Avivo reaches more families with central Minnesota services expansion

Avivo was selected as the sole county provider of family and employment services in Sherburne County to serve families accessing public assistance. Avivo already serves families in Stearns and Benton counties from its office in Waite Park, Minn. An additional 200 families will have access to Avivo’s diverse team of employment counselors to help them move off public assistance and advance economically! 

Avivo serves Sherburne County families from two offices, each located in Waite Park and Elk River, Minn. One of the reasons Avivo was selected by Sherburne County Health and Human Services is because of its specialty in serving recent immigrants. Already a strong component of its central Minnesota services, at least one counselor is now dedicated to serving recent immigrants in Sherburne County as part of the Refugee FOCUS Program funded by the MN Department of Human Services. 

“Families who have fled Ukraine and Afghanistan first come to live in the Twin Cities,” shared Ron Nelson, Avivo lead counselor. “They have moved into communities in Sherburne County to be near family.” 

“Families who have fled Ukraine and Afghanistan first come to live in the Twin Cities,” shared Ron Nelson, Avivo lead counselor. “They have moved into communities in Sherburne County to be near family.” 

For families to be successful, Avivo counselors consider the whole person – their family, finances, housing, education and well-being. “We approach each person with empathy and compassion,” shares Ron. “We provide the support they need to achieve all their goals, with the ultimate goal of helping secure sustainable employment.” 

“We approach each person with empathy and compassion,” shares Ron. “We provide the support they need to achieve all their goals, with the ultimate goal of helping secure sustainable employment.” 

Avivo helps participants make connections to resources in the community depending on their unique needs. A counselor may help a participant secure insurance, provide gas cards or fund a car repair as the participant works on their goals. Avivo also helps make connections for childcare, housing and mental health services. They help participants get their GED (General Education Diploma) or connect to career training. They help develop resumes and facilitate job searches. Counselors use creative resources outside of Indeed.com in order to help individuals find opportunities that provide livable wages to support their families. 

Last year, Avivo helped more than 1,100 families move off public assistance and into work. Avivo’s team does whatever it takes to help individuals move their families forward.