Navigating your health support systems can be a daunting process.  Dakota 911 offers two types of mental health support, the annual check-up from the neck up (CUNU), and a HealthPartners-provided first responder EAP program called Elevate.  So, how might these opportunities work together? 

If you find yourself in need of more support than the annual CUNU, you may want to reach out to the EAP. Working with your EAP program counselor, a plan will be created. This plan may include a referral for continued counseling.  If this happens, you may tell the program counselor that you already have a support network with <insert your CUNU therapist here>, and that you would like your referral to be to them. The EAP will investigate if your requested provider is in the EAP network and consider a referral that fits into your EAP plan. 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Tailored specifically for first-responder support, the HealthPartners Elevate program is available to all benefits-eligible employees, regardless of Dakota 911-offered medical plan participation.  
An employee assistance program is an employee benefit program that assists employees with personal problems that may impact their job performance, health, mental and emotional well-being. EAPs generally offer free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals and follow-up services for employees.
The Dakota 911 EAP provides support for everyday life.
Employees who enroll in the Dakota 911-offered medical plan can access the EAP via their HealthPartners account. Employees who are not enrolled in the Dakota 911-offered medical plan will receive access information after the 1st of the year.
By logging into the Living Well tab of the HealthPartners website, employees can click on the "support for everyday life" option. This will bring you directly to your EAP. In the EAP, you will find parenting, aging, balancing, thriving, working and living support to include:
  • Adoption/Childcare/Education
  • Planning Your Future/Aging/Caregivers/Grief & Loss
  • Personal Growth/Relationships/Mental Health/Addition & Recovery
  • Anything and Everything Health-related
  • Career Development/Workplace Productivity
  • Home Improvement/Home Buying & Selling/Financial/Legal/Pets
  • So much more
Also available are links to online seminars and other tools that may assist in everyday life.
Tailored to the needs of first-responders, the Elevate program is an enhancement to the already robust EAP. Elevate offers additional support for anxiety and depression.
Call the EAP and a master's level clinician will provide immediate support and additional resources, such as a referral for up to 20 sessions with a dedicated counselor at an office near you.
As always, the EAP is a confidential service offered for free to all Dakota 911 employees.
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Check Up from the Neck Up

As the bridge between people in crisis and first responders, the work of a Dakota 911 public safety telecommunicator is often high-stress, fast-paced, and emotionally demanding.  This can take a mental health toll, even though they never set foot on the scene of a crime.

In addition to an environment that supports physical well-being, Dakota 911 supports annual off-site mental health checkups with licensed professionals.  Because mental health services are not a "one size fits all", employees have two options for their annual voluntary "Check-up from the Neck Up".

Ellie Mental Health:
651/319-1059 or protectoroverwatch@elliementalhealth.com
www.elliementalhealth.com
 
Wellness that Fits:
651/967-2506
www.wellnessthatfitsmn.com
 
If you wish to continue seeing Ellie Mental Health or Wellness that Fits for a personal mental health treatment plan, both providers are in-network for employees participating in Dakota 911 2024 health insurance plans.

 
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Step Up!
Returning for 2024 employees will be eligible for Wellness Hours.
Employees who have no unscheduled leave in one of the four calendar quarters are eligible for 2 wellness hours.
Employees who participate and successfully complete activities offered on the HealthPartners Living Well platform may be eligible for up to 8 additional hours.
The Dakota 911 Step Up! Wellness Program focuses on providing tools and information to improve employee total health and wellbeing. By encouraging and supporting program participation, and celebrating our successes, Dakota 911 staff can obtain total wellness and inspire our families and others to Step Up!
Starting January 1st, 2024, employees are invited to participate in the Dakota 911 wellness program. Here's how:
No Unscheduled Leave
Employees who have no unscheduled leave in a calendar quarter are eligible for 2 wellness hours. The maximum number of wellness hours an employee may receive for no unscheduled leave is eight (8).
Participate in the HealthPartners Living Well
HealthPartners has a robust offering of Living Well activities available to all employees. Employees who are enrolled in the Dakota 911-offered medical plan can access these Living Well activities via your HealthPartners login. Employees who are not enrolled in the Dakota 911-offered medical plan can also set an account up to access the Living Well activities. The following document will help you set signed in or set up with your account:
For details on how to successfully complete any of the activities, click on the activity card in the HealthPartners Living Well website. Employees may be eligible to earn 2 wellness hours for each activity. The maximum number of wellness hours you can earn for participating in the HealthPartners Living Well activities is eight (8). Here are just some of the Living Well activities you can participate in for free:
At the close of the calendar year Dakota 911 admin will receive a completion report that identifies your name and a list of dates. The dates represent when you successfully completed one of the activities. That's all, everything else is confidential. This report will be used to identify the number of wellness hours you are eligible to receive for the year. (again, a maximum of 8 activity hours).
Log in to your HealthPartners account to get started on your quest for better health and increased wellness hours!
Here are some other great opportunities that Dakota 911 staff is encouraged to incorporate into our overall health and well-being effort.
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In the Moment Stress Management

One way to commit to your stress management is to practice meditation and breathing techniques. These techniques can be used anywhere anytime you are experiencing a stressor. Stress management helps to provide immediate stress relief and only takes minutes! Check it out.
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