The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities proposes to create a one stop family support center to assist at least 50 targeted families on an annual basis to preserve, maintain, and strengthen the family unit.  The center will be designed and provide the types of services identified by families and community members in the Near North neighborhoods of Minneapolis, Minnesota who participated in a series of focus groups that were conducted during the planning year.

The principal objectives are to:

1. Establish a center that is inviting, welcoming, and fully accessible (meeting requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act), located within the Near North neighborhood, and staffed with individuals who reflect the diversity of the community.

2. Create/identify a tool for developing and monitoring Individualized Family Plans, and a process for implementing the Plans and addressing problems that arise for the targeted families receiving Center services.

3. Provide services based on the needs and requirements of targeted families, including information and referral, cultural and parent training, onsite child care assistance for families using Center services, and a range of services available to families.

4. Create an advisory group of multi-agency partners and organizations, including an elected official, with an interest in family strengthening activities to assist in developing an action plan for sustaining the Center.

5. Provide ongoing training for project staff that includes core learning about developmental disabilities, quality principles, and a range of services available to families.

6. Develop ongoing quality measures to assess customer satisfaction with the Center and services provided, and seek input on improvements through customer feedback.

7. Report project results in accordance with ADD requirements, and aligned with the Baldrige Criteria and quality framework.

8. Disseminate the outcomes of the Center.

9. Seek funding for sustainability beyond ADD funding.

The project’s quality and productivity management approach is premised on the values and concepts of the Malcolm Baldrige National Award Criteria for Performance Excellence.  Fifty targeted families will receive services and supports based on individual needs and requirements on an annual basis.

NOTE:  The Council was awarded first year implementation funds from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Through a Request for Proposal process, Jordan New Life Community Church in North Minneapolis received the grant funds to design and develop a One-Stop Family Support Center, and begin working with families with children with developmental disabilities in that community to get the family support services they need.

For questions or more information, please contact Juli Leerssen, Project Coordinator at (612) 522-0942 or email at jblleerssen@yahoo.com.