Work With Us
As Direct Support Professionals that provide community-based services...
We work 1 on 1 with adults who are living and working throughout Dakota County. We provide our services in real-life, natural environments, so your work day will be spent in living rooms, parks, coffee shops, waiting rooms, grocery stores, or different places of employment; from small, locally-owned stores to nationwide retailers and warehouses.
We work alongside the individuals participating in our services. We are not homemakers or PCAs, and we do not assist with ADLs (such as bathing, grooming, transferring, etc). Our visits are spent working with people as they take steps towards their personal goals and dreams.
We develop genuine, therapeutic relationships with the people participating in our services. We believe that effective support and enduring change occurs when we meet people where they are, focus on existing strengths and skills, and ensure our services are always person-centered and person-driven.
We bring our authentic, creative selves to this work. We try to match staff with service participants that share similar interests, which often results in us getting to do things we know and love during visits. This can include creating music or art, playing sports, going thrifting, working out, and so much more.
We aim to empower all the people with whom we partner to live more independent, satisfying, and meaningful lives. It's our goal to break the barriers of societal stigma, exclusion, and ignorance, to create a world where people are not defined by or marginalized for their disabilities and diagnoses.
The specific type of support we provide varies based on the person we are working with and the service we are providing. Learn more details below:
Community Support
This service is for people living in their own homes and is meant to provide a person with the support they need to continue living on their own.
This includes helping people connect to their community and pursue their leisure and recreational interests; maintain and improve their health, safety, and wellness; develop and strengthen their independent living skills (or anything that may be referred to as “adulting”); and enhance their ability to effectively manage and navigate tough emotions and situations.
Activities you may find yourself doing during visits: finding and participating in affordable and accessible social and recreational events ● preparing (healthy!) meals together ● collaborating to create feasible budgets ● providing coaching, support, and transportation during errands ● providing reflective listening and support with problem-solving a wide-range of personal issues and situations ● going through mail and completing benefit/assistance related paperwork ● being a source of motivation at the gym ● walking around a local park or area attraction ● and much more.
Employment Support
People participating in employment services may be: deciding whether or not they want to work, learning work-related skills, actively applying to different jobs, or focusing on maintaining their current job.
If you’re working with someone deciding whether or not to work, you may be: learning about different employment opportunities in their community ● taking tours of different business ● participating in various volunteer opportunities ● gathering information about how work will affect benefits ● exploring different assistive technology options (from text-to-speech software to ergonomic workstations and magnifiers) ● and more!
If you’re working with someone searching for a job, you may be: doing any of the activities listed above ● creating or enhancing resumes and cover letters ● completing skill and interest assessments to find the most compatible jobs ● completing applications ● practicing interviewing skills ● completing follow-up calls with potential employers ● participating in new job orientations ● and more!
If you’re working with someone who wants to keep their current job, you may be: providing on-the-job support as a person learns their new role and responsibilities ● providing additional training and practice for specific job tasks ● providing coaching related to workplace dress and grooming ● exploring ways to connect to coworkers in positive and appropriate ways ● assisting with schedule creation ● advocating with employers for needed accommodations ● and more!
Housing Support
This service is available to people who want support to move into independent housing or stay in their current independent housing.
Housing staff generally provide 50% of their support in-person and 50% remotely.
Activities you may find yourself doing during visits: coaching people through applying for Section 8 and signing up for affordable housing wait lists ● assessing people's housing needs and preferences ● identifying affordable housing options that are available to rent ● collaborating to create a budget for moving ● connecting people to additional benefits or community resources to make housing more affordable ● providing education and coaching related to leases and housing guidelines and regulations ● touring potential housing options ● advocating on behalf of people with landlords or property management ● and much more.
Crisis Support
This is a service where people have access to a phone number that they can call 24/7 when they are experiencing a crisis and want extra support. Many people receiving this service also have brief, scheduled check-ins throughout the week that take place over the phone or in-person.
Apart from the scheduled check-ins, this service is to assist with acute crisis management only and is not a "warm line" or phone therapy. Staff rotate the responsibility of answering the crisis line and, based on the needs of the person calling, provide support by phone or in-person.
Crisis workers prioritize safety, reference individualized "Crisis Management Plans" to know what types of support to provide to the person calling, and promote the use personal coping techniques and skills.
If you want to hear more about this work, let us know!
If you've never done this work before,
We want you to apply!