Guild Incorporated

“The Finance Committee and full Board of Directors review the Form 990 before it is filed. Key staff and the external auditor attend the meeting to explain information and answer questions. Approval to file the Form 990 is captured in the Board minutes.”

“The Board of Directors and key staff complete annually a Conflict of Interest Information Form to disclose conflicting activity or declare no conflicting activity. The Board determines whether the transaction is just and fair and is in the best interest of the organization. The Board's concern must be the welfare of Guild Incorporated and the advancement of its purpose.”

“The Board of Directors performs an evaluation and determines compensation for the President based on performance and salary market analysis. Employees receive a performance assessement each year at the time of their anniversary date of hire or entry into a new position. This annual review focuses on both assessing and discussing performance, and on reviewing the employee's base salary with consideration for a salary increase.”

“The Organization does not make its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, or financial statements available to the public.”

“Mental illnesses are more common in the United States than most people think and happen to people regardless of economic status, gender, age, race, or background. One in 25 Americans has a serious mental illness, per the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The National Institute of Mental Health identifies these illnesses as the leading cause of disability in the United States. Founded in 1990, Guild Incorporated exists to help individuals 16 years and older living with these illnesses counter the devastating effects of poor physical health, chronic homelessness, high unemployment, extreme poverty and other health and social complexities that are often experienced; seeing strengths, creating options, and restoring health, all toward the goal of helping people lead quality lives. Services are successful when those served: live in safe, affordable housing and homelessness is prevented; maintain their optimal physical and mental health; find suitable employment or pursue education; have recreation and socializing opportunities; and, report a sense of satisfaction with their quality of life. Because mental illness can affect every area of a person's life, Guild focuses on an integrated model of care, treating the whole person, not just the mental illness. This whole health approach helps prevent hospitalizations and enhances the quality of life so individuals can live successfully in the community. Services are mobile, provided in the community when and where needed.”

“Community Treatment Services: Integrated & Intensive Case Management, and Care Coordination services help individuals who have psychiatric illnesses of a serious nature gain access to medical, social, education, vocational, financial, and other necessary services related to individuals' mental and physical health needs. Stability in housing, optimal health, and connections to one's community are the desired results of these services. Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), an intensive outpatient service, helps individuals living in the community who experience severe, hard to manage symptoms of mental illness. The goal of ACT is to decrease or prevent recurring acute episodes of illness. This evidence-based, "hospital without walls" model uses a multi-disciplinary team model to provide mobile services, delivered where needed, most often in individuals' homes. Two teams served 191 adults in 2016. A specialty ACT Team, serves transition-age youth, ages 16-20, with diagnosed serious mental illness and substance use disorders. Early intervention with community-based treatment is designed to prevent mental health conditions from becoming disabling. In 2016 the team served 75 individuals. Ninety-two percent of those served in 2016 maintained or improved their functional status over time; 93 percent maintained or reduced their risk of harm. Eighty-one percent maintained or completed their chosen education program. In 2016, 1523 individuals received Community Treatment Services. Seventy-three percent of individuals served maintained stable housing (as measured by the Housing Movement Table administered during the last six months of 2016; the goal is 70%). Collaborations with health plans enhance the organization's ability to coordinate and assure care for both medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes and mental health conditions, and help ensure that individuals served get the treatment they need for their medical conditions. This is especially important as the life-span for people who have serious mental illness is shortened by twenty-five years, largely due to treatable medical conditions. A record number of people (outside the usual referral sources) called Guild directly for help in 2016. In 2016, mental health professionals responded to 929 calls within one business day, a thirty-three percent increase over 2015. Through "Community Access", callers receive help to address immediate needs, identify appropriate options, and help to secure ongoing services.”

“Residential Crisis Services (Maureen G. Heaney Guest House) help individuals in psychiatric or other crises stabilize in the community without becoming homeless, and, whenever possible, without high-cost hospitalization. Intensive Residential Treatment Services (Guild South) assist individuals to develop and enhance psychiatric stability, personal and emotional adjustment, self-sufficiency, and skills needed to live in a more independent setting. Permanent, supportive housing provides 24/7 on-site services for residents who need a higher level of care to assure stability in housing and optimal health (Rick's House). In 2016, 178 individuals accounted for 211 admissions to the 6-bed Residential Crisis Services. In February 2016 the number of beds increased from 4 to 6, making it possible to serve a greater number of individuals. The average length of stay was eight days. Ninety-eight percent (203/208) of admissions resulted in the individuals stabilizing their situations without hospitalization for psychiatric care. Fifty-eight individuals were served in the nine-bed Intensive Residential Treatment Services program, with an average length of stay of 64 days.”

“Guild's Delancey Street services engage people who have histories of long-term homelessness compounded by problems of mental illness, substance use, and chronic medical conditions. Delancey Street takes a "housing first" approach, assisting participants to establish and maintain housing; improve their health; and, increase their quality of life through meeting desired goals. Initially begun in 2003 as a pilot project to demonstrate the potential to end homelessness for the "most marginalized single adults", Guild's Delancey Street continues as a provider for the Metro Long-term Homeless Supportive Services Project in the seven-county metropolitan area in Minnesota. In 2016, 94 individuals were served in this "housing first", continuous-care model, over 100 percent of capacity. Seventy-four percent of those served for one year or more kept continuous housing in 2016. Delancey Apartments opened in of 2009, resulting from collaboration between Guild Incorporated and Project for Pride in Living. It provides 13 units of permanent, supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness who have had difficulty maintaining their housing; and features easy access to things like nursing and employment support. Seventeen individuals benefitted from this housing in 2016. Guild is demonstrating, in partnership with Regions Hospital, Hearth Connection, and the Division of Healthcare Research and Quality within the state Department of Human Services, reduction in avoidable high-cost health services while increasing stability in health and housing for low-resource homeless individuals with complex healthcare needs who turn to hospital emergency departments for ongoing health concerns. This Hospital to Home project was awarded an expansion in 2016 and served 44 individuals. The most recent client outcome report was published by Wilder Research in February 2016, incorporating outcome data through April 2014. Emergency department use consistently decreased over time (68% after enrollment). Clinic use has decreased and rebounded overall, while varying for individual participants based on their health needs. Participants accessed medications more consistently after enrollment, including stabilizing the number of pharmacy claims overall and accessing more of the same medications repeatedly. Despite long histories of homelessness, all participants moved into stable housing within four months of enrollment in the initiative. Guild partners with Dakota County Community Services in a supportive housing initiative to help people living in shelters who have barriers to housing (including co-occurring disorders, medical issues, low income, and/or history of criminal charges) "find, get, and keep" their own housing. Sixty-one formerly homeless individuals are now housed and have access to on-going housing supports to aid in maintaining stable housing. Partnering with Dakota County and Blue Cross, a new Housing Access Resource Team, formed in 2016, honed in on finding housing for 44 people with significant housing barriers.”

“Employment Services team received the "Pioneer Award" at the 2016 MN Statewide Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Conference. The award recognizes organizations that first implemented the evidence-based IPS model in 2007. Promoting work as part of the recovery process, services help individuals pursue education or find, get, and keep employment in the competitive labor market that meets their abilities and preferences. A record number of individuals were successful in finding jobs in 2016; a 33 percent increase over 2015. The number of participants achieving a competitive employment outcome puts Guild's Employment Services in the top 25% of similar programs in the nation that use the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support model.”

“When living and coping with mental illness, it can be difficult to keep up with everyday demands and reach goals. Rehabilitation Services help individuals develop, restore and enhance their psychiatric stability, social competencies, personal and emotional adjustment, and community living skills. The agency's Community Support Member Center is a component of Rehabilitation Services. A variety of support and socialization activities are available as well as a classes and workshops in areas of interest such as Illness Management and Recovery, Nutrition, Wellness Workshops, etc. Many classes are led by peers. Individuals can also just drop-in" for help with a problem. One hundred and sixty-three individuals made 4,721 visits to the Center, participating in both center-based and community-based activities.”

“Housing Support Services: Guild administers housing subsidies to facilitate access to safe, affordable housing and to prevent homelessness. In 2016, 135 individuals received subsidies.”

“Volunteer Services: More than 180 community members help Guild Incorporated meet its mission and purpose through volunteer service. Be a friend to someone who is isolated, drive someone to the grocery store, play sports or card games, help raise funds - there's something for everyone to do.”

“Change IN BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN ASSETS HELD BY OTHERS 49,863.”

“The oversight process or selection process did not change during the tax year.”