TOUCHSTONE MENTAL HEALTH
Fostering hope, health and well-being
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Touchstone Mental Health is working to address a variety of needs for persons with mental illness in the Twin CIties. Our programs and services help people recover from mental illness and develop the skills they need to live well in their communities. We aim to assist people with finding housing in the least restrictive possible setting, reduce hospitalization and improve the quality of life for adults with mental illness through health promotion and care coordination. We seek to reduce homelessness and incarceration with the individuals we provide services to. Touchstone embraces inclusion at all levels of the agency, among people we serve and for our staff. • Dignity and respect are the cornerstones of all our interactions. • Diversity, equity, and inclusion create a welcoming culture that reflects compassion and embraces differences. • Innovation, excellence, and collaboration in our work helps us set the standard for mental health
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Residential Treatment Services
Touchstone Intensive Residential Treatment offers 24-hour mental health services in a structured, supportive environment designed to improve mental health stability, increase personal and emotional skills, self-sufficiency, and independence. Services include education on symptom management, medication, and living skills, individual counseling and group support, onsite and community activities, linkages to community services, and discharge planning for transition to community living. The program served 271 people in 2021 at one of our three locations with 71% successfully completing treatment. Our programs are located in Bloomington, Fridley and Minneapolis, MN.
Community Mental Health Services
Intensive and Targeted Case Management, Care Coordination, and Behavioral Health Services helps people with a serious mental illness improve housing stability, increase social and community connections, and improve mental and physical health. Services help people navigate and access medical, mental health, housing, vocational, financial, education, and other resources needed to meet their needs. Community Mental Health Services assisted 1,295 people in 2021.
Community Housing Services
Community Housing Services helps individuals with a mental illness, find and keep their housing. Touchstone provides two housing service models to meet individual needs. The first includes Housing Innovation and Intentional Communities. These services assist people in finding and moving to a community apartment. Staff provide ongoing mental health support, housing stabilization, tenant education, and linkages to community resources that are provided in the person’s home. This program served 236 people in 2021.
Touchstone also provides supportive housing at Rising Cedar and New Hope Apartments and Minnehaha Commons. These housing programs provide 24-hour onsite services tailored to individual needs and includes, medication assistance, mental health support, independent living assistance, housekeeping, 24-hour emergency assistance and coordination of care. 124 individuals were provided support in 2021.
Where we work
Awards
Bronze Award Quality 2016
American Health Care Association
Bold Award Nominee 2019
ACG MN
Bronze Award 2017
Hennepin County Wellness by Design
Provider of the Year Award 2019
NAMI MN
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of homeless participants engaged in housing services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Community Housing Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This includes individuals who were formerly homeless and we provide services to both find and keep housing.
Number of households that obtain/retain permanent housing for at least 6 months
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Community Housing Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our goal to help individuals have stable housing, 92% of tenants in community based housing have retained their housing for six or more months.
Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Economically disadvantaged people, People with psychosocial disabilities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The number may have a few duplicative counts as individuals can receive services from more than one Touchstone program.
Number of clients who receive residential treatment services from at least one of the same providers who will provide services following discharge
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Homeless people, Adults, People with diseases and illnesses, People with disabilities
Related Program
Residential Treatment Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We provide intensive residential treatment services in three locations. Typically the stay can be up to 90 days and sometimes people are granted extensions beyond that.
Number of clients who report adequate participation in their own treatment
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities, People with diseases and illnesses, Homeless people, Adults
Related Program
Community Mental Health Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Community Mental Health Services worked with 1,452 people in 2023. 82% of individuals in Case Management completed one of a goal they identified in 2023.
Number of households that retain permanent housing for at least 6 months
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Touchstone served 119 people in one of our three permanent supportive housing programs in 2023, Rising Cedar, New Hope Apartments and Minnehaha Commons. 88% retained their housing for 6 months.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Touchstone Mental Health provides innovative, person-centered services that foster hope, health and well-being. We envision a world where all people whose lives are affected by mental illness will flourish with effective treatment, quality housing, supportive services, and communities that are inclusive and welcoming.
GOALS
1. Improve services to better meet the needs of people we serve.
Increase # of individuals who complete residential treatment and move into stable, affordable housing.
Improve health by reducing the use of commercial tobacco use.
Improve preventative care by ensuring all individuals have a primary care provider and annual physical.
Increase housing retention. Increase the number of people who find and keep housing.
Work to increase mental health stability and decrease interactions with emergency rooms, law enforcement and criminal justice system.
Increase employment among individuals who would like to work.
Improve community connections and reduce loneliness and isolation.
Reduce use of substances that negatively impact individuals in their goals, housing and relationships.
Increase resources available for individuals to reach their goals.
Reduce the use of court commitments as a strategy for mental health stability.
VALUES
• Dignity and respect are the cornerstones of all our interactions.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion create a welcoming culture that reflects compassion and embraces differences.
• Innovation, excellence, and collaboration in our work helps us set the standard for mental health services and assure safe and affordable housing for the people we serve.
• Person-centered approaches ensure that all people have the right to make informed choices about their lives.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Touchstone uses several approaches to overcome the housing challenges facing our community. Our programs use person centered planning, which focuses on individuals and their needs by putting them in charge of defining direction for their lives. We also use a strengths-based approach, focusing on client strengths, rather than deficits. We have implemented the nationally recognized evidenced based practice of Permanent Supported Housing (PSH) for adults living with a mental illness. PSH is focused on providing community-based housing targeted extremely low-income households with serious and long-term mental illnesses. It combines permanent housing with case management and wraparound services. PSH helps individuals sustain permanent housing quickly, regardless of prior services.
We also use Social Determinants of Health as a framework for holistic solutions that lead to health equity and well-being. Social determinants of health have been recognized by US Public Health and recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as essential for whole person health. Social determinants are conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Patterns of social engagement, sense of security and well-being are also affected by where people live. Resources that enhance quality of life can have a significant influence on health outcomes. Examples include safe and affordable housing, access to education, public safety, availability of healthy foods, and healthcare. (Healthy People, 2020)
We use social determinants of health in program design and individual service planning in our programs. As we focus our efforts to address all areas of social determinants of health, people are more likely to have improved housing and mental health stability, thrive in their community and overall wellbeing.
We are experienced in developing high impact programs that braid funding, housing support, innovative practices in mental health, service coordination with wellness approaches. Our data demonstrates when mental health and housing services are delivered together, people have increased housing stability, leading to improved health and standard of living.
Touchstone programs help clients recover from mental illness and develop the skills they need to live well in their communities. From residential treatment to home and community based programs, we meet a wide-range of client needs and focus on their health and wellness every step of the way.
We work to develop innovative partnerships to expand that type of community housing available that is safe and affordable. Provide tools through cognitive behavioral therapy, art therapy and harm reduction strategies to meet people where they are at. We work on person centered plans to center our work on what each individual is hoping to accomplish in their life. We connect resources and referrals to move towards these goals.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Touchstone developed the one of the first Minnesota permanent housing model offering 24-hour on site supports at New Hope Apartments over 20 years ago. Rising Cedar, opened in 2013, was developed using research in neuroscience and design to create a living space that enhances mental health and wellbeing. Minnehaha Commons, opened in 2019, provides housing and 24-hour onsite supports for people ages 55 and older who have been homeless
Touchstone is experienced in developing programs which braid together funding, innovative practices in mental health, service coordination and housing services with wellness approaches. We have learned when mental health and housing services are delivered together people have increased housing stability.
Touchstone has been a leader in mental health services for over 40 years. Touchstone received the Provider of the Year award from NAMI MN in 2019 and MN MH Providers Innovative Services award in 2014.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have been successful in improving people's housing outcomes, mental health stability and have seen a reduction in hospitalizations. Some of our clients have quit smoking, increased exercise, and feel improvements in their health overall. Individuals with mental illness have a lower life expectancy than the general population and we are working to improve this.
One of the greatest challenges for people who have a mental illness in the Twin Cities metro area, is finding and keeping housing. They have greater difficulty than others finding housing due to multiple barriers including their disability and very low incomes. Many have been evicted in the past for behaviors resulting from untreated mental illness or substance abuse. Also, 50% of people in our housing programs have a criminal history affecting their ability to be housed.
Most individuals in the program have experienced homelessness or are currently homeless. People who have been homeless have a high incidence of chronic health conditions including, high blood pressure, heart conditions, asthma, diabetes, and others. People who have been homeless physically present as if they were 15 years older than their actual age, due to their poor health, lack of housing, and very low incomes.
There are also unfair policies and practices that contribute to lack of equality in housing. A high percentage of people who are homeless are BIPOC, increasing the difficulty of being accepted into housing .
Once housed, many people with a mental illness require ongoing services and assistance to keep their housing and benefits and prevent lease violations. Our staff provide counseling, mental health interventions, access to food and medical care, assist people to maintain insurance, food and income benefits, and provide tenant education so they can keep their housing.
Another challenge, is mental health and housing funding, do not fully fund services. Touchstone and other agencies providing housing support often have budget gaps that affect their ability to meet individual needs and serve additional people in need of housing.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
TOUCHSTONE MENTAL HEALTH
Board of directorsas of 02/06/2024
Nikki Hill
Marketing Professional
Term: 2023 - 2023
Sanchayita Ray
Perennate Strategies
Term: 2023 - 2025
David Schuchman
Retired Clinical Social Worker
John Fritz
Choice Bank
Christine Clifford
US Bank
Pia Teabout
Edina Realty
Rebecca Bachman
YWCA
Jamal Adam
826 MSP
Bethany Burzynski
Best Buy
Sudhir Kumar
US Bank
Dinah Dale
New Partner, Inc
Darin McDonald
UCare
Sarah Chance
Retired Biotech/Pharmaceutical Executive
Cathy Sams
Retired Attorney
Jamie Galbreath
UCare
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 02/10/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.