SOUTHSIDE SERVICES INC
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Mission Statement
The Mission of Southside Services is to enhance the capacity of youth and adults with cognitive and other developmental disabilities to become increasingly active, contributing members of their community.
About This Cause
Southside Services was established as a 501 c3 non-profit in 1974 to meet the needs of a growing population of Minneapolis inner-city adults with cognitive and other developmental disabilities who were de-institutionalized. People with disabilities have increasingly integrated into mainstream society, moving into smaller semi-independent living arrangements such as group homes and living independently with limited support. For the past 46 years, Southside Services has provided an important safety net for a population that is at great risk for homelessness, crime victimization, chronic unemployment, substance abuse, social isolation and chronic health concerns. This history, along with the current political climate surrounding disability, shapes SS’s identity today. The Mission to enhance the capacity of adults and youth with cognitive and other developmental disabilities to become increasingly active, contributing members of their community remains central to all Southside Services’ actions. Southside Services offers 3 core programs: 1. Community Connections. Community Connections provides one-on-one services for individuals without waivers as well as ILS (Independent Living Skills) and SILS (Semi Independent Living Skills) services. Community Connections provides crisis intervention, advocacy, daily living skills and navigations support services that enable adults with disabilities to continue to live independently. 2. Therapeutic Recreation. Therapeutic Recreation fills a significant gap by providing consistent, low-cost recreation activities that are available to approximately 200 socially isolated adults with disabilities living in Minneapolis’ urban core. The group recreation outings reinforce physical activity, healthy lifestyles and healthy social behaviors for the clients. Clients find their own way to the Southside Services office before activities and Southside Services staff provide rides home after activities. 3. School Based Connections: SBC is a hybrid of the above two programs with the unique goal of meeting the needs of young adults with disabilities. SBC focuses on the struggles they face during transition from school to what is next for them. One-on-One interactions address young adults’ new responsibilities and offer support as they learn how to manage them on their own. Recreational activities focus on appropriate social behavior and provide a platform for forming healthy peer relationships outside of school. Southside Services provides support to individuals with disabilities who would otherwise not receive support services. Getting involved in the community is especially difficult for people with disabilities as they not only face barriers as a result of their disability but also barriers created by society. Some of these barriers include lack of safe transportation, limited income, lack of social network and difficulty making and following through with multi-step plans. Fortunately, our society is increasingly aware of accommodating the needs of people of all abilities but there is still a large gap between those who need support and those who qualify for it. Southside Services fills this gap by providing support to those individuals. As a small community organization, Southside Services has the unique ability to adapt quickly to both individual client needs and changing societal needs. Adults with developmental disabilities are often isolated within our communities. Along with an increased incidence of depression, people with developmental disabilities are also often excluded from the social participation that improves quality of life. Southside Service’s Therapeutic Recreation program works to bridge the gap between people with disabilities and the community.