Full Transcript for Lodge Magic: Living, Working, Achieving with Serious Mental Illness (Episode 147)

00:05:46.000 Here is this quite sick young man, and he's in prison, and his mother's going crazy because they're not seeing to his illness, but that's not their job. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:47.439 They're a prison. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:52.560 And again, the problem is there's nowhere to put him or he wouldn't be there. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:54.160 He's in there for a misdemeanor. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:58.079 There doesn't there's no reason he should be in there for three weeks and counting. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:01.680 But I just want to say it just goes on and on and on. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:09.600 I mean, even if it's not my problem or your problem right now, it is a problem of our culture. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:13.279 And sometime it's gotta change. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:13.920 Right. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:18.319 And and there are many, many uh heard and agree. 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:25.040 Uh there are many, many people who have chosen, you know, when you come up for air, we all try to find a way to find joy. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:29.600 And many of us find joy in advocacy, legislative work, as Mindy did. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:37.439 Uh, I do it through the arts, um, the more the theatrical arts, finding joy when we can and staying on alert all the time. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:50.959 And we have had check our past episodes where we talk about people who are doing advocacy, legislative advocacy, system advocacy, because there's a lot to fix in the system, absolutely. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:56.639 And my son is um, you know, it's one day at a time at knockwood. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:00.480 He's been almost two weeks in a new sober home. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:12.800 And um the little boy in him and the sweet-natured person that he is is is showing up, but uh every day when something we he's 45 minutes away now. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:14.079 This is new for me. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:18.480 Um, and uh I it's one day at a time. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:20.160 I so far, so good. 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.639 I think until proven otherwise. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:35.759 Uh but the first thing he did when he got out of his 11th psychiatric hospitalization, first of all, the security guard was kind enough to say, Oh, your son's my man. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:37.600 He's like always a gentleman. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:43.759 And that just, you know, anytime you you focus on strength, it really helped me to hear that. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:53.839 And the first thing he did when he got out, he happens to be in a town where there's a university there in a very cool bookstore, and he takes walks all the time because he's nothing else to do and walking is good. 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:57.279 And first thing he said was, I saw these cool bookmarks. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:00.639 I want to get them for my nieces and nephew because I missed their birthdays. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:01.439 Can we go? 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:04.720 And I want to use my own money because it's more significant that way. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:14.879 So the title of my book has been behind his voices, and that is because he's always there underneath the chaos that can be his mind when he's symptomatic. 00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:18.720 So we have fingers crossed, and uh yeah, we'll see. 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:21.360 So that's where we are, the ups and downs. 00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:24.399 And, you know, Mindy, we're so thrilled. 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:27.920 We know Jim has been through a lot, but he is in a great living situation. 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:29.600 You can breathe easy for now. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:38.080 So why don't we bring on uh Trevor Johnson, who is the executive director of Tasks Unlimited. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:44.879 Tasks Unlimited is kind of implementing the Fair Weather Lodge program in Minnesota. 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:46.320 So we're gonna talk about that. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:48.320 And with him is Jim, who's a resident. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:50.559 So we want to find out all about it. 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:53.360 So welcome, gentlemen. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:55.200 Hello. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:08.240 So why don't you start out with telling us about TAS Unlimited and the Fair Weather Lodge model and how it got started and just give our listeners a background. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:15.279 Um, Mimi and Randy will be learning, along with probably unfortunately, most of our listeners. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:22.320 So I'm so glad we have this platform with lots and lots of listeners to learn about this program. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:30.000 I I will just say our son was here in Minnesota in the TAS Unlimited program for 10 years. 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:32.720 And I wish he were still there. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:42.879 It was um 10 years where the kinds of things we talk about on this program and that so many of our listeners go through did not happen. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:47.039 So this is, I'm just really high on this program. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:52.480 So please, whichever one of you wants to start, tell us how it got started and what it is. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:55.759 It's not the program that Jim is in, just so I'm clear. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:56.320 Right. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:14.000 No, Jim was here um in for 10 years in the early 90s, um, for 10 years on, probably uh 1999, 1920 for the the decade of 2000, 2010, about that period of time. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:21.279 Yeah, and and thank you, Mendy, for for bridging the connection here and and thank you all for for letting us join. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:24.879 And I'll I'll let Jim chime in, but I'll I'll kick it off here. 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:34.399 So the uh just to start, the Fairweather Lodge model uh really is a uh it's a community where people with serious mental illness work and recover together. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:43.360 So it's it's very different than uh what people often imagine when they think about

mental health housing, group homes, some of those types of settings. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:47.519 Um, you know, the the lodge members, they're not passive recipients of services. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:58.240 You know, they're active participants running the household, supporting one another, making decisions together, building meaningful lives in the community, you know, oftentimes working together, finding those opportunities. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:03.519 Uh, the model was developed actually back in 1963, so it's been around uh by Dr. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:06.320 George Fairweather, who was based out in California. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:12.639 Uh, and uh his research found that people did way better when they lived and worked together as a supportive community. 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:16.000 And so rather than trying to manage recovery and isolation. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:26.559 And so it, you know, they he found that people stayed in community longer and were less likely to return to the hospital if they had that community, that connection and that meaning building together. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:34.159 And so here in Minnesota, Tasks Unlimited uh brought that idea forward uh about 55 years ago. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:37.279 So uh, and it came out of Dr. 00:11:37.440 --> 00:12:01.440 Fairweather coming out to uh one of the state hospitals here and actually meeting with uh clients and uh some of the staff there, or patients as they were called, but and uh actually found a group of people who were looking to transition out of that state hospital system into the community, some staff that were interested in supporting them, and they all came together around this model and uh created the first lodge in Minnesota. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:08.879 So that's that's the origin here, uh, you know, really founded around that model at our core. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:33.600 Obviously, just like many nonprofits, TAS Unlimited has expanded into other areas, trying to make sure we can wrap services around people and and provide provide that connective tissue uh where we need to, but really that uh that that lodge piece is is really central to it uh and and making sure that um as there's those opportunities to to be live and thrive in community, that we can we can support people to do that. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:37.919 I so people are there they're working to but do they live together? 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:39.919 This is a housing yep. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:42.639 How many are in are in the lodge? 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:46.639 Yeah, so yeah, maybe I'll Jim, can you talk about your lodge a little bit? 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:47.360 And yeah. 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:52.080 Um okay, I'll try to start out a little bit early in history here. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:57.679 Um I was actually uh a patient in Anoka. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:01.200 I was 18 years old. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:07.360 I everything's changed since then, but uh I was a patient. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:10.799 I heard about TASS Unlimited way way back then. 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:20.240 And I kind of thought, well, maybe someday, you know, maybe someday I'll get involved with them, you know, start start working. 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:24.720 When I was younger, I I had a hard time keeping down jobs. 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:28.080 I'd I'd worked like one one or two days and quit. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:38.799 And I just, you know, I could I didn't I didn't have the confidence or I didn't have any not much like support back then. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:47.759 But I had a uh friend that was also in an oco with me and he went into tasks unlimited. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:52.480 So that was my first time I either even knew about it. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:14:10.159 Um he moved into a lodge and then I uh tried to get back into the working field of things and I started out at it was called the Hennepin County Vocational Services Program. 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:15.279 I was in their jender training program and from there I got my first job. 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:18.080 I was working for a corporation called Marston. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:25.840 Um that worked out for a while, but uh I don't know. 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:32.879 I just decided I thought maybe I should give that Tess Unlimited a try. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:36.639 So I was actually moving in with my mother. 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:42.639 She bought a condo and she knew that I'd be living with her. 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:47.600 And this was 1994. 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:52.559 I started actually working for Tass Unlimited. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:15:14.480 Right right now, um most of people in Tass Unlimited do like janitorial jobs, but the first job I had was at General Mills, and I was like cleaning um, you know, like cake pans, pots and pans from um the kitchens that they had at General Mills. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:26.639 Um I was like a dishwasher, but after that, I got into the janitor part of that, which is what I was trained in when I was at the vocational services program. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:31.440 How did your mother feel about your going to Task Unlimited? 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:35.679 Since we're mothers, a lot of our listeners are mothers. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:39.279 Um, how did your mother feel when you went there? 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:43.279 Oh, my my mother just loved Tasks Unlimited. 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:48.480 She was so happy that I got connected with them. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:52.960 I, you know, like I said, I I couldn't hold down a job. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:16:01.360 You know, I had I had nowhere to go to, you know, actually, you know, improve and get well. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:05.919 So what was different about TAS then, that you could hold down a job? 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:21.279 Uh well the thing I liked the most about it, um, you know, they have all people from all over, you know, different situations and I decided that you know to work.

00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:37.840 Uh I just found that the the support that I received from from numerous people, I mean, they made me you know, they realize that we have disabilities. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:44.879 Some people, you know, I actually applied for a job once and I I said I have mental illness. 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:51.919 You know what they said, they said, Oh, uh actually uh we don't have a job opening here. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:52.639 Oh wow. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.639 Yeah, of course. 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:58.399 Uh can I can I ask uh this is so great. 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:00.000 Thank you for sharing. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:04.799 I'm if I were a listener right now, I'd be going, where do I sign up? 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:12.319 So I, you know, I'm curious about how this is funded, how long the waiting list is, how long can you stay there? 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.599 I know some of that, but I think uh well maybe just as an example. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:20.400 So, Jim, how how many years have you lived in a lodge? 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:30.559 Okay, I moved into a lodge after I moved out of my mother's house in 97 is when I moved into my first lodge. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:40.319 Yeah, I was lived with my mom, no no job, lived with my mom, and transitioned into a lodge in 97. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.160 And just just retired. 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:44.960 So uh after 33 years? 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:48.559 I had 33 years of working for tasks unlimited. 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:53.359 Yeah, so I um so it there's no there's no time limit. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:18:00.400 So, you know, I think it is, you know, as long as people are um you know staying focused on recovery. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:04.640 I mean, they can go into the hospital, come out, that there are op opportunities to do that. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:11.200 I think the the biggest piece is it's up to the lodge who lives with them, so that they they make those decisions. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:15.839 And and so uh each lodge, so back to your quest question, Randy, earlier. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:20.960 So each lodge generally has kind of three to six, depending on the the type of home. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:24.319 Uh, a lot of our homes are duplexes, so they're next to each other. 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:46.000 So they may have three or four living on each side and kind of work as a whole unit um in a lot of things, but they set their own finances, they um, you know, they coordinate together, they have a lodge account usually that they then use to pay the bills, and you know, they all decide if they want to go in on a Netflix account or you know, other things and and share some of those expenses. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:50.160 Um and then each rents a room from tasks as part of that. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.640 So tasks own the owns the homes. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:56.400 Uh, we kind of set things up in that way and and do it that way. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:05.839 The uh, you know, funding is uh there's a variety of funding sources we have to braid a lot together to make it work, and so and and that has definitely changed over time. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:14.319 So the the mental health system in Minnesota, um, a lot of the decisions, the mental health authority falls at the county level. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:28.079 So uh kind of the you know, municipalities within that county and the so the county funds are so a lot of our funding comes through the counties that we operate in, especially for the services, the supportive housing elements, and and those pieces. 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:31.279 We do uh build some medical assistance. 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:43.279 Uh, and so, you know, having insurance, having a state Medicaid plan uh is one of those pieces that helps us to uh recover for some of the services we're providing that are covered through that. 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:57.279 And then a lot of our homes have been purchased through kind of various states, federal, and other programs that have offered nonprofits, um, you know, 0% financing, no payment loans, other things over time. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:57.759 Okay. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.920 So, what about Randy's question? 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.079 Uh are people clamoring to get in? 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:03.440 Are there waiting lists? 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.319 How do people know about uh task unlimited? 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:06.640 Right. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.960 And then I can see Mimi's face. 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:10.720 She wants to ask too after that. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:12.240 She's next, you're next, Mimi. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:12.720 Go ahead. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.119 Yeah. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:19.039 So I I think, and this goes to the comment I've made to Mindy several times that tasks is really the best kept secret. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:25.440 And uh, and that's what drew me in was like, how does this place exist and how do people not know about it? 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:31.759 And so um, you know, I think the um lodges can start anywhere. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:36.319 So um there are a number of states that are starting to support it in different ways. 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:38.720 Pennsylvania is actually the largest right now. 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:48.240 Uh, Commonwealth, that's uh the Commonwealth there is actually supporting the creation of lodges and has funded training kind of and helping set up new lodges. 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:59.839 And so, you know, a lodge can be uh set up really anywhere, but it really takes somebody with some entrepreneurial spirit and and a group of people that want to live live together. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:03.039 So uh how do people connect if you're in Minnesota? 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:09.279 You live in one of the counties we're in, uh, you can you know go to our website, you can show up at our door. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:12.559 Um, you know, there's no

there's no wrong path in. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:17.039 Uh, we do have some eligibility criteria just because of those funding sources. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:22.400 So somebody does have to have a serious and persistent mental illness, as it's designated in Minnesota. 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:29.519 Um, you know, do have to have um either an interest in working or or some source of stable income. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:38.160 Um, and so, you know, that's that's one of the pieces that we really see employment as a central component of stability and recovery. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:44.559 And so uh, you know, we we can coach people and do motivational interviewing and hope to get somebody there. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:49.519 Um, but that does have to be a piece that they're at least interested and willing to try a few things out. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:53.359 And so that's it's the missing piece in so many programs. 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:53.920 So I love that. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.119 Mimi, what was your question? 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:58.000 Well, I just want to roll it back a little bit. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:10.319 Um, so The fair weather model is something that somebody came up with and it's a template for this way of living, correct? 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:10.960 Correct. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.279 Yep. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:24.799 And then TAS Unlimited is the nonprofit that you're involved with in Minnesota, where you've gotten involved with running these lodges as well as other things. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.440 Yeah? 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:26.000 Yep. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:32.079 So so you as a nonprofit own these buildings, or do the people who live there own them? 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:33.920 The nonprofit owns them. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:40.480 The nonprofit owns them, and and so the people who live there just have to pay the rent to you. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.359 Yep. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:41.920 Yep. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:45.279 We also have something called a lodge fee. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.640 It's a separate. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:23:02.400 It's forced in, you know, to pay for not your rent, but other things like utilities and you know, all the necessary So the Fair Weather lodges are in other states as well. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:02.880 Yeah. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:10.799 So uh But they're uh um excuse me, let me just they're they're associated with other nonprofits in other states. 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.359 Okay. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:15.680 Yeah, and there's there's a group called the Coalition for Community Living. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:19.440 So there the website is theccl.org. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:24.160 Uh, and it's really the the fair weather model group across the country. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:37.519 And so that's the you know, I sit on that board, am engaged in with that group, and that's uh a great resource for anybody interested in in expanding this, starting a lodge, finding lodges

that exist. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:41.039 You know, there there are lodges in a number of states. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:48.160 So Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, and Minnesota have the largest groups, uh, but there are some smaller ones out there. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:51.039 You know, it doesn't have to be connected to a nonprofit. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:53.440 That's just how the model has developed over time. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:56.240 Uh, you know, lodges can be set up as their own business. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:12.480 I mean, some of the origins were you know, some people wanted to start a driving uh, you know, medical transport company, and five people came together who could, you know, uh owned a couple vehicles and paid for their lodge by working for their own company. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:22.720 And so entrepreneurial listeners listen and look for the show note links because uh it can start small if you don't have one in your state. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:30.480 Um uh Mimi was talking at the beginning about someone she knows whose son is in prison. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:38.720 Could you I talk about the um the way you help people who are in prison to get out? 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:43.119 I know um I did help one person when I was in the state legislature. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:47.680 I wrote letters to the board of uh to to get him out. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:54.160 I and he um didn't he had to appeal, I think like three times before he finally got out. 00:24:54.559 --> 00:25:06.000 And the thing I think, besides having a legislative letter vouching for his uh going to be safe in the community, the biggest thing was that he could go to TAS Unlimited. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:08.240 And at the time it was a new program. 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.920 So could you talk about that? 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:18.319 How could Mimi's friend's um son be helped in California if they had a fair weather lodge program? 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:28.160 Yeah, and I and I think that's you know, a lot of times they're looking for some connection to that accountability partner in the community, right? 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.839 That someone can transition into. 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:34.319 And and some of that's just been built over time with the reputation of TAS Unlimited in Minnesota. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:36.000 That's how we've set that up. 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:41.200 And that um, you know, we generally work with anybody. 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:51.279 We know that people with mental illness all too often have, you know, felonies, other offenses that are tied to, you know, episodes of psychosis and just being ill. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:26:00.000 And so uh, you know, I think uh we we try to work with people where they're at and that we focus on that employment, long-term stability. 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:17.359 And then we have we have, you know, our lodges, we have uh lodge coordinators as part of it who go in tw at least twice a week, um, you know, maximum of 10 hours, just because it really is focusing on what we we call, yeah, it's and kind of interdependence, right? 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:30.079 So uh that it's not staff there all the time, uh, but that they come and uh you know help, you know, iron out conflicts or just uh kind of remind people of the structure or do trainings on wellness. 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:37.440 Uh a big a big thing about it is also um we uh take you know medications. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:39.920 They're that's one of the big things. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:45.680 If you're if you're in TAS, they they really want you to stay on your medication, be stable. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:53.839 So we keep track of um all the med medication type issues that we have. 00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:59.359 Um, we have like a med group every day, and we make sure the people are taking their meds. 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:06.880 We we document them on sheets, and you know, that's a very important part of the program. 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:16.880 Yeah, that's one thing I loved about Task Unlimited, and tell about tell our listeners who is doing that documenting, who is passing out the meds. 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:21.839 Oh, that that comes from us ourselves as a group. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:26.480 Um, there's no staff there, so it's very important. 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:33.440 But since there's no staff there, we kind of you know run things on our on our own. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:44.640 Each lodge is probably different than others, the way they operate, and it's all they call it peer peer assisted living. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:49.359 Well, yeah, yeah, and and they you you witness each other's medication, right? 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:49.759 Yeah. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:55.759 Yes, we we you know, we watch them take and and you know we have certain times got 9 a.m. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.480 9 p.m. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.759 for medications. 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:04.799 Do you and you guys would know all the tricks, so you're very good at monitoring, I'm sure. 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:09.039 Oh yes, I'd I'd I do the same thing every every night. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:13.200 Nine o'clock, medtime, nine o'clock, and open up. 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:16.400 Yeah, you're not doing it alone. 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:19.599 Uh, do you consider your lodge mates your friends? 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:24.000 Oh, friends are actually I consider them family. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:27.359 So they're friends and family, I'd say. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:46.720 I mean, that's one of the big things I love about TAS, living with other people that have the similar disabilities as you, you know, mental illness and just you know, being together, actually feeling a part of the group, and it just it makes you really happy. 00:28:46.799 --> 00:29:02.160 I I wouldn't I don't think I'd ever like want to move in like an apartment because I just like the unity and do people generally stay a long time

there, or is there a quick turnover? 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.440 Oh no, no. 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:08.640 It seems like most people that come in usually stay quite a while. 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:13.759 Some of us have been with the program over 30 years. 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:17.519 I've been with them since uh 94. 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:18.400 Yeah. 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:24.720 And I would say, I mean, some people it doesn't stick the first time and and they come back down the road. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:31.119 So, you know, I think the um you know, we try to give grace and understanding. 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:35.920 There are certain things that just uh bridges get burned and and it's tough. 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:48.559 But you know, I think uh I think we've had, you know, I was talking with someone recently who um kind of came for a couple years, left for a few years, came for and then has been back for 20 years. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.519 So yeah. 00:29:52.559 --> 00:30:07.839 I remember a time, you know, gosh, 15, 20 years ago, several times when I would get with other moms like me when our kids were, I mean, our sons are now middle-aged, but when they were in their 20s. 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:10.880 And the big question is always, what are we gonna do? 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:12.079 Where are they gonna live? 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.359 Long-term housing. 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:19.519 And a couple times I've gone to groups of moms who said, okay, we can't deal with this anymore. 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:27.680 We're gonna just buy a building and create our own place for these people to live because this is impossible. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:31.599 And I've yet to, you know, nothing came to fruition. 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:37.920 But what we were talking about and thinking about back then sounds like exactly what you're doing. 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:48.880 Now, if if groups of parents are interested in this kind of thing, is there a central place where they can reach out to get direction and help? 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:52.799 Because what I found back then was we didn't know what to do. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:57.200 Yeah, and I would say that's that uh coalition for community living. 00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:57.599 Yeah. 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:03.039 They've got um they've got experience um really ramping these things up. 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:10.559 There are a few uh just amazing people on that board and connected to that organization who have seen every version and kind of lodge. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:14.799 Uh, there's a group that advocated, they actually started in Pennsylvania. 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:22.319 Now there's a group of lodges that are focused solely on veterans, um, you know, so have kind of expanded the model in different ways. 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.920 So that's the group. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:29.279 Uh, you know, they're the ones that uh write and update the manual and uh and those things. 00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:32.480 And that is thecl.org. 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.440 Do I have that right? 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.400 Correct. 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:34.960 Okay. 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:38.400 Um, how do you handle addiction in these lodges? 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.839 Are people drug tested? 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:46.079 Are they is it honor system or is it a uh you're kicked out situation? 00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:58.160 Actually, um people are in the program, a lot of them have you know uh outside support like like Alcoholics Anonymous or or other treatment. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:10.880 There's been some people that had actually had to go lead task for a short while to go through um you know uh treatment programs and they come back. 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:20.640 So I mean they don't they don't they really don't like people like drinking and uh in the lodges. 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:26.000 Um it's it's you know they they focus on sobriety. 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:36.240 But plus plus you have uh regular commercial work contracts, so people on the job need to be sober as well, right? 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:47.680 Yeah, yeah, and there are those pieces and there are situations where we're doing urinary analyses and and other things, if that's part of the kind of the plan for somebody to stay in a lodge. 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:51.759 It it really is a lodge decision too on kind of where that where that line is set. 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:58.640 Um, you know, we we urge people not to use, especially marijuana, if you you know have a history of psychosis. 00:32:58.799 --> 00:33:05.440 I mean, you know, that's the big piece in Minnesota now, that it's legal, it's just a whole nother whole nother uh nothing. 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:07.359 It's legal but lethal. 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:07.920 Right. 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:09.359 If you're in psychosis. 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:10.720 Good way to put it. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:11.359 Thank you. 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.480 I just thought of that. 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:20.319 Um Trevor, uh, so you mentioned before, so they're actually working for tasks unlimited. 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:23.599 Like who pay who who doles out the salary then? 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.240 Sure. 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:25.920 Uh so that's one of the options. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.960 So people can work. 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:30.799 We offer uh employment tracks, training tracks, and janitorial. 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:39.119 We have a number of contracts with government entities, um, both uh county, state, uh, and a few and federal contracts. 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:50.880 Um we coordinate with a group called Source America, which is connected to the Ability One network, which uh is the kind of federal uh connection to employing people with disabilities. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:58.799 So they have uh we've um stepped it's tapped into that group to be able to get contracts and and provide opportunities for people.

00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:05.920 So um, people can be an employee of of TAS Unlimited under one of those contracts or kind of through one of those things. 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:17.599 We just started a new pilot with the city of Minneapolis here, creating a low barrier to employment pathway for people to uh get back and get a job and start building that resume back up. 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:20.320 And so we'll forget um the mail room. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:20.639 Yep. 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:26.000 Yep, and we've got some mail room jobs that some the coveted jobs. 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:28.239 Yeah, yeah, people really like those ones. 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:32.880 Uh but but people can find employment externally and we'll support them in that. 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:37.199 Uh, we just can't wrap as many of the supports around in those situations. 00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:44.320 Do you still have your own uh psychiatrist that's treats everybody, or do people now go to different ones? 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:50.239 We still offer, we have two contracted psychiatrists that anyone who's connected to a task program can see. 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:50.639 Yep. 00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:51.760 And we're doing those. 00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:58.239 They allow people to see other doctors, but they do have some that are designated for task limited. 00:34:58.400 --> 00:34:58.639 Yep. 00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.199 Nice. 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:00.079 Okay, Mimi? 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:04.000 Um so money-wise. 00:35:04.320 --> 00:35:22.480 So if you have a a person who wants to live in a place like this, but isn't able to work yet, they can live in a place like that and then through whatever other source, say SSDI, pay their. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:36.239 I mean, what because the other thing, the uh the big you know, stumbling block for all of us is the you know, there are wonderful places for people with mental illnesses, but you need$50,000 a month or more to live in these places. 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:40.719 Is this something that's affordable to people who are on disability? 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:46.559 Yeah, so I mean, we we subsidize and keep our rents low. 00:35:46.800 --> 00:36:02.239 So I, you know, I think uh um I mean, you know, rents in different markets are are very, very different, but I mean, we are uh well below, I think we're probably at about 50% of what the market rate is right now. 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.840 Could you talk? 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:05.519 Do you still have the training lodge? 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:08.079 Because I thought that was a really good feature. 00:36:08.239 --> 00:36:17.760 You know, when Jim went to Tas Unlimited, he came like you, Jim, uh straight out of Anoka uh Metro Regional or State Hospital. 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:29.039 And um he had he went to a training lodge where he was for months and he started working the day he got there, but I don't think he did too much productive. 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:35.599 But by the end, uh he was fully ready to be able to work and then he got to go to a lodge. 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:36.800 Is that still that way? 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:41.199 Because I thought that was a really good way answering your question, Mimi. 00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:46.239 If someone comes and they can't work yet, you know, a task really helps with that. 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:49.280 I I wish I could say it's exactly the same. 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:50.239 And it's okay. 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:57.199 So that's the you know, the challenge of working in this field is if funding sources dry up and you have to pivot and and shift. 00:36:57.360 --> 00:37:03.599 So we do have um a residential treatment center that we still call our training center. 00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:07.840 And it really uh, you know, has a has a root with the fair weather model. 00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:24.880 It's there are a lot of peer-let uh kind of activities, meal planning, all those pieces in there, and they can start to pivot into employment, but um it is a Medicaid, state Medicaid reimbursed service and has its own rules and and unique challenges. 00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:27.519 So uh so that's a 90-day program then. 00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:40.960 So that's a 90-day program, and then we have something we we now call our transition lodge and our jobs training program that is an additional 90 days to 180 days that people can go to and uh and kind of work into that. 00:37:41.280 --> 00:37:43.199 So there is still help for people. 00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:44.639 Yeah, okay. 00:37:45.199 --> 00:37:48.159 This is we have about five, 10 minutes left. 00:37:48.400 --> 00:38:05.920 So um I I have I've never really heard of this model, except it sounds a little similar to the clubhouse model where you can get supported employment, although, of course, generally you're not living there in a clubhouse. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:07.039 It's a day program. 00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:09.039 And we do have episodes on that. 00:38:09.199 --> 00:38:15.760 If if you're interested, just you know, go go to our website and search Clubhouse and you'll you'll see things come up. 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:32.000 Um, it sounds similar to the sober home my son is in right now, except that he, you know, he has to go outside for any services, and it doesn't feel like he has that camaraderie because people have addictions for many, many reasons, and serious mental illness isn't all there is. 00:38:32.320 --> 00:38:36.559 But his fee is a weekly fee for a bed, basically. 00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:40.320 So, and that goes to the company that owns the sober home. 00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:48.079 So it sounds similar in that way, and it is relative compared to getting your own place, it's definitely affordable. 00:38:48.480 --> 00:39:00.079 Um so you have a a national conference coming up in Minnesota, and you mentioned a few states that is a so is this a CCL conference? 00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:04.800 Yep, so we're we're hosting

for the CCL this year in Minnesota. 00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:08.159 And it's it's the National Fairweather Lodge Conference. 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:17.440 So it really uh, you know, it's it is focused on people for for people who are living in lodges to attend and and people connected to lodges across the country. 00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:22.079 You know, for for others who are interested, it is an option uh to attend. 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:30.000 But it uh programming is really focused on um you know, a lot of the breakouts and other things are on, you know, wellness related. 00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:32.960 We have uh an improv breakout we're gonna be doing. 00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:41.280 We have um you know, wellness related activities, a thing on telling your story, um, a little bit on entrepreneurship. 00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:52.800 So, you know, some things that are very lodge themed and tied, and uh and it's gonna be uh we are we're hoping for representatives uh and people coming in from Pennsylvania. 00:39:52.960 --> 00:40:00.320 I think we've got one, maybe two coming from Texas, uh in Michigan, uh hoping to hear. 00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:13.039 So Tennessee, Iowa, and North Dakota, I haven't heard from anybody from those groups, but it's uh it's just a way to really come together, celebrate um what we call lodge life, and uh and and promote that connection. 00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:28.000 You know, one of the things that they keep trying to build is a connection between lodges across the country, you know, whether through discussion boards or uh, you know, pen pals, they try to get a little pen pal, you know, get back to the art of actually writing letters and and do a little bit of that. 00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:31.440 And so it is uh yeah, it's just coming up. 00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:37.840 Uh, we have a highly esteemed keynote speaker um uh who's gonna be coming. 00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:39.920 Uh her first name is Mindy. 00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:55.119 So oh, yay! I'm in I'm looking forward to it and getting up to date with Task Unlimited and Fair Weather Lodge programs because it it is remains my favorite place where our son ever was. 00:40:55.519 --> 00:41:01.920 Um and one um thing that I really love about it is the results that you get. 00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:10.159 So could you talk about the uh statistics of that you keep and brag a little bit? 00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:13.119 Go ahead, about your results. 00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:16.079 You're you're you're pushing me to be not be Midwestern. 00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:16.559 I don't know. 00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:25.280 But remember, we've got California, Los Angeles, out Washington, and Randy's right by New York. 00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:27.519 So you can Yeah, we brag on the coasts. 00:41:27.679 --> 00:41:28.400 We brag. 00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:28.880 Yeah. 00:41:30.719 --> 00:41:41.760 Just as an example, um, you know, last year, 87% of the people who started the year connected to our programs ended the

year connected to our programs, which is huge. 00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:51.199 Uh, and and even beyond that, 98% um of people staying in lodges stayed in the community and didn't have any hospitalizations. 00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:55.119 So I think that was uh a big piece there. 00:41:55.360 --> 00:42:06.239 You know, the other the other things from the larger CCL stats, that uh, you know, 98.5% of lodge members report taking their meds regularly and correctly. 00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:14.320 That um 98.3 percent of that group over the last two years has had no inpatient hospitalizations. 00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:23.840 So I think those are a couple big pieces, you know, and just uh, you know, if there's anybody out there that funds programs, the cost effectiveness of this is huge. 00:42:24.079 --> 00:42:32.000 Um, you know, uh the cost of a lodge per day to kind of wrap everything in is right around$18 per person. 00:42:32.480 --> 00:42:43.679 Uh, you know, that's like$6,500 a year uh versus what uh uh inpatient stay would be$800 a day or more. 00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:46.320 So or uh or a jail stay. 00:42:46.800 --> 00:42:47.599 Yeah, incarceration. 00:42:47.840 --> 00:42:50.239 Why would you say the daily rate again? 00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:54.880 Yeah, so uh well it is exactly$17.85 per day. 00:42:55.599 --> 00:42:57.360 Okay, so look how that compares me, me. 00:42:57.599 --> 00:43:01.440 You were talking about places that cost$60,000 a month. 00:43:01.679 --> 00:43:14.960 So this is like an amazing um cost-effective way, and then also but the results, you know, I would pay 60,000 at times in my son's life per month if I could afford it for those kind of results. 00:43:15.119 --> 00:43:20.880 So to have have it be cheap, I would say, and the best results. 00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:25.840 I can't I can't think of any other program that has the results that has unlimited health. 00:43:26.159 --> 00:43:27.360 It sounds pretty amazing. 00:43:27.519 --> 00:43:36.400 And you know, I keep thinking of my friend who keeps saying to me, it's you know, they're it's like they don't even care about his mental health. 00:43:36.559 --> 00:43:40.800 And I my response to that is they're running a prison. 00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:43.519 You know, they're not running a mental health center. 00:43:43.679 --> 00:43:50.880 We as a k as a society have decided that that's where we're gonna send them all, but they're not there to help people with mental illness. 00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:53.440 You know, I mean, they're just charging people. 00:43:53.760 --> 00:43:54.000 Yeah. 00:43:54.320 --> 00:43:56.719 I think my favorite thing go ahead, Matt. 00:43:56.880 --> 00:43:59.760 I'm just saying my favorite thing I've heard so far is you, Jim, saying that. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:02.079 That these aren't my friends, they're my family. 00:44:02.320 --> 00:44:02.559 Yeah. 00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:05.280 And I had a question for Jim too, then. 00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:09.360 Uh we've talked around it, but could you just talk right at it? 00:44:09.760 --> 00:44:19.440 The autonomy, you know, the self-sufficiency, the taking care of yourselves and your family compared to other programs that are staff heavy. 00:44:19.679 --> 00:44:23.519 How could you tell the listeners about how you like that? 00:44:24.320 --> 00:44:33.519 Um well the self-suffsufficiency task used to have a quote, uh uh cultivating. 00:44:34.400 --> 00:44:38.719 Oh, oh, this was an old mission statement that I I don't think I'm gonna be able to remember. 00:44:39.039 --> 00:44:40.880 Cultivating community. 00:44:41.920 --> 00:44:44.159 Um well anyway, whatever it's called. 00:44:45.360 --> 00:44:46.000 What is it? 00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:46.880 Yeah. 00:44:47.760 --> 00:44:48.079 Okay. 00:44:49.119 --> 00:45:02.880 Um well a lot of a lot of people in task, you know, I've got we call I call them veterans, you know, people that have been around like quite a quite a while. 00:45:03.199 --> 00:45:12.960 Um I myself uh my time in task has been the best thing for me. 00:45:13.199 --> 00:45:19.840 Um I um my mental health is is a lot better. 00:45:19.920 --> 00:45:26.079 Um it's good to be in a lodge with you know people that are going through the same thing as you. 00:45:26.719 --> 00:45:30.719 And you know, you're with them all the time. 00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:38.320 It's it's better than isolating and you know, we're all friends and family, like I said. 00:45:39.440 --> 00:45:52.639 Um it's just that when when you're living with people a a lot, you know, you get to know them and you get attached to them. 00:45:52.960 --> 00:45:54.559 I got a lot of friends. 00:45:54.800 --> 00:46:09.280 That's one thing I used to like about different things with Tass, they used to do like picnics and stuff, and I'd we'd get together like uh picnics, and I I kind of felt like it, it felt like a family reunion, you know. 00:46:09.440 --> 00:46:11.119 So, oh yeah, I remember you. 00:46:11.199 --> 00:46:17.599 You you worked over here, you lived in that lodge, we lived together and sharing our experiences. 00:46:18.559 --> 00:46:24.639 Um it's it's totally changed my life since since I first joined the program. 00:46:25.599 --> 00:46:30.880 So you're not just friends with people in your lodge, you're friends with people in other lodges too. 00:46:31.440 --> 00:46:32.559 Yes, yes, yeah. 00:46:33.280 --> 00:46:34.320 So that's really cool. 00:46:34.480 --> 00:46:40.960 Well, before we end, and maybe Mimi, it looks like you have one more question, but I want to say this so I don't forget. 00:46:41.039 --> 00:47:01.679 Um, it's a it's a a book that came out quite a while ago, but I want to mention a book called if people want to learn about lodges, it's um you know, it came out I think 20 or 25 years ago, but it's still the flavor of a lodge is very well represented in a book called Lodge Magic. 00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:03.599 Lodge Lodge Magic. 00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:08.000 It's by John Trepp,

T-R-E P P. 00:47:08.320 --> 00:47:10.800 Maybe, Randy, you could put that in the show notes too. 00:47:11.039 --> 00:47:23.119 I will still get the book on Amazon or um and uh it is um, it's what made me want Jim to go there in the first place when I read that book. 00:47:23.199 --> 00:47:25.599 And he read it and he wanted to go there too. 00:47:25.760 --> 00:47:33.199 And it talks about exactly the things that Jim has been talking about, about you know, how they become a family in a lodge. 00:47:33.360 --> 00:47:40.800 And and it also has in there the results at that time, which are very similar to the ones Trevor just talked about right now. 00:47:40.880 --> 00:47:46.960 So I wanted to make sure people have a chance to read that book if they really want to know about the lodges. 00:47:47.039 --> 00:47:47.679 So Mimi. 00:47:48.320 --> 00:47:54.719 Well, what I was wondering about now is what about um the different sexes? 00:47:54.880 --> 00:47:57.920 The men and women, are they in the same place? 00:47:58.079 --> 00:47:59.039 Is it separated? 00:47:59.199 --> 00:48:00.400 How does that work? 00:48:01.199 --> 00:48:06.960 I've actually lived in some lodges that had both female and male together. 00:48:07.840 --> 00:48:23.199 Um usually when somebody moves into a lodge, we meet with the person before they get into the lodge, and they they actually ask us, uh, do you think they'd be a good candidate for our lodge? 00:48:23.280 --> 00:48:30.079 And and you know, we'd we'd say, well, yes, uh I think they'd be a good candidate. 00:48:30.800 --> 00:48:39.679 But they want you to, you know, know the people, and you know, you're gonna have them living with you for a long time. 00:48:39.920 --> 00:48:41.599 Like my lodge I'm in now. 00:48:41.679 --> 00:48:52.159 I've been there for five years, and um, you know, yeah, and and it really is up to the lodges. 00:48:52.239 --> 00:48:58.000 I mean, we'll we'll what we want to do is make sure everybody feels safe and secure and that that can be their home space. 00:48:58.079 --> 00:49:00.800 And so do people have their own rooms? 00:49:01.119 --> 00:49:01.840 Yep, yep. 00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:03.199 Everybody has their own room, yeah. 00:49:03.599 --> 00:49:04.000 Own room. 00:49:04.159 --> 00:49:10.000 And and do you work with like ticket to work if someone's on social security and yet you're getting them employment? 00:49:10.079 --> 00:49:24.239 Do you make sure that they don't lose their social security while they're yep, yep, and so and we talk a lot about the benefits, Cliff, and just kind of where that, you know, what those where those decisions are and those considerations. 00:49:24.800 --> 00:49:29.760 I'm about to send my son to Minnesota just so you know that's what's going through my mind now. 00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:42.320 I'm hoping also that hospitals and uh jails are aware of you so that when people get discharged, there's an option for them to at least know about, do they? 00:49:42.719 --> 00:49:45.920 Yeah, and that's a big piece of us getting the message out at this point. 00:49:46.079 --> 00:49:57.360 You know, my my goal is to that we we aren't the best kept secret anymore, and we can, you know, make sure that you know the people that this model will be a good fit for, and and that's even us lodge members. 00:49:57.679 --> 00:50:04.719 I myself um tell tell other people I know, friends and stuff, about tasks. 00:50:04.880 --> 00:50:08.400 And they say, Yeah, we have this program task, tasks unlimited. 00:50:08.480 --> 00:50:11.840 It's what I've been involved with for 33 years. 00:50:12.079 --> 00:50:22.559 I said it'd be a wonderful place to live, wonderful, wonderful place to work, and it's great just uh transform your life. 00:50:22.960 --> 00:50:26.880 And and I'm hoping, oh, go ahead, finished succeed. 00:50:27.519 --> 00:50:38.239 I'm hoping this podcast will sprout more lodges all over the country because I do think it, as Trevor said, it is the best kept secret, and it shouldn't be a secret at all. 00:50:38.320 --> 00:50:41.840 It should be called out from the rooftops. 00:50:42.159 --> 00:50:50.400 Really, I think if you were to ask the moms, it would be right up there with you know, the number one thing we worry about. 00:50:50.960 --> 00:50:55.199 The number one issue is housing, long-term housing. 00:50:55.280 --> 00:50:56.239 It's difficult. 00:50:56.559 --> 00:50:57.599 And community. 00:50:57.760 --> 00:51:02.960 And commun, I mean, yeah, you know, my son, this it just sounds lovely. 00:51:03.119 --> 00:51:03.920 It sounds lovely. 00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:05.199 So let's get the word out. 00:51:05.360 --> 00:51:08.800 If you're in Minnesota, go to tasksunlimited.org. 00:51:08.960 --> 00:51:13.280 If you want general information, thecl.org. 00:51:13.440 --> 00:51:18.400 The book to read is Lodge Magic, and you can find that on Amazon. 00:51:18.559 --> 00:51:25.840 And let's hope that you have a great state conference with your wonderful keynote speaker, and that you're not the best kept secret anymore. 00:51:25.920 --> 00:51:28.159 And thank you so much for joining us. 00:51:28.800 --> 00:51:30.079 Thank you so much. 00:51:30.480 --> 00:51:35.760 Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of Schizophrenia Three Moms in the Trenches. 00:51:35.920 --> 00:51:44.320 You can help out the podcast and help others by sharing the podcast and by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts and or on YouTube. 00:51:44.639 --> 00:51:52.800 And remember, you can reach us at mindygryling.com, Randy K.com, or Miriamfeldman.com.