by: Julie Sjordal, CEO
Dear Friends of St. David’s Center,
It’s been six weeks since we closed all four of our centers, with the exception of childcare to essential workers. I’ve been listening to story after story of the challenges you’re facing as you navigate uncharted waters with your family, in your work, and throughout every aspect of life. Though I don’t know you all personally, I’m holding you in my thoughts and look forward to the day when your kids are back in our classrooms, treatment rooms, and lobbies, climbing on our playgrounds, and reminding us all that the future looks very bright!
For today, I’d like to provide a quick update on three recent developments.
Telehealth
Telehealth has become the main way our therapists have provided services this past month. In total, nearly 570 families have engaged in just under 1,300 sessions during this time, and your family may be one of them. If you have, you’ve received our brief survey asking for your feedback. Though I’m pleased to report 82% of our respondents have reported feeling “Strong” to “Excellent” about their experience so far, these past few weeks have been a learning opportunity for us all. Look for a text reminder with the link early this next week, and let us know what you think by completing the survey by May 3. If you know of anyone whose child or family—or themselves as parents—would benefit from the expertise of one of our skillful therapists, please recommend they call our CORE team at 952-548-8700 or visit our website at www.stdavidscenter.org.
A Measured Increase in Services at our Centers In Minnetonka and Minneapolis
The Governor determined that early education, children’s mental health, autism treatment, and speech, occupational, and feeding therapy are essential services. Many of our families are asking when their children can return to in-person therapy and day treatment classrooms. With steely determination to ensure the safety of each child, parent, and staff member, we have decided to begin a slow, careful launch of modified center-based early intervention services in Minnetonka and Minneapolis the week of April 27. Our leadership team, in consultation with our Medical Director and with recommendations from the MN Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has designed a Twelve-Point Plan that is going to guide our decisions, protocol, and practices for the near future. Visit our website at www.stdavidscenter.org/covid-19-twelve-point-plan to learn more.
Advocating for Mid-Sized Nonprofits
These past two weeks, I sent emails asking for your voice in advocating for St. David’s Center and the 100 other social services safety net nonprofits in Minnesota that exceed the 500-employee threshold in place for the majority of the federal relief funding legislated to date. By the time you read this message, the President will have signed the fourth coronavirus relief bill providing another $310 billion for small businesses and nonprofits that qualify. Unfortunately, nonprofits of our size were, again, left out. Plan on seeing requests for your advocacy on a weekly basis until our voices are heard. This next week, once again, our plea is to our US delegation but also to MN legislators who need to know how fragile our state’s nonprofit sector is. We need, and we are grateful for, your help.
In closing, I genuinely wish you well,
Julie Sjordal
Chief Executive Officer
Mar. 11, 2024
