Technology for HOME is excellence award winner

Technology for HOME is one of eight 2014 Commissioner’s Circle of Excellence Awards winners. The awards were given in December by Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson. The awards honor Minnesota programs that make outstanding contributions to human services clients. Recipients were recognized at a ceremony at the Elmer L. Andersen Human Services Building in St. Paul. 2014 marked the fourth year for the awards program.

Jesson said winners in share the department’s commitment to supporting healthy people, stable families and strong communities. “The work we do in human services has real, profound impact – it’s a safe place to sleep, the chance for better employment, the ability to remain independent. So what an honor it is to recognize these organizations for being leaders and innovators in this field,” Jesson said. “Together we are helping countless Minnesotans live more dignified and fulfilling lives.”

Technology for HOME, a program that offers at home, in-person assistive technology consultation and technical assistance to help people with disabilities live more independently statewide, was honored. It is a partnership between Bloomington-based Live Life Therapy Solutions, Inc. and DHS. Technology for HOME works with people who want to stay home or move home. Expert consultants provide possible, cost-effective solutions using assistive technology and communicate with the county to develop a plan for people who receive home care or home and community-based waiver services. Since its launch in spring 2013, Technology for HOME has supported more than 500 individuals, and trained, assessed and followed up with people more than 3,000 times.

Another award winner that provides services for people with disabilities is the Central Minnesota Mental Health Center, a community-based mental health center based in St. Cloud that provides integrative services for families in Stearns, Benton, Technology for HOME is one of eight 2014 Commissioner’s Circle of Excellence Awards winners.

The awards were given in December by Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson. The awards honor Minnesota programs that make outstanding contributions to human services clients. Recipients were recognized at a ceremony at the Elmer L. Andersen Human Services Sherburne and Wright counties. The center provides an array of behavioral health services including outpatient, crisis, case management, residential, and chemical dependency programs. It is implementing integrative care, a multigenerational clinical treatment for parents with serious mental illness who have children ages 0-5. Integrative care helps keep families together and promotes healthy development of young children through programming such as Circle of Security support group and Incredible Years Parenting Group, by building on relationships with in-home providers, and through close collaboration among mental health staff. Center leadership plans to continue implementation of integrative services within all of its programs with a focus on multi-generational, trauma informed care.

Other winners are the Ain Dah Yung (Our Home) Center, an American Indian youth and family-focused social service organization in St. Paul; FastTRAC Healthcare Pathways Program, a skills education and career-specific training program for adults with low incomes in Anoka County; Lake Region Healthcare, an independent, non-profit healthcare system working to improve the health of people living in Fergus Falls and the surrounding community; the Parent Aware.org child care and education referral website; PrimeWest Health, a county-based purchasing managed care organization serving more than 35,000 Minnesota Health Care Programs participants in 13 rural counties; and the Red Lake Alcohol Rehabilitation Prevention Program, an alcohol and drug abuse prevention program on the Red Lake Reservation.

 

 

Workers enjoy opportunities at Mayo

Five Opportunity Services clients from the Rochester area are enjoying jobs at the Mayo Clinic, working independently full-time with benefits. They are working with Sodexo, which provides facilities management and food service operations at Mayo. Opportunity Services helps people with disabilities find jobs.

One worker is Ryan, a 24-year-old Opportunity Services client who has been employed fulltime at Sodexo for more than two years. He works in the dish room in the Harwick building where he loads and unloads the dishwasher throughout the day. He also puts away all the dishes and serving utensils in the food preparation and kitchen areas. Opportunity Services Supported Employment Supervisor Betty Lamecker works with Ryan She said the company has gone above and beyond to provide employment opportunities for him and other clients.

Esteban marked his one-year anniversary with Sodexo in November 2014. An energetic and vibrant 20-year-old, Esteban runs around the Mayo campus to ensure everything is working correctly throughout the buildings. From moving food, stocking vending machines to jumping into a job he’s never done before – Esteban stays on his toes. “I have fun doing my job because I love being around people,” he said. “I’m very much a people person and this job keeps me very busy.”

Angelo, another Opportunity Services client, has been with Sodexo for more than a year. He works at the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center where he works with food preparation throughout the day and serves meals to patients and families. “This job opportunity is truly a career for me. I absolutely love working with Sodexo at the Mayo Clinic,” said Angelo. “My coworkers are wonderful and very welcoming.  It’s fun coming to work every day.”

 

 

Youth Sports grants awarded

Hennepin County has awarded $1,849,665 in Youth Sports grants for 2015. The Hennepin Youth Sports Program awards capital grants to build, repair, renovate or expand youth sports facilities in Hennepin County. Fourteen projects will be funded, including $40,000 to the city of Eden Prairie for an accessible playground at True Friends Camp.

Sixteen small equipment and/or other small capital projects also received $124,955 in funding. Since the program began in 2009, the county has awarded $13.2 million to 80 facility projects and 113 small equipment projects.