About LivingLinks

LivingLinks has been serving people with special needs in the Mankato/North Mankato area since 1970.

From 1970 until June 2007, we operated under the name Christian Concern, Inc.  In June of 2007, we changed our name to LivingLinks.

Why change our name?  CCI was founded by a Mankato church back in 1970 and that is where the name Christian Concern, Inc. comes from.   A few years after it’s inception, CCI began operating independent of the church, however the name was never changed. 

Obviously, because of our name, almost all people assume we are a religious “Christian” based organization.  We often get calls and walk-ins to see the “Christian counselor” or requesting services associated with a church or religious organization.  We do not consider this much of an inconvenience, but it has been a constant reminder that our name did nothing to promote our services, mission and vision but in fact detracted from it by misleading people to believe we were something we were not. 

In more recent years, we have been wondering if we were unintentionally alienating potential consumers, employees and board members who have a desire to be involved in a organization who serves people with developmental disabilities, but not one that is overtly religious as our name implied.  What nudged us into the action of changing our name was when a board member was denied the opportunity to make a grant request to a local foundation based on the foundation’s policy of not taking requests from religious organizations.

So, we have changed our name and we are very excited about it.  The name change is not an indicator that we made a big change in our philosophy of providing services.  It is merely a (probably long over due) branding issue.

History

The first two group homes LivingLinks opened in 1970 were Adult Foster Care homes. One was home to four men (“Friendship House”) and the other to four women (“Fellowship House”). These two houses were closed in 1988 and the people who lived there moved into other living arrangements. LivingLinks had also opened a “Class A” ICF/MR group home for six young children who had challenging behaviors. As services became more progressive and as those young children grew to be young adults, it became evident those individuals could be served much better in smaller, more individualized Waivered Services programs. These individuals moved into new services 1988 and this house was also closed.

Meanwhile, in 1983 the Therese K. Sexton Homes (Therese K Sexton – North and Therese K. Sexton – South) were opened in upper North Mankato. They are “Class B” ICF/MR group homes who were named in memory of a LivingLinks employee who was tragically killed in an automobile accident. The homes are staffed at all times when the “consumers” are home, including overnights. There are 8 adults living at each home.

LivingLinks began providing “Waivered Services” in 1988. Currently, we operate 4 Supported Living Service (SLS) (small “Waiver” group homes) sites and we serve 16 families in our Waiver In-Home Services program. Each of our SLS Waiver homes has 3 individuals who live there and receive staff support 24 hours per day. In the In-Home program, we send staff into family homes and Foster homes which allows consumers to live at home with family or a foster family.

In 2000, LivingLinks began an activities program which offers LivingLinks and other consumers the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities both in the LivingLinks activities area of the central office building or out in the community.

LivingLinks currently provides services to 44 individuals with intellectual disabilities. LivingLinks employs approximately 110 staff persons including direct support staff, management staff and office staff.

In June 2005, LivingLinks moved into a new central office and activities building located at 1230 North River Drive, Mankato, Mn.

Our Mission

LivingLinks is dedicated to working together with people facing independent living challenges to achieve their goals and dreams.

Our Vision

To be the provider of choice for people with independent living challenges.