The Achievement Center

By 7017444915 March 26, 2026
There is a certain kind of peace that comes when you know someone you love is safe. One mother, Jeanelle Stokes, shared that before Smart Living, there was always a quiet tension. Even when things were going well, that lingering question remained: What if something happens when no one is right there? At Hope Haven, we believe safety and independence should not compete with one another. They should work together. That belief is what led to the development of Smart Living. Smart Living blends personalized technology, remote support, and in-person care to help individuals live more independently while maintaining a dependable safety net. From our Remote Support Center in Spirit Lake, trained professionals are available 24 hours a day, ready to respond when assistance is needed. Jeanelle put it simply: “I don’t feel like I have to hover anymore. I know someone is there if he needs help.” Homes are equipped with thoughtfully selected tools such as motion sensors, wearable devices, secure video connections, and interactive reminders, all tailored to the member’s individual needs. These tools aren’t designed to replace care, but to enhance it. For Jeanelle’s son Jerrod, constant staff presence was increasing his anxiety. When part of his support transitioned to remote monitoring, there was a noticeable change. Within days, he began reaching out just to say, “Hi, I’m okay.” With that change, he had more space while still knowing support was just a call away. As Scripture reminds us, “The Lord himself watches over you.” - Psalm 121:5 Smart Living reflects that same premise of watchful care, encouraging independence while still keeping support within reach. As this initiative expands, more individuals will have the opportunity to live confidently in their own homes, and more families will experience the peace that comes from knowing help is always near. Your generosity makes that growth possible. It allows us to expand Smart Living into more homes, strengthen our Remote Support Center, and ensure that independence is never separated from safety. If you wish to contribute, please 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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