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Started in a church basement in 1969, Reuben Lindh Family Services (RLFS) offers a second chance for families in need. RLFS now serves the Minneapolis community to aid families and individuals in need to reach their full potential through community events and programs, as well as their Xerxes Ave. location.

RLFS works with high-risk families, including those in poverty, the chemically dependent, mentally ill, homeless, poorly parented and isolated. With a staff of only 100, RLFS serves over 1,200 families a year.

Reuben Lindh has its own trained therapists that conduct sessions both in-home and in classes. RLFS therapists have been collaborating with Minneapolis Children’s Hospital therapists for over 20 years now to better serve their patients.

Referrals to RLFS are made by Hennepin County, treatment services, day homes, hospitals, sobriety centers, and there are even self-referrals.

How is RLFS funded?

One may wonder, who is funding all of these services? According to Kay Tellinghusen, senior director of RLFS, Hennepin County funds RLFS based on identified risk factors of the demographic served.

Donations are also a huge part of the financial support that RLFS receives. Various contributions include volunteer work, cash donations, gifts of stock and planned gifts. Currently, the RLFS staff has a $5 million budget.

On April 21, RLFS held the Rhythm of Life benefit at the Golden Valley Country Club to raise money through a silent auction. The benefit included Native American dancing, Taiko drumming and dinner for all guests at the event.

A Varied Focus

RLFS is based out of Minneapolis and has several different locations within the city. Throughout its 36-year history, RLFS has set tremendous precedent in its field.

It was not only one of the first centers nationwide to offer parenting classes to developmentally delayed mothers but also was a critical proponent in adapting the term “developmentally delayed.”

Reuben Lindh is a unique organization in that it offers specialized programs free of charge for families who really need it.

Programs

One of those programs is the Family Focus Program, which is a composition of a Multicultural Therapeutic Preschool (MTP) and Family Support Services (FSS). The preschool offers a more supportive environment than a traditional preschool, which is designed to meet emotional and developmental needs of children from high-risk families.

The Family Support Services (FSS) is offered to families of the children, which includes in-home visits and assessments. Rapport is established with the families through these visits in order to address critical issues in the home.

One family worker is assigned to each home to assess the home environment and what changes need to be made. Attainable goals are set and the family is made familiar with community resources available to them.

Trust is established early on, according to Tellinghusen, which is part of the safety families feel regarding in-home therapy.

Occupational therapy, family therapy and support groups are a critical part of the FSS program.

All children in the preschool have developmental screening for therapy, although not all children have developmental delays. Those who do, however, receive treatment for preparation to reach their highest potential.

Clients may not reach age-level development by the time they enroll in public school; however, the goal isn’t necessarily to do so. According to Terese Lueck, a staff member at RLFS for over 20 years, the maximum capability or potential of each individual is the objective of therapy.

Another key aspect of the programs offered at Reuben Lindh is the preservation of culture and celebration of cultural differences.

“Our staff is diverse, which mirrors the population we serve,” Tellinghusen said. “The population we serve is about 67 percent of color.”

Lueck describes RLFS and its programs as a “context for culture.”

In fact, RLFS offers a culturally specific Southeast Asian program (SEA) for preschool age Hmong children with developmental disabilities. The program is conducted in Hmong, however English is taught in the classroom.

The Four Directions Family Center (FDFC) is another culturally specific program. This early childcare and preschool program is designed for Native American children ages 16 months-9 years. The children primarily come from the Little Earth of United Tribes Housing Corporations and the larger Phillips community.

The FDFC nurtures the Native American culture and includes instruction in the Ojibwa language. Speech, occupational, and play therapies are additional services this program provides.

There are several other services offered by RLFS. One of those services is called RAP-Rebuilding Appropriate Parenting. RAP works with women who have successfully completed chemical dependently treatment and who are progressing toward sober parenting. Referrals come from sober housing programs, treatment centers, aftercare programs and the community.

Whether the families are referred by the county, a treatment center, or self-admitted, RLFS is a safe habitat for families and individuals to grow and blossom. It also provides a second chance for families who have been susceptible to abuse, neglect and addiction.

In the RAP program, for example, mothers are able to prove themselves as responsible parents after showing commitment to their sobriety.

There is a similar program called HOPE, which is an in-home parenting program for families involved with the Hennepin County Child Protection System. The program is designed to ensure the safety of the children in the family and also serves as an empowering mechanism for parents to rebuild their roles as providers and to stay away from abusive and neglectful patterns. A family worker spends time with the family to progress in these areas as well as encouraging more active participation in their children’s education.

The Supervised Visitation Program is another in the Child Protection System. This program allows for intensely supervised visitation for families separated by court order. The visitation takes place at a special center set-up like a real house to recreate the feeling of a home.

There are family rooms and comfortable pieces of furniture, and developmental games for the families. Examples of some of the activities the families can participate in are cookie baking, t-shirt designing, card making, and making masks. Meals can also be prepared by the families if desired.

During the Christmas season, the families can go to what is called the Christmas Store where members can pick out two to three gifts for one another. Gifts are donated year-round; families enjoy and need photo albums, cameras, personal hygiene, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, toys, blankets, race cars, basketballs, footballs, etc.

Year round, however, sprits remain high at RLFS and among staff and client, there is a commitment to bettering oneself. “Above all else, relational connections are made at Reuben Lindh,” says Tellinghusen.