The Minnesota First Provider Alliance (MNFPA) has announced two major steps in its efforts to bring change to the personal care assistance field. The alliance announced the formation of affiliated nonprofit Minnesota First Community Solutions (MNFCS). Veteran nonprofits leader Vicki Gerrits will lead the new affiliate.
The new organization will develop and administer educational program offerings for personal care assistance agencies intended to increase quality of care and improve program integrity.
Gerrits will lead MNFCS in the development of policies, best practices, and delivery reforms to improve care provided to Minnesotans currently receiving personal care services. She will also provide executive leadership services to MNFPA.
“The Minnesota First Provider Alliance is thrilled to announce the formation of Minnesota First Community Solutions and its hiring of Vicki Gerrits as its new executive director,” said Dena Belisle, alliance president. “Vicki will bring extensive knowledge and leadership, combined with a commitment to lead the MNFCS and the MNFPA. Vicki’s role will be crucial to build the MNFCS’s educational infrastructure and develop its programmatic offerings to increase quality of care and improve program integrity via furthering education.”
“I’m honored to take on this role with Minnesota First Community Solutions to support the board and the Minnesota First Provider Alliance,” said Gerrits.
She brings more than 20 years of non-profit leadership and board governance experience in home and community-based services to her new role. In the past decade she served as vice president of programs at Accord/Community Involvement Programs, chief strategy officer at Accra and vice president of services at Lifeworks Services, Inc. All of those entities are all non-profit home and community-based service providers. She provided governance support for the boards of Accra and Lifeworks.
While serving at Accra, Gerrits established a legislative advocacy program which increased visibility at the Minnesota Legislature.
