Our History
In the Beginning
Vail Place is named after Dr. David Vail, a national pioneer in promoting the humanitarian treatment of people with mental illnesses in community-based settings.
PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON PRESENTING DR. VAIL WITH AN AWARD FOR HIS EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF NEW MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION.
FIRST VAIL PLACE CLUBHOUSE OPENS ON HOPKINS MAIN STREET, AUGUST 1981
1980
Most Minnesotans with mental illness had been moved out of institutions. A group of mental health professionals and community leaders, realizing the critical need for community-based services, chose the “Clubhouse Model” as the best approach to meet this need.
1988
Responding to the growing need for community-based mental health services, Vail Place opened a second Clubhouse location in Uptown Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR DON FRASER OFFICIATES AT THE CLUBHOUSE DEDICATION.
1989
Vail Place is awarded contracts by Hennepin County to run two of their seven Community Support Programs (CSPs).
1993
Renovations of Triplex are completed and provide affordable housing for seven Vail Place members. This marks a new stage in the development of our housing services, which will see ongoing, significant growth
TRIPLEX APARTMENT BUILDING IN ST. LOUIS PARK DONATED TO VAIL PLACE.
VAIL PLACE “TEAM OF THE LAKES” CASE MANAGERS AT OUR MINNEAPOLIS LOCATION.
1998
Vail Place begins to expand beyond its Clubhouse roots when it enters into a collaboration with State and County staff to provide multi-disciplinary coordination of services through Team Case Management.
2002
Opening of Vail in the Park, an 8-unit apartment building in St. Louis Park that provides low-cost, permanent, supported housing for adults with serious mental illnesses.
OPEN HOUSE FOR VAIL IN THE PARK IN ST. LOUIS PARK.
DOW TOWERS IN HOPKINS
2006
Vail Place collaborations grow as federal and state funding support onsite supportive housing services in Hopkins public housing and rental assistance for long-term homeless in St. Louis Park.
2011
Purchased an electronic health records software system to increase program effectiveness
and enhance data tracking and analysis.
2015
Hopkins facility totally renovated and building next door purchased and renovated to provide needed space for existing programs and planned, strategic expansion
2016
Acquired Vail House (formerly Cabrini Transitional House), a 23-bed Group Residential Housing (GRH) facility in Minneapolis that provides transitional housing and support services for homeless adults with mental illness and chemical dependency needs.
VAIL HOUSE – 1025 6TH ST SE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55414
2017
Launched Vail Care, a Medicaid-certified behavioral health home services program that helps people with complex mental and physical health needs set goals and strategies to manage their overall health. Developed Vail Connect, which helps people obtain mental and/or medical health assessment, treatment, resources, support, and education.
2019
Developed a new ‘Assertive Outreach & Stability Program,” designed to work with individuals with mental illnesses, substance use disorders and chronic medical conditions who have had frequent hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
2020
Successfully transitioned most programs to virtual environment to ensure continuity of care and continued access to services for individuals with serious mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
Created a new “Housing Division” to encompass all of our individual housing programs and services under one umbrella, allowing for greater integration and leveraging of resources to better meet the needs of the community.
2022
We onboarded our new Executive Director, Karina Forrest Perkins, moved staff and services back to in-person or hybrid, and deepened our knowledge of technology to enhance client serving interactions now and in the future.
2023
Refined our program offerings to focus attention on mission excellence (Closed three programs and introduced a new focus on data, evaluation, and application).
Secured stable funding for our Clubhouse locations in Hopkins and Minneapolis and secured additional funding from DHS to open a new Clubhouse in Ramsey County.
2024
This was a BIG year!
We rebranded our mission, values, logo, and impact statement.
We experienced multiple public policy successes in the legislature that benefited our clients, residents, and members.
We opened our Ramsey County Clubhouse (RamCo) in the Rondo Neighborhood of St. Paul.
We built new employment partnerships that complemented programs, enhanced the client experience, and strengthened communities.
We ended the year with a 104% improved financial condition compared to 2023.
We imroved our staff compensation philosophy and investment agency wide.
We experienced a record-breaking year in fundraising including the launch of our first formal gala with Sean Astin!
Who we are
Vail Communities is a nonprofit organization that provides community-based recovery services for adults with serious mental illnesses.
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Interested in learning more? Join us for a tour of our Clubhouses.
