MCA is Hosting 2 Topics in this Workshop
March 11, 2026
NOTE: Time has been extended
EOSIS Programs & Continuum of Care:
What DOC Staff Need to Know
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
PERA
~ How the Current Plan Works
~How the New Plan will Work
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Certificates of attendance are available for these workshop
Workshop #1
EOSIS Programs & Continuum of Care:
What DOC Staff Need to Know
Description:
This 90-minute workshop provides Department of Corrections employees with a comprehensive overview of EOSIS and its 21 treatment programs across Minnesota. Participants will gain a clear understanding of EOSIS’s full continuum of care, including levels of treatment, specialty programming, and geographic locations, to better support referral decisions and continuity of care for justice-involved individuals.
The session will take a deeper dive into two key programs: Twin Town Treatment Center in St. Paul and Northern Plains Treatment Center in East Grand Forks. Attendees will walk through a typical day at each facility, including daily schedules, treatment modalities, group programming, and therapeutic activities. The workshop will conclude with a time for Q&A.
Workshop Goal/Objectives/Takeaways:
- Understand EOSIS’s continuum of care, including program types, intensity levels, and specialty services
- Identify the 21 EOSIS programs and where they are located across Minnesota
- Describe a typical stay at Twin Town Treatment Center, including schedules, therapeutic modalities, and programming focus
- Understand the structure and intensity of Northern Plains Treatment Center, a co-ed, high-intensity residential program
- Distinguish appropriate client fit for EOSIS programs
- Apply this knowledge to make more informed referral, transition, and reentry decisions for individuals in DOC care
Presenters:
Amy Stephan, BA - Outreach Manager - Amy Diamond Stephan brings over a decade of experience in outreach, marketing, and relationship-building to her role as Outreach Manager at EOSIS. Amy plays a vital role in expanding access to care and raising awareness about EOSIS programs. She leads community engagement and referral development efforts to connect individuals with life-changing behavioral and chemical health services.
Matt Pride - Treatment Director - Matt has been the Treatment Director at Twin Town, a residential co-occurring treatment center serving men who have been impacted by the justice system for 1.5 years. Prior to that he worked at Union Gospel Mission for 7 years in their Substance Use program. Matt specializes in working with homeless and DOC population and has a passion to serve the underserved poplutions.
Jeff Thorfinnson LPCC, LADC, NCC - Treatment Director
Jeff has been with EOSIS, formerly Meridian Behavioral Health, for the past 9 years. Jeff is currently the Treatment Director at Northern Plains, a high-intensity MICD inpatient treatment facility. Previously, Jeff was the adult treatment director at the high acuity mental health hospital Red River Behavioral Health System. Jeff has worked with adults and adolescents with substance use disorders and high acute mental illnesses. Jeff has a passion and experience of working with psychosis disorders, PTSD, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and cluster B personality disorders.
Workshop #2
PERA
~ How the Current Retirement Plan Works
~ How the NEW Plan will Work
*Note Time has been extended to 1:00 p.m.
It will be important to hear how the current plan works to understand how the New Plan will work.
Description: Workshop #2 will be discussing the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and how the current PERA Retirement plan works and how the new plan will work.
Watch for more details on a workshop that will be dedicated to more information on the specifics of the retirement plans related to the proposed legislation for reasonable retirement for probation, parole and supervised release officers.
Presenter: Dan Athmann, Financial Advisor
Dan is a Financial Advisor with Thrivent and has worked at Thrivent for 10 years. Prior to this, Dan was a police officer in Burnsville for 25 years, retiring in June 2014. Dan specializes in educating and working with public safety individuals and families to develop strategies designed to meet his client’s needs. Dan’s undergraduate work is from St. Cloud State and his Master’s Degree is from the University of St. Thomas. Dan has the Series 7 and 66 designations, and FICF, RICP®.
A PERA Representative will be attending - more details to follow.
*Please add admin@ourmca.org to your e-mail safe sender list
*If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail immediately
after you register, please contact us at:
Debbie: mca-mn@hotmail.com
Kristin: KLueken.MCA@gmail.com
Register for This Workshop Today!
Registration will close at 5:00 p.m. 2 days before event
