Conference planning continues. We have chosen the theme: Fall into knowledge. The board has been busy working hard on finding training topics and entertainment. Looks like there will be local attraction tours and BINGO!! Vendors wanted for Conference. If you know of anyone that wants to participate in the vendor area of conference please have them sign up. If you have any questions please reach out to your region representative. On May 13 th MFWCAA was lucky enough to have Dr. Jody Janati present a virtual WebEx for members. Based on the surveys we received; members were happy that she was real and kept their attention. If you have ideas for future trainings please contact your region representative. June 15 th -August 15 th -We will open the nominations for MFWCAA’s 2026 FW/CA award. If you know of someone that goes above and beyond as a financial worker or Case aide make sure you give them a nomination. We all know how stressful our jobs can be. This award acknowledges their hard work and dedication to our field. Call for region reps! We have a mixture of in-person and virtual monthly meetings. It is a great opportunity to network with reps from throughout the whole state of MN and representatives from DHS/DCYF. Come join the fun we have open region representative spots for regions 1-Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau 3 -Aitkin, Bois Forte, Carlton, Cook, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake,St. Louis, 8-Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lower Sioux, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock 9- Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, MN Prairie Alliance-Waseca Office, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, Watonwan 10- Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn,Goodhue, Houston, MN Prairie Alliance-Mantorville/Owatonna Offices, Mower, Olmsted,Prairie Island, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Winona. Contact myself or any board member if youhave any questions! Respectfully, Angella Blanshan MFWCAA President
Minnesota is a big state, and every county has its own way of working through challenges. That’s why MFWCAA has Regional Representatives — real people you can reach out to when you need help, advice, or a place to talk through something that’s giving you trouble. Many members don’t realize just how helpful their rep can be. So here’s a quick breakdown. Your rep is your go-to resource. Not sure where to find something? Need to confirm whether a policy update is being handled the same way in other counties? Want to know when the next regional meeting is? Your rep can point you in the right direction faster than digging through emails or searching old notes. They also help bring your voice forward. Regional feedback plays a big part in how MFWCAA plans training topics, conference sessions, and advocacy priorities. Reps pass along what’s happening in your county so the full board gets a clearer picture of what workers and case aides are dealing with day to day. Regional meetings = shared knowledge. Some of the best problem-solving happens in these sessions. Workers swap tips, talk through tricky policies, and find out what’s working well in other parts of the state. If you haven’t joined one yet, it’s worth trying at least once. Find your rep The new website has an updated list of Regional Representatives with contact info for each county. If you haven’t connected with yours yet, feel free to reach out — they’re genuinely here to help. Staying connected makes this work less stressful and a lot more manageable. Your rep is one of the easiest ways to build that connection.
Financial workers and case aides are the first line of support for families across Minnesota. Every day you’re helping people navigate SNAP, cash programs, child care assistance, health care coverage, and everything in between. With programs changing so often, it’s tough to feel fully prepared unless you have steady training you can trust. That’s one of the biggest reasons MFWCAA exists — to make sure you never feel like you’re figuring things out alone. Policies change fast. Good training keeps you steady. Rules shift. Forms update. Processes get rewritten. When you’re dealing with real families who need quick answers, you don’t have time to dig for clarity. Training sessions, teletrainings, and conference workshops help you stay ahead instead of scrambling after the fact. Harder cases deserve better tools. Many workers across the state say the toughest part of the job isn’t the volume — it’s the complexity. Mixed households, farm income, immigration status, health care coordination… these cases take time and confidence. Training gives you both. When you understand the “why” behind a policy, everything else gets easier. Training also builds community. You’re not the only one wrestling with tricky cases. When you join MFWCAA trainings or watch recordings, you get to hear how workers in other counties handle similar situations. That connection matters more than most people realize. Where to find upcoming sessions The new MFWCAA website makes it easier to see upcoming regional meetings, statewide trainings, and new additions to the Members Area. Members can log in anytime to watch recordings or check for updates. If you’re looking for ways to feel better equipped in your role, training is one of the best places to start — and we’re here to help you get what you need.
