Meridian Services

From March 29th-April 11th, our company partnered with NorthPoint Health and Wellness by conducting a food drive. All donations collected went towards the fight against hunger in Minneapolis as the pandemic has undone a decade's worth of progress. We were able to contribute 76 pounds of food which equates to 95 meals!

Our 4th virtual Lunch & Learn of the year took place on April 21st, and this month's topic was 'Hello to Healthy Habits'. Our management employees had the chance to learn about new healthy habits and goals from Studio 9-to-5 Wellness through education, coaching, and a fun workout at the end of the meeting. We are thrilled that the virtual Lunch & Learns have been a big success over the past year!

The month of April focuses on both volunteerism and bettering our planet through Volunteer Month and Earth Day. On Friday, April 23rd, a group of our management employees had the opportunity to celebrate Earth Day by volunteering at the Decola Ponds in Golden Valley where they picked up trash through the Adopt-A-Pond program. The event will be held every other month throughout the summer.

On Friday, April 23rd, a group of our management employees gathered at DeCola ponds in Golden Valley to pick up trash as a part of the Adopt-A-Pond program.
It was also a wonderful way to celebrate Earth Day!
We are excited to continue this event every other month throughout the summer, and we hope to offer a few more group volunteer events that our employees can take part in!

Where do you work and what is your role? I work as a Direct Support Professional Specialist in the in-home department. I drive all around the west side of the Twin Cities. My role is to help the people I work with get out in their communities and to assist them in any way they need.

How long have you been with the company? I have been with Meridian Services for 2 years.

Can you describe what a typical day is like for you? A typical day for me includes spending time with the people we serve by going to the gym, going shopping, listening to their favorite music, chit-chatting, and going out to eat at new restaurants.

What motivates you to get up and go to work? I love to explore new areas with the people I work with.

What do you like the most about your job? Exploring more of the west side of the Twin Cities. I had not gone over there much before, so doing a lot of exploring has been really fun.

Where did you go to school?: Minnesota State University, Mankato – Double major in Social Work + Gender and Women Studies.

What is a typical day like for you?: My day can vary greatly depending on what’s happening on my caseload. I may have a client meeting to review services, goals, and to “check-in”, ensuring that they are getting their needs met. When I’m not meeting with clients, I do a lot of “behind the scenes” work such as completing necessary paperwork related to the client’s services and supports. I also have team meetings and supervision that I attend every week.

What do you like the most about your career?: Although Social Work can be very challenging at times, it is SO WORTH IT! My favorite thing is probably getting to know clients and watching the rapport grow as they feel more comfortable opening up to me and sharing their life with me. I also love seeing clients move into stable housing after months or years of being houseless.

What challenges have you faced in this field?: Patience is key. While coordinating services, there can often be long waiting periods of waiting for this document, or that email, etc. Or the idea that I can finish everything on my to-do list in one day (lol)… I’ve learned that it’s important to remind myself that it will all get done, in time.

What advice would you give to new social workers entering the field today?: Be patient with yourself and with the clients you have the privilege of working alongside. They will teach you things about yourself that you didn’t know that you needed to learn. Sometimes, they will teach you through harsh words. But, try to not take anything personally. They’ve been through a lot and it’s most likely not you that they are upset at – it’s the system. It’s the life that they were given that they didn’t choose. Try to find grace, as much and as often as possible.

Where did you go to school?: University of North Dakota.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in social work?: I went into social work because I wanted to help people.

What is a typical day like for you?: Pre-COVID it was split between office work (making calls, emails, completing documentation) and driving out to meetings. Now meetings are held virtually.

What do you like the most about your career?: I love problem-solving, so taking the pieces that I have and putting them together with someone else to make things work for them is one of my favorite things. I’m also a people person, so working with people is my favorite part. I love when people give me a hard time. I also love my team.

What advice would you give to new social workers entering the field today?: Give yourself a break. Secondly, remember that how people treat you sometimes is more of a reflection of them/their situation rather than a reflection of who you are as a social worker. We are not made of magic even though that is sometimes the expectation of us. Lastly, being a social worker is only a part of your identity. Make sure to enjoy the rest of your life.

Get to know our June Employee Spotlight - Magan Koscher!

⭐Where do you work and what is your role? I work at Meridian Services, and I am a Program Manager for our In-Home Service Department.

⭐How long have you been with the company? 4.5 years.

⭐Can you describe what a typical day is like for you? I might be in the office for half the day and out in the field for the rest or just in the office attending meetings and staying up to date on paperwork.

⭐What motivates you to get up and go to work? All my persons served motivates me to get up and go to work. The idea of helping others improve their skills and overall quality of life is a huge motivator.

⭐What is your favorite thing about working for the company? I love volunteering, so the fact that our company requires us to volunteer annually is awesome! I am also a pet lover, so our pet-friendly buildings are also a bonus for me. My dog, Nora, loves to come to work with me.

⭐How has your career grown since starting with the company? I have joined different committees within Meridian that have given me a deeper perspective on changes that need to happen within the disabled population. I have also traveled with our sister company, Headwaters, to help in disaster relief around the states and overseas in Haiti.

⭐What do you like to do when you are not working? I like to be outdoors and go hiking and camping. I also love coaching cheerleading and spending time with my family.

⭐What do you like the most about your job? I like the mix of in-office work and being out in the field.

⭐What is something people do not know about you? I am the Varsity Cheerleading Head Coach at Centennial High School.

⭐What is one thing you can’t live without? A strong support system of family and friends.

⭐What is something on your bucket list you hope to do someday? Travel to Bali.

⭐What is your all-time favorite food? Nachos

⭐Where is your favorite place in the world? The Grand Tetons

On Friday, June 18th, a group of our management employees gathered for our second Adopt-A-Pond event at DeCola ponds in Golden Valley.
We were thrilled to see so many people attend!

Get to know our July Employee Spotlight - Edeth James!
Edeth works in the high-level crisis homes for Meridian Services.

Visit our Facebook page to read the full interview!

Pet-Friendly Corporate Offices