with Mental Health Therapist, Neil Rasmussen, MS
Immerse yourself in calm, embodied presence, tea, communal circle, and an immersive guided meditation, centering yourself with love, ease, and connection.
Tag: community
Getting the most out of these long days with extra time outside
As the days get longer, it’s easier and easier to squeeze in extra time outside – more dog walks, biking to the store to pick up the missing ingredient for dinner, visiting friends for back yard hang-outs, skipping rocks, more dog walks, etc. I have been noticing a shift in people’s mood with the uptake in greenery and vitamin D.
- +10 cheeriness
- +5 stopping to admire gardens
- +15 smelling blossoming trees
- +10 walking all over the place
Another thing I have noticed, not only in others but with myself as well, is a tendency to use the overload of activity during summer to distract from the goings-on of the rest of the world. And while we DO need to take mental health breaks, rest, and recharge, we are now seeing our neighbors who we didn’t see all winter, more people stopping to chat in the front yard, and people visiting from around the country. Use this extra time outside to connect with your community.
Seeing more people? Take advantage and build community
Now is a great time to grow our network of real community connections. For some people, it comes naturally; for others, it takes some practice. And there are various levels of effort depending on your comfort level. Here are a few ideas, from small to large:
- Equipment sharing – yard tools, power tools
- Offer to be help neighbors in a pinch (i.e. their car has a flat tire and they need a ride to work)
- Find a local mutual aid organization to donate time or needed items
- Get involved with a cause you care about (from local, national, and international)
Body as Place
Sara and I were invited to present at Svalja Whole-being’s Community Conference in Duluth. We are so excited to explore “body as place”. We will experiment with what makes you feel at home and safe in your body.
The conference starts Friday 5/29 from 6:00-9:00pm and continues 5/30 from 8:00-6:00.
Contact http://www.svalja.yoga/community-conference for more information Join us for a two-day immersion into the heart of our community.
Flourish is an invitation to ground ourselves in the wisdom of this place while leaning into the possibilities of what we can create together. From a soulful Friday night of live music and poetry at SOLCA to a Saturday filled with movement, guided storytelling, and deep reflection, this gathering is designed to nourish your nervous system and spark your creative spirit.
Throughout the weekend, experience a curated Art and Poetry Exhibit coordinated by Savannah Ottillia, offering a visual and written landscape of our shared journey.
Article about Halcyon House from MCCD
Halcyon House Featured by MCCD & Important Duluth Parking Updates
Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) recently published a wonderful feature article about Halcyon House. We are incredibly honored by their spotlight. MCCD continues to be an invaluable resource for the local cooperative community. They provide expert guidance and advice to cooperatives in both urban and rural areas across the state.
Here is a fun cooperative fact for you. Minnesota actually leads the entire United States in cooperative formation! We are incredibly proud to be part of this thriving, community-focused movement. If you want to learn more about our specific history, business formation, and cooperative development, please take a moment to read the full piece.
Advocating for Better Parking in Downtown Duluth
We also want to provide a quick follow-up to our recent discussion regarding the new downtown Duluth parking changes. Our team directly contacted the Duluth Parking Commissioner, Mark Bauer, at 218-730-5177 or emailing him. We shared how these new parking adjustments directly impact our community. Right now, we are actively advocating for better downtown accessibility. We are also pushing for longer maximum limits on all on-street parking spots. If you want to help, please consider calling the commission to voice your opinion too! 218-730-5177 or email them.
In the meantime, we want to help you avoid parking tickets. If you usually need 90-minute or 120-minute parking sessions, we recommend skipping the meters. Instead, try using the Muffler Clinic lot on Michigan Street. Another great option is the Tech Village parking ramp located right behind Pizza Lucé.
To pay, simply scan the QR code displayed on their lot signs to set up your parking session. We completely agree that the online payment system can be frustrating. If you ever need a hand figuring it out, just let us know. We are always happy to help you navigate it!
Muffler Clinic Lot
Wellness Access Initiative
Making Holistic Health Accessible: The Halcyon House Wellness Access Initiative
At Halcyon House, we firmly believe that true healing and long-term well-being should never be a luxury. We recognize that financial barriers often prevent individuals from receiving the critical care they deserve. To bridge this gap, we proudly feature the Halcyon House Wellness Access Initiative, a community-funded program intentionally designed to offset the out-of-pocket costs of our clinical services for the people who need them most. Read on to find out how to save money on your care:
We passionately believe that the holistic wellness services we provide are highly beneficial. They are often a necessary component of deep physical and emotional recovery. Through this dedicated wellness subsidy initiative, our core mission is to create a welcoming, supportive avenue of access for individuals who would otherwise lack the financial resources to afford comprehensive therapeutic care.
To ensure these resources go directly to those in need, selection for the program is based on a thoughtful, compassionate evaluation of several key pillars:
- Financial Need: Assessing income barriers to ensure equitable healthcare distribution.
- Physical and Emotional Need: Prioritizing chronic conditions, trauma recovery, or acute distress.
- Treatment Goals: Aligning with individuals dedicated to active, long-term personal healing.
- Individualized Treatment Plans: Following custom clinical recommendations outlined by our experience staff.
By prioritizing accessible community wellness and evidence-based care, Halcyon House is deeply committed to nurturing our local neighborhood from the inside out. Together we can build a healthier, more resilient future where everyone has the tools to thrive!
Selection Process
Applicants will fill out an online application to collect information about financial need, physical limitations/impairments and how their individual situation interferes with daily life. They will also have at least one session or consultation with one (or more) of the Halcyon Wellness Team, who will report on their need for services, create a treatment plan that includes goals, frequency, services, and duration. This de-identified information will be provided to the selection committee for final approval.
Would you like to be involved in the selection committee? Apply here.
If you would like to support the Wellness Access Initiative, donations can be made at the front desk or online.
Introducing the Wellness Access Initiative
The Halcyon House Wellness Access Initiative is a community funded program to help offset the costs of our services for the people who need them the most. Selection for the program is based on financial need, physical need, treatment goals, and recommended individualized treatment plan from our staff. We believe that the wellness services we provide are beneficial and even a potentially necessary part of healing and well-being. It is our hope that this wellness subsidy initiative will provide an avenue for access to our services for people who would otherwise not have the resources to afford them.
Selection Process
Applicants will fill out an online application to collect information about financial need, physical limitations/impairments and how their individual situation interferes with daily life. They will also have at least one session or consultation with one (or more) of the Halcyon Wellness Team, who will report on their need for services, create a treatment plan that includes goals, frequency, services, and durations. This de-identified information will be provided to the selection committee.
The selection committee will be composed of three to five individuals with at least one member-owner from Halcyon House. We ideally would like the majority of this panel to be composed of independent community members and donors. The member-owner from Halcyon House is a liaison between the selection committee and the cooperative, and is responsible for making sure all identifying information about applicants is removed and all information available for the committee to access is HIPAA compliant.
The Selection Committee will use this information and these tiers to decide the amount subsidized:
Tiers of subsidies:
- Tier 1 is our highest support level. 90% of the cost of treatment is covered. The financial guidelines are up to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level ($48,225 for a family of 4).
- Tier 2—70% of treatment(s) covered with financial guidelines of up to 175% of FPL.
- Tier 3—50% of treatment(s) covered with financial guidelines of up to 200% of FPL.
- Tier 4—30% of treatment(s) covered with financial guidelines of up to 225% of FPL.
- Tier 5—10% of treatment(s) covered with financial guidelines of up to 250% of FPL.
Get involved
Be a part of the Selection Committee.
Apply here.
Donations
The generous donations from the community, our clients, and our staff fund the Wellness Access Initiative. If you would like to support the Wellness Access Initiative, donations can be made at the front desk or online.
