The Achievement Center

By 7017444915 June 26, 2026
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” 1 Peter 4:10 At Hope Haven, we believe every person has God-given gifts to share. That belief is at the heart of the Hope Haven Ambassadors, a group of individuals served through Hope Haven’s My Day program who are learning to use their voices, share their stories, and advocate for themselves and others. The Ambassadors were formed in January 2025 after a community experience sparked a bigger conversation about inclusion, dignity, and the way individuals with disabilities are perceived. Since then, the group has been working to help change that narrative. The Ambassadors have presented to community groups, attended advocacy trainings, traveled to the Capitol, and spoken about issues that matter. Along the way, they are building confidence, developing leadership skills, and helping others understand that every person deserves to be included and respected. For Maggie, being an Ambassador is about helping her community see people with disabilities as equals. “I want individuals with disabilities to be treated as equal to everybody else,” she shared. “I want my community to know it’s okay to be different.” For Lori, the message is simple but powerful. “We are regular people who have different challenges,” she said. “I want to help my community understand that people with disabilities are not less of a person because of their disabilities.” For Octavio, advocacy means using his voice not only for himself, but also for others who may struggle to speak up for what they need. Through his experience with the Ambassadors, he has learned something important: “Our voice matters.” Programs like My Day are about so much more than daily activities. They are about friendship, confidence, purpose, community, and belonging. They create opportunities for people to discover their strengths, build relationships, serve others, and take part in the world around them. Your support helps us continue creating opportunities like the Hope Haven Ambassadors, where individuals can build confidence, share their stories, and discover the power of their voice. Your gift allows us to keep growing alongside those we serve, making an impact that lasts. If you wish to contribute, plea se CLICK HERE to donate today. Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and partnership in Hope Haven’s mission .
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Have you heard of The Achievement Center (TAC)? TAC provides a variety of employment services and supports for individuals with disabilities in and around Worthington MN. TAC was formed in the 1960s and became a division of Hope Haven in 2010. In fiscal year 2019 TAC provided services for 117 individuals.  

The past year has been ripe with change for employment services. When facility based employment in Iowa transitioned to community based services in 2019 due to the federal site rules mandate a portion of existing contracts shifted their working partnerships over to TAC. Today workers at TAC are busier than ever packaging candy for Foreign Candy Company counting and collating ElastiTags for Bedford Industries producing wooden survey stakes among many other tasks. “It’s gone really smoothly ” says TAC Work Services Manager Michael Dempster about the influx of work.  

In addition to services that are offered on-site at TAC employment opportunities in Minnesota also exist in the form of Community Employment Supported Employment and Individual Placement & Support (IPS). IPS is unique because an individual’s employment services are integrated with their mental health treatment. In Minnesota Hope Haven began implementing IPS in 2014 through a state grant program and has helped more than 125 individuals obtain employment. 

In 2018 Hope Haven’s Minnesota IPS program received an “Exemplary” rating a high fidelity feat that only six other Minnesota IPS partnerships have achieved in the past 12 years and the possibilities only continue to grow for the program. “We are in a strong position to continue assisting people with mental illness in achieving employment ” confirms Scott Witte Director of Employment Services.  

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