THE FOUNDATION OF OUR WORK Vail Place was founded on the uniquely effective Clubhouse Model. Our success at building a broad network of partnerships and collaborations has made it possible for us to expand our recovery approach and become a leader in whole-person, integrated care. SERVING THE TWIN CITIES METRO We began over 40 years ago in Hopkins. Now we offer numerous Programs and Services, maintain housing and healthcare collaborations, and we are actively pursuing strategic new partnerships to help us better serve our mission and our community. We invite you to Take a Tour of our facilities.
Our mission is to help people with serious mental illnesses avoid crisis, achieve stability, and pursue active, fulfilling lives based on their individual abilities. We do this through a work- and relationship-oriented approach that empowers each person to take control of his or her recovery. CORE VALUES Clubhouse Model The foundation of our service approach, this model is built on the belief that every person has the potential to sufficiently recover from the effects of mental illnesses to lead a personally satisfying life as an integrated member of society; and that every person can take an active role in the development and ongoing management of his or her own recovery. Recovery-Based Self-direction, empowerment, and respect are considered basic rights of everyone Vail Place serves. We don’t “do for” people; we believe in their ability to do for themselves. This empowers individuals to take responsibility for their own lives, intentionally choosing their own path. Peer Support The side-by-side, strengths-based nature of our Clubhouse Programs provides opportunities for members to teach, encourage, and support their Clubhouse colleagues. Tangible peer support experiences encourage members to take the same type of active role in their life outside the club, in relationships with family and friends, and involvement in the broader community. Trauma Informed Care Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is a strengths-based approach to engage people with histories of trauma that is grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma, emphasizing physical, psychological and emotional safety for both providers and survivors. All Vail Place employees receive ongoing training in the core principles and values of TIC, and also of Emotional Intelligence (EI) – a set of principles focused on self-awareness, self-management, awareness of the reactions of others, and effective communication and conflict resolution techniques. Culturally Appropriate Services Vail Place is deeply committed to offering a culturally inclusive atmosphere and providing culturally appropriate services. We have experience serving people from a broad range of backgrounds (including, but not limited to, Asian, African, Latino, LGBTQ, and vision and hearing impaired) and have staff with particular expertise and experience.
Our History. WHY ARE WE “VAIL” PLACE? It was during the late 1970s that a group of Minneapolis community leaders decided to create a community mental health center to help those with mental illness who were being released from state institutions. It opened its doors in 1981 and they called it Vail Place in honor of Dr. David Vail, a Minnesota psychiatrist who was a great advocate for the civil rights and humane treat of people with severe mental illness.
Press & PR. Whether its in print or digital, our Vail Place community (and our friends) always have inspiring stories to tell and important information to pass along to the public. For media inquiries or requests, please contact: Katee Crawford, Director of Advancement kcrawford@vailplace.org 952-945-4270
