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Committee hears bill to fund culturally responsive suicide-prevention services for African-born Minnesotans
Summary
Senate File 2031 would fund Restoration for All, a community-based organization providing culturally informed suicide-prevention and mental-health supports for African immigrant and refugee communities; the committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion.
The Senate human services committee heard testimony on Senate File 2031, a bill to provide funding to Restoration for All, a St. Paul-based nonprofit that provides culturally responsive mental-health and suicide-prevention services targeted to African immigrant and refugee communities. The measure was laid over for possible inclusion in the committee's omnibus process.
What supporters told the committee: Senator Hoffman introduced the measure and Dr. Tulu Locme Ola, founder and executive director of Restoration for All, testified about elevated suicide concerns in her community and the organization's trauma-informed, culturally grounded approach. "Our communities are in crisis," Dr. Ola told the committee, and she described training, youth mentoring and community partnerships as central to Restoration for All's model.
Why it matters: Committee members heard that the rate of serious suicidal ideation reported among some immigrant youth and other community data show elevated risk and that culturally tailored prevention models can reach families who otherwise do not access traditional services.
Committee action: Members asked clarifying questions and laid the bill over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. No immediate fiscal details were resolved during the hearing; supporters described the proposal as an investment in culturally informed prevention and sustainability.
Next steps: The committee will consider the bill as part of omnibus deliberations. Supporters asked the Legislature to consider the proposal in the larger funding package.
