Goodwill to discontinue clinical mental health services
Citing a lack of resources, Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota is phasing out its clinical mental health services, medical equipment lending and call center training program.
"We do not have enough resources to provide those services," said CEO Michael Wirth-Davis. "We now realize that we need to partner with others to make sure those services are provided to the people that we serve."
Wirth-Davis did not have an estimate of the number of people affected. But he said Goodwill will work with clients until their programs end or they find alternative providers.
He said the moves were a part of a transition to concentrate more on workforce development.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
"We know that we really do extremely good work in getting people work, in keeping work, and advancing in their careers," Wirth-Davis said.
Goodwill is cutting some some staff but Wirth-Davis wouldn't say how many.
The Goodwill CEO said the organization is doing all right financially and will not change what it offers shoppers. For the fiscal year ending in September 2014, the nonprofit with 49 stores in Minnesota had revenue of about $53 million and was about $650,000 in the black.
In 2013, the nonprofit had 2,937 employees and 1,680 volunteers.