Information, Referral and Assistance
Adult Learning
55-Alive Defensive Driving Classes
International Falls 1-218-283-2571, ext 186 or 109
Adult Basic Education 1-218-283-9575 Adults work free of charge at their own pace in an informal setting to improve skills, including GED preparation and basic computer skills as well as Driver’s License Exams. Backus Community Center, 900 Fifth Street, Room 104, International Falls, MN 56649.
Community Education ISD #361 1-218-283-2571, ext 186 or 109 www.isd361.k12.mn.us/communityed ; email: ramdahl@isd361.k12.mn.us Includes Defensive Driving courses, Adult Basic Education, Falls High School swimming pool schedules, 1511 11th Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
Rainy River Community College 1-218-285-7722 www.rrcc.mnscu.edu For general and Continuing Education courses.
Advocacy
AARP 1-800-424-3410
Koochiching County Public Health 1-218-283-7070 Located at 1000 Fifth Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
Minnesota Office of Health Facilities Complaints 1-800-369-7994 Provides consumer protection in health care facilities.
Office of Ombudsmen for Long-Term Care 1-800-657-3591 www.mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/seniors/services/ombudsman/. Helps to enhance the quality of life and services for individuals receiving care and supportive services at home and outside the home. P.O. Box 64971, St. Paul, MN 55164-0971.
Assessment/Coordination of Service
Long Term Care Consultation 1-218-283-7000 Koochiching County Human Services or 1-218-283-7070 Koochiching County Public Health. Located at 1000 Fifth Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
Disability
Access North: Center for Independent Living of Northeastern Minnesota 1-800-390-3681 (main office in Hibbing).www.accessnorth.net Providing for those with disabilities: advocacy, independent living skills, information and referral, and peer/group support as well as Personal Care Assistance program, consumer directed community supports and other services. Main office located at 1309 East 40th Street, Hibbing, MN 55746.
Disability Linkage Line 1-866-333-2466 or www.mndisability.gov Information, referral and assistance network for individuals of all ages.
Employment
Minnesota WorkForce Center International Falls, 218-283-9427. Employment and volunteer opportunities at www.minnesotaworks.net Training opportunities, workshops, and job search assistance. Work program for eligible adults 55 years of age and older. Website: www.positivelyminnesota.com
Located on the Rainy River Community College campus at 1501 Highway 71, SC 128, International Falls, MN 56649.
Energy and Financial Assistance
Koochiching County Human Services 1-218-283-7000 for medical assistance and food support assistance for income eligible participants. Located at 1000 Fifth Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
KOOTASCA 1-800-422-0312 or 1-218-327-2941 or 1-218-283-9491 in International Falls. Helps pay home heating costs. Located at 2232 Second Avenue East, International Falls, MN 56649.
Koochiching County HUD/ HRA 1-218-897-5242 Northome City Hall, P.O. Box 466, Northome, MN 56661.
Salvation Army 1-218-283-3394 Conditional utility payment assistance and HeatShare emergency fuel assistance. 1301 3rd Avenue West, International Falls, MN 56649.
Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and Medicare Call Senior LinkAge Line® 1-800-333-2433 Telephone information and assistance to help older adults and their families find community services.
Insurance
Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (HICAP) and Senior LinkAge Line© 1-800-333-2433 Telephone information and assistance to help older adults and their families find community services. Includes prescription and health insurance counseling. In Koochiching County call Karen Tveit at 1-218-285-9156. Located at 900 Fifth Street, Suite 202, International Falls, MN 56649.
Legal Services
Minnesota Legal Services 1-800-886-3270 or 1-218-749-3270 www.mnlegalservices.org Free legal information/advice for people 60+ who meet income guidelines (housing, public benefits, family law, consumer matters). Serving Itasca and Koochiching County: Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota, Olcott Plaza, Suite 150, 820 North 9th Street, Virginia, MN 55792.
Libraries and Resource Centers
International Falls Public Library 1-218-283-8051 750 Fourth Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
Northome Library 1-218-897-5952 12060 Main Street, Northome, MN 56661.
Rainy River Community College 1-218-285-2220 1501 Highway 71, International Falls, MN 56649
Mediation
Northern Mediation Services 1-218-240-4961 Neutral parties help resolve family conflict, consumer issues and neighborhood disputes. This confidential alternative to court is available to all Koochiching County and Lake of the Woods County residents at modest cost.
Retirement
AARP 1-800-424-3410 or www.aarp.com
Senior LinkAge Line© 1-800-333-2433 or www.MinnesotaHelp.info .
Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213 or www.ssa.gov .
Social Security
Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213 or www.ssa.gov . Social Security office in Bemidji 1-800-772-1213 or 1-218-751-2904 Located at 2900 Hannah Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN 56601.
Veterans
Koochiching County Veterans Services 1-218-283-1179 or candance.ritch@co.koochiching.mn.us Located at Koochiching County Courthouse, 715 Fourth Street, International Falls MN 56649.
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V) 1-218-722-8763 or 1-218-591-6344 (cell) Call Steve Saari Located at 101 West 2nd Street, Suite 102, Duluth, MN 55802.
Veterans Linkage Line© 1-888-LinkVet (1-888-546-5838)
55-Alive Defensive Driving Classes
International Falls 1-218-283-2571, ext 186 or 109
Adult Basic Education 1-218-283-9575 Adults work free of charge at their own pace in an informal setting to improve skills, including GED preparation and basic computer skills as well as Driver’s License Exams. Backus Community Center, 900 Fifth Street, Room 104, International Falls, MN 56649.
Community Education ISD #361 1-218-283-2571, ext 186 or 109 www.isd361.k12.mn.us/communityed ; email: ramdahl@isd361.k12.mn.us Includes Defensive Driving courses, Adult Basic Education, Falls High School swimming pool schedules, 1511 11th Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
Rainy River Community College 1-218-285-7722 www.rrcc.mnscu.edu For general and Continuing Education courses.
Advocacy
AARP 1-800-424-3410
Koochiching County Public Health 1-218-283-7070 Located at 1000 Fifth Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
Minnesota Office of Health Facilities Complaints 1-800-369-7994 Provides consumer protection in health care facilities.
Office of Ombudsmen for Long-Term Care 1-800-657-3591 www.mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/seniors/services/ombudsman/. Helps to enhance the quality of life and services for individuals receiving care and supportive services at home and outside the home. P.O. Box 64971, St. Paul, MN 55164-0971.
Assessment/Coordination of Service
Long Term Care Consultation 1-218-283-7000 Koochiching County Human Services or 1-218-283-7070 Koochiching County Public Health. Located at 1000 Fifth Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
Disability
Access North: Center for Independent Living of Northeastern Minnesota 1-800-390-3681 (main office in Hibbing).www.accessnorth.net Providing for those with disabilities: advocacy, independent living skills, information and referral, and peer/group support as well as Personal Care Assistance program, consumer directed community supports and other services. Main office located at 1309 East 40th Street, Hibbing, MN 55746.
Disability Linkage Line 1-866-333-2466 or www.mndisability.gov Information, referral and assistance network for individuals of all ages.
Employment
Minnesota WorkForce Center International Falls, 218-283-9427. Employment and volunteer opportunities at www.minnesotaworks.net Training opportunities, workshops, and job search assistance. Work program for eligible adults 55 years of age and older. Website: www.positivelyminnesota.com
Located on the Rainy River Community College campus at 1501 Highway 71, SC 128, International Falls, MN 56649.
Energy and Financial Assistance
Koochiching County Human Services 1-218-283-7000 for medical assistance and food support assistance for income eligible participants. Located at 1000 Fifth Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
KOOTASCA 1-800-422-0312 or 1-218-327-2941 or 1-218-283-9491 in International Falls. Helps pay home heating costs. Located at 2232 Second Avenue East, International Falls, MN 56649.
Koochiching County HUD/ HRA 1-218-897-5242 Northome City Hall, P.O. Box 466, Northome, MN 56661.
Salvation Army 1-218-283-3394 Conditional utility payment assistance and HeatShare emergency fuel assistance. 1301 3rd Avenue West, International Falls, MN 56649.
Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and Medicare Call Senior LinkAge Line® 1-800-333-2433 Telephone information and assistance to help older adults and their families find community services.
Insurance
Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (HICAP) and Senior LinkAge Line© 1-800-333-2433 Telephone information and assistance to help older adults and their families find community services. Includes prescription and health insurance counseling. In Koochiching County call Karen Tveit at 1-218-285-9156. Located at 900 Fifth Street, Suite 202, International Falls, MN 56649.
Legal Services
Minnesota Legal Services 1-800-886-3270 or 1-218-749-3270 www.mnlegalservices.org Free legal information/advice for people 60+ who meet income guidelines (housing, public benefits, family law, consumer matters). Serving Itasca and Koochiching County: Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota, Olcott Plaza, Suite 150, 820 North 9th Street, Virginia, MN 55792.
Libraries and Resource Centers
International Falls Public Library 1-218-283-8051 750 Fourth Street, International Falls, MN 56649.
Northome Library 1-218-897-5952 12060 Main Street, Northome, MN 56661.
Rainy River Community College 1-218-285-2220 1501 Highway 71, International Falls, MN 56649
Mediation
Northern Mediation Services 1-218-240-4961 Neutral parties help resolve family conflict, consumer issues and neighborhood disputes. This confidential alternative to court is available to all Koochiching County and Lake of the Woods County residents at modest cost.
Retirement
AARP 1-800-424-3410 or www.aarp.com
Senior LinkAge Line© 1-800-333-2433 or www.MinnesotaHelp.info .
Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213 or www.ssa.gov .
Social Security
Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213 or www.ssa.gov . Social Security office in Bemidji 1-800-772-1213 or 1-218-751-2904 Located at 2900 Hannah Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN 56601.
Veterans
Koochiching County Veterans Services 1-218-283-1179 or candance.ritch@co.koochiching.mn.us Located at Koochiching County Courthouse, 715 Fourth Street, International Falls MN 56649.
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V) 1-218-722-8763 or 1-218-591-6344 (cell) Call Steve Saari Located at 101 West 2nd Street, Suite 102, Duluth, MN 55802.
Veterans Linkage Line© 1-888-LinkVet (1-888-546-5838)