Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota

We're Making Seizure Smart Communities

At the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota, we work to educate, connect and empower people all across Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota. While we have offices in St. Cloud, Duluth, Rochester, Fargo and the Twin Cities - we work to reach all communities across the state.

Our Seizure Smart Communities Initiative includes making all communities of 15,000 people or more in rural Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota “Seizure Smart” by 2011.

2009 certified “Seizure Smart” cities: St. Cloud, Duluth, Rochester, Fargo/Moorhead, Willmar

2010 certified “Seizure Smart” cities:: Alexandria, Austin, Hibbing, Grand Forks

2011 "Seizure Smart" certified cities: Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Hutchinson, Owatonna

2012 "Seizure Smart" candidate cities: Silver Bay, MN & the North Shore; Breckenridge, MN & Wahpeton, ND; Farimont, MN; and Morris, MN

A Seizure Smart Community includes:

        Seizure Smart Schools --- working with school nurses, teachers,
        administrators, parents and kids to educate our schools
        and to make the school environment the best possible for our
        students with seizures.

        Seizure Recognition & Response Trainings throughout the
        community – ensuring that people in the community know how to
        recognize and respond to a seizure.

        Local Leaders – including police and fire departments, Mayor and
        City Leaders, key employers, hospitals and clinics, and
        organizations that serve seniors.

        Media -- local media plays a key role in raising awareness of epilepsy
        throughout the community.

        Volunteers – volunteers are important to keep the message/awareness
        of epilepsy and seizures going throughout the year.

For more information about Seizure Smart Communities, or to volunteer in your community, please contact Tammy Sammon at tsammon@efmn.org or 651.287.2304.