Day one, we discuss the legal and liability issues inherent to this subject, including negligent hiring, discrimination issues under state and federal law, Minnesota statutes, and related topics.

Day two focuses on use of the background questionnaire, releases and authorizations, writing the report and using the data practices act and other sources to conduct a sound and legally defensible background process.

This course is designed for any person who hires, manages, or supports law enforcement personnel, whether, full-time, part-time or volunteer. This class is very appropriate for LE, HR, County Administration, or County Attorneys. 

Register directly on the MSA website. View event flyer >

This two-day training integrates FEMA's foundational principles with procurement compliance, explicitly designed for local government staff responsible for purchasing or working with suppliers, as well as their local emergency managers. Participants will learn best practices on how to establish, operate, and manage an Emergency Operations Center (EOC), ensuring alignment with FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) and federal procurement standards. This training will provide hands-on experience and actionable strategies to strengthen emergency preparedness while maintaining compliance with FEMA’s procurement requirements.

From one-time efforts to year-round momentum, too many organizations rely on bursts of energy like giving days, year-end pushes, last-minute appeals without the systems to support them.

It is important to shift the focus from urgency to sustainability. This session emphasizes practical systems, clear goal-setting, and repeatable processes that reduce burnout and increase consistency.

This training is provided in partnership with the Initiative Foundation.

This dynamic workshop prepares 911 call-takers and dispatchers to recognize, respond to, and refer callers experiencing suicidal ideation, depression, domestic violence, hostage situations, barricaded suspect events, and other crisis scenarios. Participants will learn practical communication strategies, terms to use or avoid with volatile callers, and techniques that support responder safety and successful outcomes. The course also addresses suicide-by-cop indicators, the dispatcher’s critical role in gathering information, and the unique needs of vulnerable populations, including veterans. Through role-playing and realistic call-taking scenarios, attendees will build confidence using the AEP Crisis Communications Toolbox to transition effectively between caregiver, information gatherer, and tactical response dispatcher.

Turning strategy into real conversations and real results

Even with strong systems in place, many nonprofit professionals still hesitate at the most critical moment: the ask. This training is hands-on, practical, and confidence-building. This session creates space to practice, refine, and build comfort with real-world fundraising conversations. We move beyond theory into lived experience to help participants find language that feels natural, grounded, and aligned with their mission.

This training is provided in partnership with the Initiative Foundation.

This is a specialized training on both practical and legal considerations of Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law and Data Practices requirements. Participants will gain an understanding of these complicated laws, gain an understanding of updated regulations, learn how to access appropriate resources, and leave with practical knowledge for working within the laws’ parameters.

This is a specialized training on both practical and legal considerations of Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law and Data Practices requirements. Participants will gain an understanding of these complicated laws, gain an understanding of updated regulations, learn how to access appropriate resources, and leave with practical knowledge for working within the laws’ parameters.

Crosslake Fire Hall Address:
37028 County Road 66
Crosslake, MN 56442

How strong organizations create strong fundraising. Fundraising doesn’t begin with an ask, it begins with alignment. Participants explore how leadership, governance, and strategic clarity directly shape donor trust and long-term stewardship. This session focuses on strengthening the internal foundation that makes fundraising more natural, more effective, and more sustainable.

This training is provided in partnership with the Initiative Foundation.

In this one-day workshop participants will learn how to establish and sustain comprehensive school safety efforts that attend to both physical and psychological safety. The workshop addresses critical components needed to develop, exercise, and evaluate safety and crisis teams and plans and conduct building vulnerability assessments. The model also integrates school personnel and comunity provider roles in providing school-based crisis preparedness and response activities. Additional topics addressed also include media/social media, communication, reunification, students with special needs, culture, and memorials. After this workshop, participants will be better prepared to improve their school’s climate, student resilience, and crisis response capabilities of school personnel. With updated research and strategies, this workshop makes a clear connection between ongoing crisis prevention, mitigation, protection, response, and recovery. 

View event flyer for more info >

This course provides a comprehensive, operations-focused approach to Active Human Shooter/Hostile Event Response (AHSER) aligned with NFPA 3000 standards. Participants will examine the critical components of an integrated response, including Unified Command, Rescue Task Force (RTF) deployment, and the application of basic trauma care in high-threat environments.

Through the lens of real-world incident after-action reports, this course bridges policy and practice—highlighting what worked, what failed, and how coordinated response efforts can be improved. Emphasis is placed on interagency collaboration between fire, EMS, and law enforcement, ensuring a cohesive and effective operational framework during rapidly evolving incidents based on the priorities of life as defined in law enforcement as well as the fire EMS tactical priorities.

Key topics include:

• Establishing and managing Unified Command in dynamic, high-risk environments


• Formation, deployment, and operational considerations of Rescue Task Forces


• Warm zone operations and risk-based decision making


• Integration of fire/EMS into law enforcement-led incidents


• Application of basic trauma techniques, including hemorrhage control, airway management, and rapid patient extraction