for medical doctors and mental health professionals statewide so all firefighters in Minnesota have regional access to informed and trained medical professionals to help with prevention, mitigation, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, cardiac and emotional trauma.

Just like the fire service response to an emergency, it has taken a team effort to reach this milestone. This has been a fabulous statewide collaboration by legislators, fire service folks and the general public.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in making the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program become a reality. Stay tuned for more details!

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Thank you Central Raiders Volleyball (Norwood Young America) for fundraising for MnFIRE in honor of First Responder Night! We appreciate your generous support and wish you the best of luck in the rest of your season! 🏐 ... See MoreSee Less

Thank you Central Raiders Volleyball (Norwood Young America) for fundraising for MnFIRE in honor of First Responder Night! We appreciate your generous support and wish you the best of luck in the rest of your season! 🏐Image attachmentImage attachment

Thank you, Tommy's Tonka Trolley for your generosity! We appreciate all who visited and made donations to support Minnesota firefighters. 🧑‍🚒🍨 ... See MoreSee Less

Thank you, Tommys Tonka Trolley for your generosity! We appreciate all who visited and made donations to support Minnesota firefighters. 🧑‍🚒🍨Image attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

Thank you to Tommy's Tonka Trolley for generously raising donations for MnFIRE and Schmidt and Salita Law Team for matching the donation amount! Stop by this Sunday, Sept. 28 to enjoy some ice cream and support our mission. 🍦🚒Hi all. Cannot believe the season is coming to an end. The weather is still summer like and the commons is hopping We will be having our last day this Sunday from 11 to 4. As always, ice cream and treats will be free, but we will be asking for a donation that will go to Minnesota Firefighter Initiative. MN Fire raises funds, and is a leading expert on firefighter wellness. They are dedicated to providing the state’s firefighters with the tools they need to prioritize and protect their health. Our wonderful firefighters have much higher risks of cancer, heart, disease, and mental health issues. The Law Firm of Schmidt and Salita will match whatever Tommy’s Tonka Trolley donates. The good news is the Viking game is first thing in the morning and for you Packer fans it is an evening game. The weather looks unbelievably good. Here’s the most fun part ——bring the kids. The Excelsior Fire truck will be in front of the Trolley from 1-3 with tours and firefighters there to chat it. We also want to thank our friends at Sebastian Joe’s for donating several tubs of ice cream to make this a successful event. Don’t forget before we close Minnetonka homecoming is on Friday night. We look forward to seeing you this weekend for both events. @sebastianjoes @mnfireinitiative @excelsiorfiredistrict @exclakemtkachamber @exclakemtka @visitexcelsiormn @exploreminnesota @tommystonkatrolley @minnetonkafootball @schmidtsalitalawteam ... See MoreSee Less

Thank you to Tommys Tonka Trolley for generously raising donations for MnFIRE and Schmidt and Salita Law Team for matching the donation amount! Stop by this Sunday, Sept. 28 to enjoy some ice cream and support our mission. 🍦🚒
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