The Link

“The finance committee of the board reviews the 990 first, pending their approval the 990 is sent to the full board of directors for review. The 990 is then discussed at the next scheduled full board meeting where a vote is taken to approve the 990 for submission.”

“The board of directors individually signs a conflict of interest policy acknowledgement annually after questions/discussion at the first board meeting of each new year. The employee handbook explains the policy and employees' acknowledge receipt of the handbook at the beginning of their employment and annually thereafter.”

“For the organization's executive director, an annual review is performed by the board's personnel committee, who also determines compensation. An evaluation form is preparered by both the reviewee and reviewer and then compared and discussed at the time of the review. The executve director and other key employees both sign the review. For the organization's officers or key employees, an annual review is performed by the employee's supervisiors. An evaluation form is prepared by both thereviewee and reviewers and then compared and discussed at the time of the review. The employee and supervisor both sign the supervisor's copy of the review. The link uses a uniform process for raises each year that includes a mix of cola and merit based increases. The executive director signs off on all employee raises.”

“The documents are available to the public upon request.”

“The link works with youth and young families to overcome the impacts of poverty and social injustice. Vision: a community supporting all youth in having equitable access and opportunity. Values: our work will be guided and informed by our belifs and commitment to: youth - we value and incorporate youth voice into all we do; inclusion - we respect all people, value diversity and are committed to equity; quality - we strive for program excellence through continuous improvement and evidence based practices; advancement - we aspire to lead through innovative and cutting edge programming. Edi commitment statement: the link will promote ongoing learning to better serve youth and families, broaden staff knowledge base and cultrual awareness/ competence resulting in equity, diversity and inclusion visible at all levels of the organization.”

“THE LINK'S HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES DIVISION COSISTS OF SEVEN HOUSING PROGRAMS, ONE DROP-IN RESOURCE CENTER AND ONE STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM, INCLUDING: LINDQUIST APARTMENTS (NORTH MINNEAPOLIS), HOUSING FIRST (HENNEPIN COUNTY), CAIRN HOUSING (SCOTT, CARVER, DAKOTA, WASHINGTON AND ANOKA COUNTIES), RAPID REHOUSING (METRO-WIDE), SUBURBAN RAPID REHOUSING (SCOTT, CARVER, DAKOTA, WASHINGTON AND ANOKA COUNTIES), YOUNG FAMILIES PROGRAM (METRO-WIDE), PROJECT LIVE OUT LOUD (METRO-WIDE), C.O.R.E. (Community. Outreach. Resources. Empowerment.)DROP-IN CENTER (APPLE VALLEY), THE STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM (HENNEPIN, DAKOTA, SCOTT AND CARVER COUNTIES), MINOR CONNECT (HENNEPIN COUNTY), PERISCOPE (HENNEPIN COUNTY). NORTHSIDE PREVENTION (NORTHSIDE OF MINNEAPOLIS). THE LINK OPERATES 180 UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THROUGH ITS SEVEN HOUSING PROGRAMS, WHICH PROVIDE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN A CARING, SUPPORTIVE CONTEXT AS WELL AS: LIFE SKILLS, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND PARENTING SUPPORTS TO YOUTH AND YOUNG FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LINK OPERATES C.O.R.E. (COMMUNITY. OUTREACH. RESOURCES. EMPOWERMENT.), A RESOURCE CENTER WITH DROP-IN HOURS SERVING YOUTH AT RISK OF OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN DAKOTA COUNTY. THE LINK ALSO OPERATES STREET OUTREACH, WHICH PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH COORDINATED ENTRY AND OUTREACH THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED AND STREET-BASED MODELS FOR AT-RISK, RUNAWAY, HOMELESS AND SEXUALLY EXPLOITED YOUTH. THE LINK ALSO OPERATES A CULTURALLY SPECIFIC HOUSING PROGRAM, PROJECT LIVE OUT LOUD, WHICH IS THE FIRST CULTURALLY SPECIFIC HOUSING PROGRAM FOR LGBTQ YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE STATE. ANOTHER PROGRAM THE LINK OPERATES IS MINOR CONNECT, WHICH IS A PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY CHILD WELFARE AND THE YMCA TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR MINORS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE LINK OPERATES PERISCOPE, A SCATTERED SITE HOUSING PROGRAM WITHIN HENNEPIN COUNTY FOR YOUTH AGING OUT OF A COUNTY PLACEMENT THROUGH FOSTER CARE, JUVENILE CORRECTIONS OR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND THE NORTHSIDE HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAM, A CULTURALLY SPECIFIC HOMELESS PREVENTION AND HOUSING PROGRAM FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH ON THE NOTRHSIDE OF MINNEAPOLIS.”

“THE LINK'S JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS RECOGNIZE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ARE OFTEN TIMES DOING SO IN ORDER TO SURVIVE OR FOR OTHER UNDERLYING REASONS, SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, BEING VICTIMIZED BY SEX TRAFFICKING OR SUFFERING FROM A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. THE LINK'S JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS OFFER ALTERNATIVE STRENGTH-BASED YOUTH PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH AGE 10-17 THAT HAVE COMMITTED LOW LEVEL OR HIGH LEVEL OFFENSES. THE LINK'S PROGRAMMING HELPS TO RESOLVE THE UNDERLYING REASONS FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND EMPOWERS YOUTH TO ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY AND NOT CONTINUE DOWN A PATH OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. THE LINK HAS THE FOLLOWING FOUR JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS: THE JUVENILE SUPERVISION CENTER (JSC), THE MARSHALL REED YOUTH CENTERS (MRYCS), SCHOOL MATTERS, THE PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM AND THE P.O.W.E.R. (Positive Opportunities for Women of Every Race) PROGRAM. THE JUVENILE SUPERVISION CENTER IS LOCATED IN MINNEAPOLIS CITY HALL WHERE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN HENNEPIN COUNTY CAN DROP OFF YOUTH FOR LOW LEVEL OR STATUS OFFENSES, FELONY CAR THEFT AND/OR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. THE LINK'S STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDE ADVOCACY, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THE MARSHALL REED YOUTH CENTERS ARE LOCATED IN NORTH AND SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS (THE SOUTH LOCATION WAS ABSORBED BY THE NORTH LOCATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2019). THEY PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO OUT OF HOME PLACEMENT OR JUVENILE DETENTION. THE MRYCS HOST A FIVE DAY PER WEEK PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, CASE MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION ASSISTANCE AND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE COMMITTED HIGHER LEVEL OFFENSES AND ARE COURT ORDERED TO PARTICIPATE. SCHOOL MATTERS IS BASED IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS BUT SERVES ALL OF HENNEPIN COUNTY. SCHOOL MATTERS PROVIDES SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN TRUANT FROM SCHOOL AND HELPS TO RESOLVE THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THEIR ATTENDANCE WHILE HELPING TO PREVENT SCHOOL DROP-OUT. THE PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM IS BASED IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS BUT ALSO SERVES ALL OF HENNEPIN COUNTY. THIS CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM PROVIDES PARENTING EDUCATION AS WELL AS BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENTS OF YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IN OUR JUVENILE SUPERVISION CENTER AND/OR SCHOOL MATTERS PROGRAM. THE P.O.W.E.R. (Positive Opportunities for Women of Every Race) PROGRAM IS BASED IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS AND PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT FOR GIRLS REFERRED BY HENNEPIN COUNTY PROBATION. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO HELP FURTHER EMPOWER GIRLS INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO REALIZE THE GOALS THEY HAVE FOR THEMSELVES AND PREVENT THEM FROM BECOMING FURTHER INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE LINK OPENED A NEW PROGRAM AT THE BEGINNING OF 2020, THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATOR PROGRAM WHICH IS BASED IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS BUT SERVES YOUTH THROUGHOUT HENNEPIN COUNTY. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT FOR YOUTH AGES 10-24 ON PROBATION. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO COME UP WITH A CASE PLAN AND ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS WITHIN A 6-MONTH TIME SPAN. THESE GOALS TYPICALLY INVOLVE REALATIONSHIP BUILDING, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, EDUCATION AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS.”

“Safe harbor division - the link is a partner within the state of minnesota's safe harbor law and no wrong door response for sexually exploited youth and provides the following programs: passageways emergency shelter and housing program, west metro regional navigator, aftercare and outreach, and mental health and family reunification. The passageways emergency shelter and housing program provides eight emergency shelter beds and five units of supportive housing for sex trafficked youth of all gender identities age 13-24, including parenting youth with children. The program has specialized on-site services for sexually exploited youth including an on-site school in partnership with the prior lake school district, individual and family mental health counseling, a survivor mentor program, case management, medical care and chemical dependency services. West metro regional navigator provides services for hennepin, scott and carver counties. This position provides a 24/7 response for sexually exploited youth, provides safety and needs assessments and planning, crisis intervention, assistance with basic and longer term needs, connections with services, court advocacy and case management. The aftercare and outreach program provides support to sexually exploited youth who have either worked with the regional navigator or have lived at passageways. The programming provides support with the transition back into the youth's home community and on-going case management. Mental health and family reunification program provides on-going mental health, family reunification therapy and services for sexually exploited youth age 13-18 who are not currently living at passageways.”