Olmsted County Community Services PACE

P.A.C.E. (Parents & Children Excel) - works with All children of color between the ages of 7 and 14 who have attendance and academics issues in school or behavior problems at home, school or community. P.A.C.E. also provides positive teen (peer) mentorships for the children on the caseload. Social workers and case aide staff facilitate leadership activities of high school mentors with their elementary student mentees. A key goal of these relationships is to create transformative experiences for both the mentor and the mentee that increase academic achievement and high school graduation. Another important facet of this program is to promote productive citizenship within the community through service activities of various sorts.

Mission: "Community Services partners for the safety, well-being, and stability of children, families, and adults in Olmsted County"

Values:  Accountability, Advocacy, Innovation, Professionalism, Responsiveness

Project H.O.P.E. (Hope, Opportunity, Pride, and Empowerment) - is a program focused on the empowerment of African American families in the community by engaging them in partnerships that build safety and well-being for children. Moreover it as well as P.A.C.E. are responses to the disproportionate representation of African-American families in the Child protection system. Through advocacy, education and support, Project H.O.P.E. provides an entry point to community services so that families can benefit from supports, rather than having a situation become critical necessitating more intrusive intervention.