Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
2020 provided us with both extreme challenges and new opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic caused us to suspend in-person services beginning in March. While closed, we lent our staff to residential facilities to help with their staffing needs. Soon after, we pivoted and began offering our full menu of services using remote technology. These remote services allowed us to stay connected with the people in our programs and combat the effects of isolation during long periods of needing to stay home. In 2020, MSS served over 600 people. In addition, we began providing two new services in 2020, Individualized Home Supports, and PreEmployment Transition Services (Pre-ETS).
Pre-ETS is a service for students aged 14–21 that introduces employment concepts at a young age and gives people a better chance of being ready to join the workforce after graduation. We offer Pre-ETS in conjunction with our other employment services. During the pandemic, we continued to find work opportunities for people in our programs, both in-person and via technology.
Individualized Home Supports is a 1:1 service provided in a person’s family home and includes supervision, skill-building, and assistance with a variety of activities.
We were able to begin a phased reopening of our in-person services beginning in July, and by year-end were still in the process of bringing people back, with two locations remaining temporarily closed.
We rebranded our creative arts program as Fresh Eye Arts, with a focus on cultivating artists who wish to become self-employed. We closed our gallery in Lowertown, St Paul and began plans to open a new space called Fresh Eye Gallery in Minneapolis.
Current Goals
OUR DAY SUPPORT SERVICES SUPPORT OVER 450 ADULTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF DISABILITIES. THESE SERVICES DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN LIFE SKILLS SO INDIVIDUALS CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY LIFE. THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS SERVICE IS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN ENGAGING AND BECOMING INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, IDENTIFYING RESOURCES, AND BUILDING NATURAL, SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
IN 2021, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MSS OFFERED LIMITED IN-PERSON SERVICES ALONG WITH VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION AND IN-HOME FAMILY SUPPORTS WITH AND WITHOUT TRAINING. GRANTS INCLUDE SBA PAYCHECK PROTECTION LOAN FORGIVENESS, EMERGENCY FUNDING THROUGH FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY AGENCIES, AS WELL AS OTHER GRANTS.
MSS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES SUPPORTS APPROXIMATELY 200 YOUTH AND ADULTS IN EXPLORING AND OBTAINING THEIR CHOSEN CAREERS IN COMPETITIVE, INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. IN 2021, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MSS LIMITED IN-PERSON SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE SERVICES PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES, FROM LEARNING ABOUT BASIC WORK CONCEPTS TO PROVIDING ANY NEEDED SUPPORTS ONCE SOMEONE HAS JOINED THE WORKFORCE. SERVICES INCLUDE PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT EXPLORATION, EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, SKILLS TRAINING, PLACEMENT, RETENTION, ETRAC, AND SHORT AND LONG-TERM SUPPORTS. GRANTS INCLUDE SBA PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOAN FORGIVENESS AND EMERGENCY FUNDING THROUGH FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY AGENCIES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS OTHER GRANTS.
Community or Constituency Served
MSS provides day services to people with disabilties at six metro locations and in the community. Our innnovative programs provide person centered opportunities to pursue their goals whether it be recreation, employment, or creative arts.
Geographic Area Served
MSS serves the Twin Cities metro area with centers in St. Paul, Oakdale, Eagan, Apple Valley, Shoreview, and Brooklyn Park.
