Impact report 2009 by Kim Rymer

Program IMPACT and QUALITY Report

2009 represents the 113th year of Volunteers of America’s service within Minnesota. During our most recent fiscal year, our sixty programs served more than 27,587 program participants because our community entrusted to us $39,155,227. Our annual financial report details these facts and summarizes our sixty programs. However, we believe that our accountability to the citizens of Minnesota and to the many individuals and organizations who have entrusted to us the $39,155,227 extends beyond reporting the number of persons served and the allocation of these significant financial resources. We believe that we are also accountable for assuring those investing their resources in our programs that we are Making A Lasting Difference in the lives of our 27,587 program participants. We are able to share many participant success stories to help illustrate how we are Making A Difference In Peoples’ Lives. It is this impact that is at the heart of our organization and is the reason for our continued existence. But these individual profiles, while inspiring, are only selective samples. Therefore, each of our Volunteers of America programs articulates the impact the program intends to make through its involvement in our participants’ lives and tracks the extent to which we are effective in achieving this impact. This Program Impact and Quality Report shares the cumulative impact our sixty programs made in 2008 in the lives of over 27,587 program participants. Our accountability to the community is to use the significant financial resources invested in our programs in a responsible way, a way which fulfills the intent of our individual donors, sponsoring organizations and other funding sources which have provided us these resources. Our commitment is to continue providing effective services to the citizens of Minnesota, to continue making responsible use of the financial resources our community has entrusted to us, and to be able to assure our stakeholders that their investment in Volunteers of America is truly Making A Lasting Impact in the lives of our program participants.

Michael Weber–President and CEO

on Accreditation Certification of Full Compliance p. 3  Minnesota Charities Review Council Certification of Full Compliance p. 3  Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating p. 3

Children & Families Programs Family Treatment Programs

 Children’s

Mental Health Case Management  Family Treatment Foster Care  In-Home Relief  Prison Visitation & Transportation CRTC

 Children’s

Omegon

 Omegon

Avanti

 Avanti

 Senior Nutrition  Assisted Living Program  MAO Legal Services  Care Management & Consultation  Protective Services  Highrise Social Services  Senior Mental Health Services  Senior Community Centers  Community Outreach Social Workers  Hmong Elder Connections  ElderRide Transportation  DayElders  RSVP/Volunteer Service  Experience Corps

p. 17 p. 17 p. 17 p. 17–18 p. 18 p. 20 p. 20 p. 20–21 p. 21 p. 22 p. 22 p. 22 p. 22 p. 22

Residential Treatment Center p. 6

Center for Girls

Bar None

 Bar

p. 5 p. 5 p. 5 p. 5

Programs for Seniors, Their Families & Caregivers

Table of Contents

Organization Wide

 Council

p. 8

None Residential Treatment Services p. 8

Mental Health Clinics

 Mental Health Clinics  Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Mental Health Services  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Family Focused Therapeutic Service  Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Intesive Outpatient Therapy Program  Home-Based/CTSS Program  The Somali Children and Families Behavioral Health Program  Services to Students at Volunteers of America Education Center  Outpatient Program

Programs for Students

 Secondary Alternative School  SALT High School  Adult High School Diploma Program  Opportunity High School  Stonebridge Community School  Phoenix High School  Charter School Sponsorship

Services for Persons With Special Needs

 Services for Persons With Special Needs  Columbia Heights Board & Lodge

p. 23–24 p. 24

p. 9 p. 9 p. 10 p. 10 p. 10 p. 10 p. 10 p. 10

Affordable Housing Programs

 Housing Services  Our HOME Permanent

Supportive Housing  The Village Franklin Station

Programs for Adult Offenders & Ex-Offenders

 Regional Corrections Center  Residential Center  Women’s Recovery Center

p. 11 Community Programs p. 11–12  Operation Backpack p. 12  Make A Difference Day p. 12–13  Thanksgiving Bags p. 13  Adopt-a-Family p. 13–14  Scholastic Books p.15–16  Buses for Baseball  The Action Team

p. 25 p. 25–26 p. 26

p. 27–28 p. 28 p. 28

p. 29 p. 29 p. 29 p. 29 p. 29–30 p. 30 p. 30 2

Organization Wide Volunteers of America–Minnesota holds one of the highest indicators of quality in the social services field, certification as being in full compliance with the standards of the Council on Accreditation. The Council’s standards set the highest expectations for the quality of services, governance, and management of social service organizations. We hold a full five-year certification, the highest offered. This places Volunteers of America–Minnesota among the most highly certified organizations, as only twelve organizations in Minnesota have received this recognition. Volunteers of America–Minnesota holds certification as being in full compliance with the standards of the Minnesota Charities Review Council (www.smartgivers.org). The Council sets high standards for accountability, governance, financial management, fundraising, and ethical standards. As a service to charitable donors, the Council assesses and certifies nonprofit organizations as partially or fully in compliance with the Council‘s standards. We have received the highest level of certification the Council offers. Nationally, Volunteers of America received a Four-Star rating for sound fiscal management from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities. This marks the third time in seven years we have received this coveted Four-Star Award. Only one-quarter of all the charities evaluated by charity Navigator receive the highest rating. According to Charity Navigator President Trent Stamp, “Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that your organization excels, as compared to other charities in America, in successfully managing the finances of your organization in an efficient and effective manner.”

Organization Wide

Programs for Children and Families Family Treatment Children’s Mental Health Case Management

Our Family Treatment program served 108 children and their families in our Children’s Mental Health Case Management program during fiscal 2008 by setting up and coordinating services needed to help children remain living safely in their own homes. • For children and youth who participated in the program during the year, 96% of the children and youth were able to continue to live successfully in their family homes. • 62% improved functioning at school, home and in the community, and 71% improved family functioning as assessed by the Student Data Evaluation System and as reported by their parents. • 100% of the program youth who were seniors in high school during the 2008/2009 school year graduated in June 2009. Family Treatment Foster Care

Our Family Treatment Foster Care program served 80 children and youth in our foster homes. • Of the 80 children served in our foster homes in 2008, 80% have been able to remain living with their foster parents or were reunited with family, adopted or emancipated into adulthood. Only 20% were unable to continue in our care or return to a more stable living arrangement, reflecting Volunteers of America’s foster care program’s successful efforts to end the cycle of multiple placements that most foster children experience. • 86% of our foster children who were seniors in high school during the 2008/2009 school year graduated in June 2009.

In-Home Relief

This program provides respite services to families caring for children and young adults who have physical and/or developmental disabilities. The program assists these families in meeting the high needs of these children so that they may continue residing in their family home. • In fiscal 2008, we served 50 families and all of the children maintained their independence and remained living in their family’s home. Prison Visitation and Transportation

This program makes it possible for minor children residing in Minnesota to visit their mothers who are incarcerated in a federal prison in Illinois on a quarterly basis. The program prepares both the children and their caregivers for the visits, and supports them upon their mother’s return to their homes. • In fiscal 2008, we enabled 51 children and their caregivers to visit their mothers and maintain the important parent/child bond that often deteriorates during incarceration. • 100% of participating children surveyed “Strongly Agreed” or “Agreed” that the program trips make them feel happy and more connected to their mother; and 90% “Strongly Agreed” or “Agreed” that the program trips have helped them to understand their mother’s situation better and have helped them feel more prepared for their mother to come home. • This program was one of three Volunteers of America programs nationwide to receive the Annie E. Casey Foundation Family Strengthening Award which recognizes especially effective programs that work toward improving child well-being by strengthening the entire family.

During 2008, our Children’s Residential Treatment Center (CRTC) provided mental health residential treatment services for 41 severely emotionally disturbed youth, ages 11–17, from throughout Minnesota. • 83% of youth discharged from the program successfully completed the program. • 78% of youth that completed the program were discharged to a parent home; 22% were discharged to a foster home or group home. • For youth completing our program during 2008, 94% of the youth remained living in a stable, less restrictive placement than residential treatment at the time of six month follow-up and 100% of the youth discharged were regularly attending school or had completed school.

Programs for Children and Families

Children’s Residential Treatment Center (CRTC)

Omegon Residential Treatment Center

During 2008, our Omegon Residential Treatment Center provided services for 68 adolescents who experienced serious social, emotional and/or behavioral disorders, combined with abuse of or dependency on mood altering chemicals. • 48% of youth discharged from the program successfully completed the program, which is significant because the youth referred to this level of care have significant histories of disruptive behaviors and are particularly challenging. • For youth discharged from our program during 2008, 67% of the youth remained living in a stable, less restrictive placement than residential treatment at the time of six-month follow-up and 100% of the youth discharged were regularly attending school or had completed school.

Our Avanti Center for Girls, which opened during fiscal 2008, provides shelter, evaluation and treatment services for adolescent girls experiencing emotional and behavioral problems. • Avanti celebrated its one-year anniversary in February 2009. Since opening, the Center has provided treatment, evaluation and shelter programming for 106 girls. Due to high demand for the program, in April 2009 Avanti increased its Treatment Program capacity from 12 to 20 girls. • 100% of Avanti treatment status youth participated in a “Real Care Baby” program. Each girl cared for a computerized, lifelike baby doll for a period of five consecutive days. This infant simulator required realistic care 24-hours a day and reported on exactly how it was cared for, providing powerful, hands-on experience and teaching valuable lessons. • Macalester College collaborated with the Avanti Center to provide weekly cultural diversity group sessions for Avanti youth over the course of the 2008/2009 school year. This not only provided our girls with more knowledge and insight in diversity areas, but was also an excellent opportunity for similar age role modeling by the college students who volunteered their time. Another collaboration is being planned for the 2009/2010 academic year. • In September 2008, Central Wood Products in Blaine, MN donated and delivered 78 cubic yards of high quality landscaping mulch, over $1,000 in value. This material was used for landscaping by Avanti Work Readiness Program participants, not only beautifying the grounds but also providing hands-on work experience for these youth.

• In July 2009, Avanti held its first “Celebrate the Child” banquet to recognize the work of its program participants. 100% of Avanti youth were in attendance, as were some recently successful graduates of the Avanti program. Family members and/or county social workers from the community accompanied 71% of the youth in attendance at the event.

Bar None Residential Treatment Services

Bar None Residential Treatment Services offers a variety of residential treatment and aftercare services, as well as evaluation and shelter options, for at-risk male youth who exhibit emotional and behavioral problems. • 79% of Bar None residents discharged were discharged to the setting recommended by our staff. County social workers, probation officers, or judges determined the other settings. Only 39% of those discharged moved to another residential, out-ofhome setting. 58% of residents discharged are now at their family home or in a foster home, both settings less restrictive than the Bar None programs. • In June 2008, a group of volunteers from Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, participated in a volunteer project at Bar None. Accenture employees worked side by side with Volunteers of America corporate site staff, Bar None staff and Bar None residents to assist with landscaping outside the “Lodge” building and at the lakefront visiting area where residents and their families can often be found spending time together on a summer day. Not only did Accenture supply volunteer labor for this project, but the company

also generously donated funding for the materials needed to complete these tasks. • The Bar None Olympics was held in July 2008 and July 2009 with 100% participation for eligible residents. Activities for this annual event included a canoe race, sack race, basketball tournament, 40-yard dash, relay race, tug-of-war, shuttle run, and a softball throw. • Mortenson Construction donated general contracting, construction management, supplies, materials and labor for several renovation and rehabilitation projects at Bar None. In September 2008, a total of 30 volunteers from Mortenson worked together with young men from Bar None to complete several projects in three areas of the treatment center, including: installing insulation and shelving in the Maintenance Shop to make it usable year-round by boys and staff for work readiness programming.

Programs for Children and Families

Avanti Center for Girls

• In November 2008, Mortenson Construction continued its philanthropic relationship with Bar None by presenting two residents and the Director with a check for $9,000. This generous donation was used to fund a much-appreciated outdoor basketball court the grounds of Bar None. • To give back to the community, Bar None residents performed Adopt-a-Highway clean up on a periodic basis. • Young men from Bar None’s Work Readiness Program constructed four couches for our Avanti Center for Girls.

Mental Health Clinics Our Mental Health Clinics offer comprehensive mental health services, including psychotherapy, psychological testing, psychiatric services and aftercare services for participants of Volunteers of America– Minnesota programs, and for children and families in the general community. • The Mental Health Clinics was recognized as “Metro Region Agency of the Year” by the Minnesota Family Based Association (MFBSA) for its outstanding family-centered approach to treating children and preventing out-of-home placement. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Mental Health Services

Our Deaf and Hard of Hearing Mental Health Services offers culturally competent, specialized mental health services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children and their families using therapists who are fully proficient in American Sign Language (ASL).

• 93% of the 103 children who participated in our program successfully and demonstrably improved their personal, family, and school functioning. • Our Mental Health Clinics is the only clinic in Minnesota which provides specialized mental health services to DHH children through Tele-Mental Health Technology (video conferencing). Using this innovative tool, we were able to bring our specialized mental health services to a total of six DHH children living in greater Minnesota who otherwise would not have access to culturally specific mental health services.

Our Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Family Focused Therapeutic Services Program offers parent education, case management and support services for deaf and hard of hearing parents of pre-school age children who are considered at-risk for child abuse and neglect. • 100% of families were successful in improving their parentchild relationships lowering their risk for child protective services intervention, and 100% of DHH parents in the programs have increased their parent/child interactive time during their involvement in the program. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Intensive Outpatient Therapy Program

Our Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Intensive Outpatient Therapy Program serves adolescents who experience an emotional/behavioral dysregulation pattern. These individuals often suffer from chronic suicidal ideation, self-injurious behavior and repeated hospitalizations. • For the high-risk youth who participated in the program during fiscal 2008, 91% avoided hospitalization, 82% minimized selfinjury or suicidal ideation, and 63% extinguished self-injury or suicidal ideation.

Home-Based/CTSS Program

Our Home-Based/CTSS (Children’s Therapeutic Services and Support) provides mental health services to children and their families who need frequent, intensive interventions so that the • Of the high-risk students and children may continue to live their families treated during fissafely at home. cal 2008, 83% reported improvement on the mental health issues • 94% of the children served which initially brought them to through our Home-Based/CTSS the program. Mental Health and Family Treatment Programs were able to contin- Outpatient Program ue living safely with their families, Our Mental Health Clinics’ Outavoiding the risk initially presented patient Program offers individuof out-of-home placement. alized mental health services for children, adolescents and their • Additionally, 88% of the chil- families. dren who participated in the program were able to successfully • Of the children, adolescents and demonstrably improve their and their families treated during functioning at home, school and fiscal 2008, more than 93% rein the community. ported improvement on the mental health issues which initially The Somali Children and Families brought them to the program. Behavioral Health Program

Our Mental Health Clinics Somali Children and Families Behavioral Health Program offers schoolbased and home-based individualized mental health services to Somali and East African children, adolescents and their families.

• Additionally, more than 96% of parents who participated in our seven-week parent education program called STEP-Teen reported that they had improved their parenting skills based on what they learned in the program.

• Of the children, adolescents and their families treated during fiscal 2008, 85% reported improvement on the mental health issues which initially brought them to the program.

• Based on a participant survey, 100% of the children, adolescents and families from all of our specialized programs indicated they were “Satisfied” with the services provided by the Mental Health Clinics. Of those, 95% indicated they were “Very Satisfied” with the services provided by the Mental Health Clinics.

Services to Students at Volunteers of America • Growth in this program dou- Education Center

bled in fiscal 2008 due to the high demand and resulting in our ability to serve 55% more adolescents and their families.

• 58% of the students referred for mental health service followed through with services to completion, an increase from 27% in the previous year.

Programs for Children and Families

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Family Focused Therapeutic Service Program

A mental health therapist from our Mental Health Clinics is located at the Volunteers of America Education Center to provide schoolbased and home-based individualized mental health services to students enrolled in our schools.

Programs for Students Secondary Alternative School

Our Secondary Alternative School is a contracted alternative Minneapolis Public School program for inner city youth in grades 7 through 12 who are at risk of academic failure due to a variety of circumstances. The program transitioned into Volunteers of America’s SALT High School (Service Adventure Leadership Team) in September 2008. For academic year 2007/2008: • Eight of our high school seniors graduated early as a result of a newly developed Independent Study Program. This program offered flexible scheduling to students with existing work schedules, children, or other extenuating circumstances. The program grew steadily throughout the year and included twenty students which the traditional day program would not be able to serve. • 90 students graduated from our program over the last five years, and 30 graduated in June 2008. All of these individuals overcame tremendous life challenges, ranging from parenting, to criminal records, to homelessness, in order to complete their education. Many of them had previously dropped out of or been expelled from other schools. Others had fallen behind due to family responsibilities and the need to work full-time. Two of our graduates struggled for years to finish at Volunteers of America due to family turmoil and deaths. Four others have returned to the school community following periods of incarceration. Another fell behind after being forced to return to Somalia for a time, disrupting her march towards a diploma. • Our students are completing courses for college credit at Minneapolis Community and Technical College through the Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program. One student completed three courses this year, and six more will participate next year.

Service Adventure Leadership High School (SALT)

Our Service Adventure Leadership High School (SALT) is a Minneapolis Public Schools specialty school which serves grades 10 through 12 and features an experiential and environmental themed program focused on leadership development and community-based service learning. SALT students are typically those who may benefit from hands-on, experiential learning, have a passion for outdoor adventure and environmental activities, and/or may have been unsuccessful in traditional classroom settings. • 35 students graduated in June 2009, a significant increase due in part to the expansion of the Independent Study Program which serves parenting and working students. • The program nearly doubled the retention rate of the Secondary Alternative High School from 35% to 66% by refining the program’s focus on environmental and adventure programming. The number of students remaining enrolled in the program for the entire year increased from 19% in 2005 to 43% in 2007. • 100% of teaching staff now hold minimum of a Master’s Degree or have a degree specific to the program’s focus. • The school made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under “No Child Left Behind” in attendance, reading, and math this past year (one of only two programs making AYP out of 16 alternative schools in Minneapolis). • There were over 40 events this year for students outside of the traditional classroom experience including six overnight expeditions in the first semester and seven

• The school organized a Parent Action Committee (PAC) to increase parent involvement in our program and developed a Family Involvement Plan for the school which was distributed to all other district principals as a model plan.

• One of the volunteers, who works in publishing, is helping advanced-level students create Volunteers of America High School’s newsletter, “Perspectives.”

• Ten students from Opportunity High School volunteered 120 hours a month to tutor beginning Adult High School English language learning adults Diploma Program Our Adult Night Diploma Pro- in our Foundation Class. gram primarily serves recent immigrants from Somalia, ages 21 • The program made educational up to 80, offering them a chance gains which exceeded the state to learn the English language and targets in 11 categories. earn a high school diploma.

• 73% of students attended the SALT extra-curricular environmental and adventure programming options. The average attendance rate of those students was 14% higher than that of their peers, demonstrating a clear corre- • Student attendance hours have lation between attendance and af- increased approximately 30% as ter-school/weekend programming. compared to one year ago. Students attribute increased atten• 100% of all staff engaged in orga- dance to better teaching. Addinizing service-learning opportuni- tionally, students see many others ties or expeditions for students. graduating from the school and as a result are encouraged that • The SALT program, which they can earn a high school dipartners our high school stu- ploma as well. Student retention dents with students from Edina rates have increased by 20% over High School, has successfully last year, exceeding our goal of completed its sixth year and was 10% improvement. one of the local groups selected to present at the National Service- • 24 students graduated from the Learning Conference in Minne- program in June 2008 and anapolis in April 2008 and again other 13 students graduated in for the Minnesota Association of 2009. Thirty students are workAlternative Programs state con- ing on their Equipped for the Fuference in 2009. ture (EFF) portfolio and/or a final MBST exam and will receive • All students and staff participated their diploma upon completion in a newly organized annual service- of the final requirements. learning project with St. Thomas University where students devel- • We have recruited over 100 voloped Public Service Announce- unteers from local colleges and ments along side college students. businesses (the University of Minnesota, Augsburg College, The • The program continued its envi- Minnesota Literacy Council, and ronmental programming though Deloitte Consulting LLP) who are the creation of an Ecodesign working with our students weekly. class, rigorous environmental sci- These volunteers have contributed ence classes, and new community over 1,000 hours of tutoring for partnerships including the Will our students this year. The oneSteger Foundation and REI. on-one assistance is critical to the success of our students.

Programs for Students

overnight expeditions for the second semester. Examples include Boundary Waters Canoe Trips, Dogsledding at YMCA Camp Menogyn, Summer School Expeditions in the Apostle Islands and YMCA Camp Manitowish, Backpacking trips along the Superior Hiking Trail, and a Spring Expedition to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

Opportunity High School

Opportunity High School is a contracted specialty school with Minneapolis Public Schools open to all students and specializes in meeting the educational needs of English Language Learners. Many students are recent immigrants from Somalia who come to us with little formal schooling and have overcome incredible obstacles to earn their diplomas. Day and evening classes offer flexibility for students to choose programs that best meet their needs. • 84 students (day and evening programs) graduated in June 2009. • The school made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in reading last year. • We started a student-organized school government in both day and evening programs. • We started the Community Action Promoting Social justice (CAPS) to promote peer recognition of student leaders. • We had a successful first family involvement event/open house in November 2008 with over 33 students’ family members attending and have started a family volunteer program.

• We are building a network of volunteers for tutoring students who still need to pass the state MBST tests in Math and Reading.

• During the 2007/2008 school year, family night events, which included family dinner and activities, were attended by 60% of families one or more times. During the 2008/2009 school year family nights were attended by approximately 50% of families, and the school barbeque and Black History Night had attendance at 80% of families.

• We have built partnerships with the Somali Family Advocacy Group to begin providing training for our students in restorative justice-based peacemaking circles. The goal is to train groups of students in the skills and processes of peacemaking circles so they can • A ssessment reports to parents are take their knowledge and action an important component of our into the community. program. 100% of parents received report cards four times during the year and 75% of parents attended Stonebridge conferences with teachers during Community School Our Stonebridge Community the 2007/2008 school year. 80% School is a K–5 public charter of parents attended conferences school located near downtown with teachers in 2008/2009. Minneapolis. The school is a candidate school for International • Community partnerships brought Baccalaureate Primary Years Pro- volunteers into our school to help in gram - a high quality, stimulating, a range of ways. The school library global education. We also offer an was developed and continues to be array of support services for fami- maintained annually by a group of lies in a small, supportive commu- volunteers from Good Samaritan nity school. In the 2009/2010 aca- Church in Edina. Additionally, our demic year, the school will serve volunteer tutor program is an important way for students to receive 142 students. individual help in areas of reading • The attendance rate for students and math. During the 2008/2009 for the last two years is 93%, ex- school year, we had each of our seven Experience Corps volunteers ceeding our goal of 90%. tutor students for 15 hours a week • 100% of students received a uni- and, as well as seven Cretin Durform starter kit which included ham Hall High School tutor stutwo pairs of pants, two shirts dents for 1.5 hours each. We have and one sweatshirt. Additionally, had other volunteers representing 100% of students received back- Plymouth Church, parents and the packs and school supplies from greater community, assist in variour Operation Backpack program, ous other ways. vision and hearing screening, winter jackets and participated in our • Staff Training is an important component of maintaining highAdopt-a-Family program. ly qualified teachers. All teachers • 55 students received group or in- at Stonebridge annually receive dividual help from a contracted so- extensive training in Responsive cial worker. Ten students received Classroom, International Baccacounseling services from our Men- laureate World School, curriculum, assessment tools and stratetal Health Clinics. gies. Training annually totals over 100 hours per teacher.

• Music appreciation is an important component of our school and students work toward performing in an annual spring vocal concert that is attended by parents and guardians.

Phoenix High School

Our Phoenix High School, located in the Uptown area of Minneapolis, joined the Volunteers of America–Minnesota network of contract alternative schools in 2008 and serves English Language Learners and other students who may need to recover credits. • Five students graduated at midyear semester and another 33 students graduated in June 2009. • 70% of English Language learners passed their Minnesota Basic Standards Reading Test. • The school introduced an elective, credit-earning hour into the regular academic schedule as a heightened hands-on learning opportunity. One of the many classes offered is a canoe-building class. • The school works to help students plan for their future by attending the National College Fair in Minneapolis, having post-secondary planning groups, senior mailboxes, college visits, and easy access information in the career center. • Phoenix High School has sponsored several events to create a family-friendly climate. The goal of these events is to increase family involvement in our student’s education which will further their academic success. To date, family events have included ESL night, Native American Family Breakfast/Canoe-building class presentation, Family Forums, as well as fall conferences and our first annual family meeting and dinner.

• The members of Phoenix High School Student Government operated a school store. Profits from the store were channeled back into the purchase of student rewards for the “Caught Doing Good Program,” for credit races and other academic achievements. Student Government also planned, promoted and provided the school with team-building events including a student vs. staff football game and a student vs. staff soccer game.

Programs for Students

• To promote effective communication among students and their families, the school launched the “Phoenix Family Informer” as a quarterly newsletter providing families with information about school events, assessment dates and descriptions, student achievement and additional academic support opportunities, as well as a student-produced weekly newspaper that includes articles written from our student’s perspective.

• Phoenix was awarded a College Access Challenge grant from the Office of Higher Education to receive the Naviance Software to be used with students as a planning tool and personal checklist to develop academic and professional goals. • Phoenix High School received a “Safe Routes to School” minigrant from the city of Minneapolis to fund a bicycle program within the school. The $1,000 was used to purchase tools and bicycle parts so that students may learn to maintain their bikes, some of which are donated. Daily cycling is also part of the program. The grant was awarded based on the strength of the program’s goals which are to help students develop a healthier lifestyle and help them understand the importance and impact of setting and achieving goals. 14

Charter School Sponsorship

Volunteers of America–Minnesota was the first nonprofit organization in the nation to sponsor a charter school. We now sponsor fifteen schools throughout Minnesota, each filling a unique niche in its home community. • The U.S. Department of Education, in its publication Supporting Charter School Excellence Through Quality Authorizing, recognized our charter sponsorship program as one of eight outstanding model programs in the nation. • Seven of our fifteen sponsored schools received the Minnesota Department of Education School Finance Award for fiscal year 2007. Only 44 charter schools in the entire state earned this honor. • Two new schools became operational this year: KIPP Stand Academy and Global Academy. KIPP serves 5th grade students primarily from the North Minneapolis neighborhood and will expand one grade each year through 2012. Global Academy serves K–8 grade students of diverse backgrounds, including Iraqi and Somali immigrants and refugees new to Minnesota. • Two of our new sponsored charter schools, Metro Deaf School (serving students pre–K through 8) and North Star Academy (serving students 9 through 12), voted to merge beginning in 2009/2010 school year. This is the first time two charter schools have decided to merge. The process has been open and fair, and Minnesota Department of Education plans to use it to set a strong precedent for other charter schools hoping to merge. Volunteers of America–Minnesota fully supports the merger that will create one pre–K through 12 charter school serving the deaf and hard of hearing community in Minnesota.

• Kaleidoscope Charter School opened its doors to more than 400 students in a brand new school building in Rogers this school year after completing a new school construction project.

• Birch Grove Community School, in Tofte, opened an innovative outdoor classroom • Naytahwaush Community with the assistance of federal and Charter School, located on the private grant sources, and was White Earth Reservation, was awarded the “Growth Achieveawarded $600,000 in Federal ment Award” by NWEA (NorthImpact Aid to better serve its Na- west Evaluation Association) for tive American population. exceptional student growth and inspirational leadership. • A student from Harbor City Charter School in Duluth re- • Edvisions Off-Campus High ceived a second place award in School (EOCHS) completed its curthe Minnesota Charter School riculum alignment process with the Writing Contest, sponsored by Minnesota Department of Educathe University of Minnesota tion. EOCHS is an online projectHumphrey Institute. The essay based learning high school, and its was included in this year’s publi- curriculum is now fully aligned with cation of winning essays, and the Minnesota State Standards. author had the opportunity to read his essay on the steps of the State Capitol.

Programs for Students

• Harbor City Charter School, in Duluth, began construction on a 6,000 square foot theater in Duluth. The theater will be used for academic purposes, but it will also host community productions. This project was made possible by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education Charter School Facility Enhancement Fund.

• TrekNorth High School, located in Bemidji, was awarded a silver medal by US News and World Report in its annual ranking of the best high schools in America. This is the second year in a row TrekNorth received this recognition, and it is one of 13 Minnesota high schools, and the only charter school, to receive this distinction. • New Visions School opened a new science classroom addition and an outdoor classroom with the assistance of federal and private grant sources.

Programs for Seniors Senior Nutrition

Our Senior Nutrition Program offers people age 60 and up nutritional meals and services. • In fiscal 2008, the program provided in excess of 558,000 congregate and home-delivered meals to more than 9,225 individuals in 30 locations throughout Anoka and Hennepin counties. • The program expanded to include serving seniors in Minneapolis and Robbinsdale through the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging’s “Hard-to-Reach” grant and by coordinating meals in Anoka County. • Through a grant from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) and U.S. Department of Commerce, Volunteers of America–Minnesota’s Senior Nutrition program offered free Digital Television Conversion (DTV) assistance to older adults (age 60+) who reside in Anoka and Hennepin counties through August 2009. During the DTV grant period, staff and volunteers provided education materials to over 2,000 individuals, ordered coupons for 121 different older adults and performed 40 assessments to help seniors determine what they needed for the conversion. Volunteers installed or performed troubleshooting for over 430 convertor boxes.

Assisted Living Program

Our Assisted Living Program offers services necessary for participants who are at-risk of nursing home placement to remain living in their current homes. • Of the 95 senior adults for whom we provided assisted living services in their own apartments, 100% continue to remain living in their own apartment with our support. • Our Assisted Living Program opened a new Assisted Living Program at Charles Horn Terrace in Minneapolis in December 2008.

• Our Assisted Living programs provide an array of activities on a regular basis to keep participants mentally active and engaged. The socialization these activities provide is critical in keeping these individuals independent and removed from the seclusion of their apartments, thus avoiding isolation. Some activities are scheduled weekly and others are planned monthly. These activities include current events discussion, exercise groups, crafts including tie-dying and flower arranging, manicures/ pedicures, special meals with a theme, games such as Bingo and recently added, and Nintendo Wii computerized/video gaming. About 45% of Assisted Living clients participate in these activities.

MAO Legal Services

MAO Legal Services offers a variety of affordable legal services including assistance with estate planning, wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, guardianship, Medical Assistance issues and real estate matters. • In fiscal 2008, the program provided legal advice and representation to 1,163 clients, 210 of whom qualified to receive services at subsidized rates. • 85% of respondents to a satisfaction survey indicated they received “Excellent” service and 15% indicated they received “Good” service. No respondents indicated they received “Fair” or “Poor” service.

Care Management and Consultation

Our Care Management and Consultation program offers objective multi-dimensional assessments that clarify an older adult’s needs. In 2008, our program participants found less restrictive housing or care and increased their quality

• In 2008, the program assisted 54 people and supported their families to ensure the participants’ care and safety needs were met while considering their preferences and advocating for their wishes which was an increase of 30% compared with the previous year. • Through December 2008, our Care Management program obtained 15 new cases from seven referral sources.

Protective Services

Our Protective Services offers information and assistance, and referrals and assessments, regarding incapacitated adults who are having difficulty with financial management and/or personal decision-making and who may need a guardian and/or conservator. • The program served 943 participants in 2008 which included 72 in-person assessments and obtaining surrogate decisionmakers for 16 vulnerable adults. 40% of participants served were family caregivers and 54% were professional caregivers. • Our Protective Services was awarded a project grant by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to support the rights and choices of unbefriended elders at risk of incapacity. Unbefriended elders are older adults who have no identified family, close friends, or other support systems. When an unbefriended elder becomes incapacitated or experiences a medical crisis, they are at-risk of over-or under-treatment when admitted to medical or care settings due to inability to state their preferences and lack of surrogate decision maker. The program has served 20 seniors.

Programs for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers

of life. Furthermore, their family caregivers were relieved of burden and gained skills to more effectively provide care.

Our Highrise Social Services offers residents of 40 designated Minneapolis Public Housing Authority apartment buildings, who are age 60 and older and/or are disabled, case management, information, referral and group services.

Senior Community Centers

Our senior community centers, Southwest Center and Park ElderCenter, provided activities and services that supported nearly 2,400 older adults in their efforts to remain healthy, informed and en• In fiscal 2008, Highrise Social gaged in the community so that Services assisted 4,225 residents in they can continue to live as indemanaging a variety of individual so- pendently as possible. cial services matters including economic assistance eligibility, physical • Southwest Center’s Fall Prevention and mental health, financial con- Fair attracted over 60 seniors who cerns, housing needs and personal learned about ways to reduce their crises. Additionally, our staff worked risk of falling. This is an important with Hennepin County and other issue for Minnesota seniors because community social service agencies falls are the leading cause of injuryto identify appropriate services to related hospitalizations for people over assist residents in continuing to live age 65 and Minnesota ranks fourth independently. highest in the country in deaths from falls. The program was co-sponsored Senior Mental with the University of Minnesota’s Ophthalmology Department as part Health Services Our Senior Mental Health Ser- of our low vision collaboration. vices offers age-specific diagnostic and treatment options to • Over 80 seniors who took part in address the specialized mental the “Brain-a-thon” at Southwest Center were presented with awards for health needs of older adults. completing at least 26 brain healthy • In fiscal 2008, we helped 609 activities (such as participating in exolder adults deal with a wide ercise classes, computer and knitting range of problems and behaviors classes, brain games, and activities associated with major mental ill- such as crosswords and Sudoku puznesses such as depression, anxi- zles on their own) between March ety, changes in sleeping or eating 1 and May 28. Seventeen seniors habits, confusion, thought disor- received special awards for comders, and other issues that cause pleting over 200 “brain healthy” distress, put a person at risk, or activities during that time. reduce his or her ability to func• Southwest Center received an tion in the community. $8,230 Innovative Graffiti Pre• Our Senior Mental Health vention Micro-Grant from the Services was the recipient of a City of Minneapolis to fund anSuicide Prevention Grant from ti-graffiti efforts and create an the Minnesota Department of intergenerational community Health. The project is intended to mosaic mural for the Center’s provide suicide prevention educa- exterior wall. Last fall, more tion to older adults, their families than 120 seniors, students and professionals working with and community members volunteered to help design this population. and create a 100 square foot mosaic for South-

Programs for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers

Highrise Social Services

west Center which depicts images of community. The mosaic is an example of how art can be used to bring together people of all generations together. • In July 2008, Southwest Center, Southwest DayElders and North DayElders participated in the “Virtual Baseball Challenge” which was a fun, intergenerational competition featuring Nintendo Wii gaming technology and engaging both the minds and bodies of older adults to promote overall wellness. Twins players Joe Mauer and Nick Punto played Wii baseball with the elders, graciously signed autographs and posed for photos with everyone. Also joining the players were high school volunteers from the Minnesota Action Team, a youth volunteer program administered by Volunteers of America and the Major League Baseball Players Trust. • Park ElderCenter launched a new program, Somali Health Education Program, which is co-sponsored by the Women of Africa Resources to help educate elders about wellness and variety of health-related matters. • The Nutrition Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS) program has grown to more than 120 participants, seniors and low-income families who receive monthly food support. NAPS is part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). CSFP is a supplemental food and nutrition program that is designed to provide healthy and nutritious commodity food products each month at no cost to eligible individuals. • Park ElderCenter hosted a Memorial Day celebration to recognize veterans which featured an education program commemorating the experience of African American World War II veterans. At the event, each WWII veteran in attendance was presented with a recognition certificate during the event. The event attracted approximately 120 participants.

• Park ElderCenter celebrated World Refugee Day in co-operation with Women of Africa Resources Development Agency. The speakers included Hmong and Somali refugees who described the concerns, challenges and obstacles refugees face when adapting to American culture. The event attracted approximately 75 participants. • Park ElderCenter hosted a Multicultural Independence Celebration Day. Lunch was served and more than 320 people participated in the event, which helped to build bridges between the different cultures represented at the Center. Dignitaries and elders from the Somali community participated the program.

Community Outreach Social Workers

Our Community Outreach Social Workers served 518 individuals at our community Centers or within the privacy of the individual’s own home to assist with a variety of matters affecting wellbeing and enabling the seniors to access services needed to maintain independence. Typical issues included Medicare and healthcare eligibility, housing options, financial concerns and legal issues. • More than 97% of senior participants reported reduced sense of isolation and that they have the information and support to make decisions about services that meet their individual needs. • Our Special Access program hosted monthly outreach wellness luncheons to address the specific health issues of African America elders, such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. The program served 464 African American elders and 178 Hmong elders. Of those served, 94% indicated that the information and service provided were useful in maintaining or improving their ability to continue to live independently in the community and that the program and services provided reduced their sense of isolation.

offers seniors age 60 and older, transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, senior dining, senior center activities and other destinations within the Minneapolis city limits. For fiscal 2008, ElderRide’s lift equipped vans provided 24,397 door-to-door rides to 350 seniors.

DayElders

Our Hmong Elder Connections offered positive cultural, educational and social experiences for 193 elders of the Hmong community to help preserve their physical and emotional health and wellbeing.

RSVP/Volunteer Services

RSVP provides volunteers, age 55 and over, who want to be actively engaged in making a difference in their community with meaningful opportunities to address significant community issues that range from preserving the environment to feeding the hungry to building affordable housing.

Our Hmong, Southwest and North DayElders adult day programs serve older adults who typically have limitations of mobility, stamina and/or cognitive functioning. The programs provided a variety of health, social and support services for 69 participants, enabling them to con- • For fiscal 2008, a total of 2,149 tinue to live independently. older adults volunteered at 350 volunteer stations and provided • 90% of participants were able to 242,213 hours of services to the remain living safely in their own community in eleven countries, homes as a result of participating with a time value of $4,904,813. in the program. • RSVP’s “Pretty Good Players” • The Southwest, North and (formed in mid-2008) which is a Hmong DayElders groups par- group of older adults 55+ who use ticipated in an eight-week, theater to educate community multi-cultural program entitled, audiences about aging issues and “Voices of the Elders” which other pertinent topics, performed combined fine arts with writ- for fourteen groups during since ten words. The project was de- inception for audiences ranging signed to challenge the common from 20 to 300 people. perceptions of aging and present elders as viable, creative, contrib- • East Central Minnesota RSVP uting members of the commu- partnered with the Chisago nity. Our seniors worked with County Sheriff’s Office to place professional artists to create per- 20 volunteers in the newly sonal murals expressing aspects launched Volunteer Bailiff Asof their lives in mixed media sistant Program. The program is collage along with poetic piece a service to the community and to accompany their artwork. An a way for RSVP to reach and reexhibit of their work premiered cruit previously untapped groups for the public at Homewood of “young seniors.” Studios in Minneapolis.

Experience Corps

Experience Corps trained and placed 58 senior volunteer tutors in our nine partner schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul. These tutors worked with over 850 students in K–3 classrooms doing general classroom assistance and one-onone and small group tutoring. The indicator of need in the two cities is that nearly half of third graders read below grade level. Many urban students are learning to speak English at the same time they are learning to read. • 80% of the K–3 students who received 1:1 tutoring by Experience Corps members “Met” or “Exceeded” their grade level benchmark, and the other 20% experienced at least ½ grade level progress. • During the 2007/2008 school year, a survey of teachers showed that 95% agreed that having an Experience Corps tutor enabled them to provide more individual attention to students who need it, 98% were satisfied with the quality of assistance provided, 82% agreed that it improved student behavior, and 95% agreed that it improved the overall learning environment.

Programs for Seniors, Their Families and Caregivers

ElderRide Transportation Hmong Elder Our ElderRide Transportation Connections

Services for Persons with Special Needs Our Services for Persons With Special Needs (SPSN) currently serves 162 persons with developmental disabilities. Our residents range in age from 9 to 86. Of those served, 30 are children under the age of 18. We offer these program participants a wide range of supports and services to enable them to enjoy a life of active community participation while living in their own home or in one of our four-resident community homes. • Many of our older residents are former state hospital residents who now live in their own community with others who have similar needs. • Many professional studies have shown living in a community setting not only increases the quality of a resident’s life, but the length of their life as well. • Our In-Home Support Services provides participants who live on their own or who live with a relative, with the level of support they need to live productive and healthy lives in their own residential setting. Each in-home program participant has established outcomes, and once an objective is achieved, newer and more challenging objectives are put into place, allowing the participant greater independence and more ability to care for their own needs. • Our residents are typically working on more than one objective each week. Each time a resident makes progress toward completing an objective, the degree of success is assessed and documented. Progress toward these objectives is reviewed regularly by those most involved in supporting the program participant, including his/her family or a conservator, to further promote goal achievement.

• A ll of the program participants and their representatives were given an annual satisfaction survey. In September 2008, 89% of the surveys returned rated our services as satisfactory or better in all areas.

• For the second year, we participated in the ANCOR (a nonprofit trade association) Performance Metrics Benchmarking Project to define and measure outcomes based quality performance. The project helps to show how the lives of people with disabilities are improved or changed through the services and supports offered by providers.

Columbia Heights Board and Lodge

Our Columbia Heights Board and Lodge residential service provided food and shelter support for fourteen individuals with a primary diagnosis of serious and persistent mental illness. This facility assisted the residents by providing a safe and clean living environment with supports. Clients established a daily routine of staying involved in mental health supports and were given reminders for taking prescribed medication. Residents actively help maintain their own rooms and common areas in addition to assisting in food preparations for the group. Many residents seek outside employment and developed skills for functioning independently in the community.

Services for Persons with Special Needs

• Goals established typically included over a third of the clients having objectives in increasing community inclusion and participation through community outings. Among many other activities, clients in Mora attended local sports events and concerts, along with shopping and helping with the school’s community fun night. Clients in Milaca went bowling, to the movies and participated in community music in the park activities. Princeton clients attended special church activities, dances and Special Olympics activities. Clients in Foley participated in a community parade, highway clean-up, school sponsored activities, a dance and sports events. In St. Paul, residents took dance lessons, saw a play at the Ordway theatre and went to the State Fair. All of these activities are only a small part of the events in each community. Over half the clients work on increasing personal behavioral or social skills helping to increase the resident’s acceptance by the community and their peers. Two thirds of the personal skill objectives were met in the last year. Many residents’ goals also included improving hygiene, motor skills, medication management or the handling of personal finances. Of the objectives written this last year, 7 out of 10 were achieved in the original timeline specified.

• In 2008, Columbia Heights Board and Lodge discharged 15 program participants, nine of whom moved to a more independent living situation. • Only two clients were re-admitted for hospitalization for treatment during the last year, breaking a chronic cycle of crisis-admissions for many of the clients.

Affordable Housing Programs Housing Services

Our Housing Services provided management oversight and consultation for residents of 695 apartments, providing safe, affordable, permanent homes for seniors, families and persons with disabilities in the metropolitan and central Minnesota areas. These independent housing programs with supportive services enabled many residents struggling with disabilities or increasing frailty to remain in the independent living settings of their choice. • Over 75% of our residents have remained in our managed housing settings for more than five years, providing the stability to maintain age-appropriate independence and fostering stability for children in family home settings. • Our residents rated us highly favorable with an average of 93% expressing overall satisfaction with our housing. • Our regulatory agencies also rated our properties and management services as successful. Our managed HUD properties all received facility (REAC) inspection scores over 90 on a 100 scale and are deemed high performers, with the individual building scores as follows: Milaca Living Center = 99, North Park Plaza = 98, Mora Living Center = 97, Oxbowl Bend = 94, and Nicollet Towers = 92. • Our managed HUD properties also received satisfactory ratings for management compliance under the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) “Management and Occupancy” review process. • Our Oxbowl Bend housing residents were honored by the Minnesota Foodshelf Network with the “Outstanding High Rise Program” award. The award is given every two years to only one recipient in recognition of the outstanding contributions to the Emergency Foodshelf Network.

• North Park Plaza was recognized by receiving the “Neighborhood Networks Certified Classification” for delivering technology access to their community. • North Park Plaza completed a $2.4 million renovation under the HUD Assisted Living Conversion grant program. One of only seven projects in the nation funded under this program in 2007 this renovation allowed for the conversion of an additional 20 units to fully accessible homes increasing the availability for full assisted living services for the residents of the property.

Our HOME Permanent Supportive Housing

Our HOME Permanent Supportive Housing program in Isle, Minnesota serves families prone to homelessness due to disability. The program not only provides safe and affordable housing for eight families, but also includes supportive programming to ensure successful families and quality family life. • The program is funded by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and therefore must be ranked by the local Continuum of Care constituents. In 2008, Our HOME was ranked number one among existing programs in the Central Minnesota region. • A ll families received supportive counseling including referral to community programs, coordination with mental health providers, occupational counseling, parenting skills education, household skills education, personal finance skills education, and coordination with local public schools regarding the successful education of children in the program.

• Of the families that moved from Our HOME in the past year, 80% moved to a non-service intensive permanent housing setting in the community. • 87% of adult program participants found employment or were engaged in continuing occupational education. • All of the school-age children involved in this program regularly attended public school, with an average attendance rate exceeding 92%. Three of the eight school aged children received perfect attendance awards at the end of the 2008/2009 school year.

Affordable Housing Programs

• Over 70% of our participant families have lived at Our HOME for more than 12 months, offering long-term stability for families who may never have experienced safe, affordable, consistent housing before.

The Village at Franklin Station

The Village at Franklin Station offers 90 subsidized housing units and has a programmatic goal of helping residents maintain it as their permanent home. This program also provides social service coordination for residents, allowing them to avoid homelessness and maintain age- and ability-appropriate independence. • Social service coordination is available to all of the residents in both English and Somali in response to the culturally diverse resident population. In a 2009 survey, 87% of the resident population indicated that the service coordination available through the program has helped them maintain a satisfactory quality of independent living. • 80% of residents involved in the homelessness prevention program have found stable residence in the building since the inception of this program in January 2007. 26

Programs for Offenders and Ex-Offenders Regional Corrections Center

The Regional Corrections Center provides a wide array of employment, education, and skill development opportunities for 500 women who are incarcerated for up to one year. • 36 hours of programming is offered weekly at the Center, providing multiple opportunities for the residents to develop the skills which will enable them to be successful citizens upon their release, and to avoid future law violations. Program offerings include grief and grieving, parent education, computer/keyboarding and related skills, and counseling on community resources. • 100% of the women enrolled in GED classes increased their GED test scores while in the program. 30% of these women passed all tests to receive their GED while in the program. GED instructional services were provided onsite through a partnership with the Roseville Public Schools, Adult Education Division. • 95% of women surveyed on the exit questionnaire indicated they agreed with the statement, “Overall, my experience here was more positive than in other institutions, or if this is my first experience, more positive than I expected.”

• Participants in our Talking Circles program, which emphasizes restorative justice, were featured in a book published as a result of these meetings, focusing on women’s healing through the use of metaphor - a gender-specific approach which has personal healing as its goal. 98% of residents who attended successfully completed the program. • 85% of residents who attended parenting classes successfully completed the program.

• Peter Blau, was honored for his contributions as a volunteer, a leader and a role model, by Mpls.- St. Paul Magazine at their 20th Anniversary “2008 Volunteer Hall of Fame”. Since 2003, Blau has dedicated more than 500 hours to the incarcerated women of our RCC as a as a volunteer creative writing teacher. The weekly three-hour class he instructs is called, “Writing for Understanding and Change.” • In late 2008, the program converted into a co-correctional minimum security “halfway house.” Using a program similar to the Residential Center, the Regional Corrections Center is now a facility devoted to supporting, counseling, monitoring, and teaching former prison inmates the skills they will need to successfully transition back to their families and the community.

Residential Center

The Residential Center program offers reentry (halfway house) services for 250 men annually who are being released from federal prison, with an emphasis on employment, family reunification, and accessing any services needed for addiction, mental health, and related community resources. In keeping with this commitment to the community, the Center also hosts a variety of self-help groups offered to members of the immediate neighborhood and broader community. Typically, 115 community people per week have benefited from this service.

• An early morning jobs group continues to offer all unemployed residents motivational talks and discussions and a shared environment where concerns, objections or other perceived barriers are addressed while developing an action plan for the day. To foster employment, other agencies such as HIRED provided counseling as well as job leads at the end of each session.

Women’s Recovery Center

In the course of a year, the Women’s Recovery Center offered nearly 100 women residential chemical dependency services, while addressing related issues involving psychological trauma and physical needs resulting from the lifestyle of prostitution.

• In 2007, the program partnered with Twin Cities Public Television to produce a documentary entitled, “Prostitution: Beyond the Myths,” emphasizing public policy in the treatment of women with a history of prostitution. In 2008, the documentary aired eight times on TPT and other PBS affiliates throughout Minnesota. The documentary • 100% of residents developed an is selling through Amazon.com individual goal plan addressing and proceeds are used for programfinancial, employment, housing, ming at the WRC. and social reintegration. This occurred in one-on-one sessions with • The Center added specialized a case manager and was developed programming including physical during the first week of residency. education and artistic expression to teach positive alternatives for • 90% of residents obtained em- stress-reduction and self-expression ployment within the required ten in order to build and promote a business days of arrival. Of the re- chemical-free life. maining 10%, many had mental health or medical conditions which • 100% of graduating particirequired more creative goal and re- pants were successfully referred lease planning. Program staff as- to supportive housing to continsisted and guided these residents to ue their recovery. appropriate community resources. • 20 community volunteers coached • 93% of residents indicated on and supported residents through an exit survey that they were able group or one-on-one sessions. to achieve the goals they set for themselves during their stay in the • The program continues to host program. 90% of residents agreed several clinical interns during the with the statement, “Overall my course of the year which served as a experience here was more positive training ground for new therapists. than I expected.” • The Center has been the focus of • The Center provided training two doctoral dissertations authored for ten criminal justice interns by candidates for degrees in behavlast year. ioral sciences in both California and Texas. • 100% of residents attended group sessions on financial education, parenting and relationships, wellness/life skills, abuse, and cultural diversity. This core program provides the depth of education necessary to succeed long-term for men leaving incarceration.

Programs for Offenders and Ex-Offenders

• 100% of work release residents found employment while in the program, while at the same time paying a portion of their wages to defray their living costs.

Community Programs Community Events

Volunteers of America–Minnesota community events and programs offer the larger community an opportunity to engage in our mission of making a lasting difference in the lives of some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Many participate in these events as individuals or as families, others as part of civic groups or faith-community activities. In the past year, we have experienced an increase in participation from corporate groups seeking to engage their employees in meaningful civic activity.

Operation Backpack

• Operation Backpack 2008 provided 769 low-income students with all new school supplies and backpacks so they would go back to school prepared to learn. This was accomplished with the assistance of 180 engaged individuals and numerous corporate groups. Much of the campaign’s success can be attributed to the contributions of three valued corporate partners. Our partner, Panera Bread, provided us with fifteen café locations for Operation Backpack drop-off sites. Our partner, Comcast, aired a public service announcement promoting Operation Backpack over their cable network 600 times during August. Additionally, they conducted an internal collection drive that resulted in 100 backpacks and publicized the campaign on promotional inserts in the Star Tribune.

Make A Difference Day

• On national “Make A Difference Day” 2008, 150 volunteers completed six projects, including: raking yards for elderly in North and South Minneapolis; an environmental service-learning project with SALT High School students; hosting a Halloween party for Family Treatment kids; assembling care packages for Senior Dining participants; preparing and serving a pancake breakfast; and painting an office at Southwest Senior Center.

Thanksgiving Bags

• Thanksgiving Bags 2008 provided a holiday meal for nearly 2,000 low-income individuals, including isolated seniors and families. Over 300 volunteers, including families, faith-community groups, and corporate groups, assembled the bags, and delivered them to the doorsteps of our program participants. Once again, Whole Foods donated healthy food products by collecting over 300 “Angel Packs” purchased by their customers in their St. Paul and Minneapolis stores. Cummins donated 50 filled Thanksgiving bags and SUPERVALU donated 200 filled bags. Koch Trucking donated drivers and a semi-truck to deliver all of the groceries to our assembly site.

Adopt-a-Family

• Adopt-a-Family 2008 provided 1,916 of our low-income program participants with holiday gifts. Recipients included 240 families, 155 adult participants of various day programs, 195 seniors, and 370 atrisk youth. Once again, GE Fleet Capital, our biggest supporter, hosted holiday parties at Southwest Senior Center and North DayElders for 40 isolated seniors who find the holidays particularly difficult. Over 330 individual, corporate, and group sponsors purchased, wrapped, and delivered gifts, held collection drives to fulfill ongoing program needs, provided financial contributions, and volunteered on drop-off day.

Scholastic Books

• Through a national partnership with Scholastic, we distributed 132,500 books to children and families throughout the state to help foster literacy. A wonderful benefit of this program was our ability to collaborate with other area nonprofit organizations which

Buses for Baseball

• In August 2008 and 2009, 50 youth from Bar None, Children’s Residential Treatment Center, Family Treatment and the Mental Health Clinics, attended the annual Buses for Baseball event and were given the chance to meet Minnesota Twins players and, for many, see their first baseball game. The Action Team, which is sponsored jointly by Volunteers of America and the Major League Baseball Players Trust, mobilizes Minnesota Twins baseball players and area high school student Team Captains to encourage young people to get involved in their communities by volunteering.

Community Programs

serve children and families by offering them books. Through this donation, thousands of books reached the hands of eager young readers, English Language Learners, and young parents, most of whom would not have access to quality books without this program.

Action Team

• In May 2008, four high school students from Volunteers of America–Minnesota’s Action Team sorted, boxed and delivered Scholastic Books to Minneapolis homeless shelters. The student driven initiative was led by Benilde-St. Margaret’s Action Team Captains. • In July 2008, the Action Team students joined Minnesota Twins players Joe Mauer and Nick Punto and our seniors from Southwest Center for a “Virtual Baseball Challenge.” The fun, intergenerational competition featured Nintendo Wii gaming technology and engaged both the minds and bodies of older adults to promote overall health and wellness.

Making a Difference. Changing Lives.â&#x201E;˘ Volunteers of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Minnesota is a nonprofit organization founded in 1896 which offers a wide variety of services for more than 27,000 children, adolescents and their families, older adults, students, persons with disabilities and special needs, and exoffenders each year. We are one of the oldest, largest and most comprehensive human service organizations in the state and have more than 60 programs, 900 employees and 4,000 volunteers. We have a rich history of developing innovative programs to meet emerging social issues. We pride ourselves on sponsoring programs which are able to articulate the outcomes achieved in our program participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives. Corporate Support Office

7625 Metro Boulevard Minneapolis, MN 55439 ph. 952.945.4000 fx. 952.945.4100 www.voamn.org

2008