Sioux Falls Non-Profits Talk About Merging
by Ashley Kringen, Reporter
January 11, 2013 12:53 PM
Two non-profits that have been around for more than 50 years are talking about merging in Sioux Falls.
Children's Care serves developmentally disabled children and South Dakota Achieve serves adults with disabilities and together these two non-profits could act as one.
For some people who use these services daily, combining the two agencies could be a positive decision for the community.
Brian and Richard, 17-year-old twins, who are students at Children’s Care, are full of life and personality and were exceptionally fascinated with the television camera and KDLT News microphone, ready for their spotlight.
They've been going to school at Children's Care in Sioux Falls for quite some time now.
Their dad, Christopher Clark, said he supports the possible merging with South Dakota Achieve because once his son's graduate from Children's Care, Achieve, would be their next learning tool.
"It will be a big help to know that they can facilitate for them. We've already been down to look at the facility and that's probably where when they turn 21, where they'll be going," said Clark.
Angie Brown with Children's Care said talking about merging the two agencies is in the preliminary stages right now...but there are reasons for why the topic is even on the radar, uncertainty with funding at both the state and federal levels and because the agencies share the same interests.
"We have similar missions and values and serve a similar population of individuals and really just want to see what bringing the two together could do for furthering our mission," said Brown.
Children's Care was founded in 1952 and employs 500 people and South Dakota Achieve was founded in 1958 and employs just over 600 people.
Both of these agencies and their employees give care to children and adults in need.
For Clark and his twins, he said he's thankful these services are available for his family.
"This is a whole big family and if they go to Achieve that would be great," said Clark.
Both Brian and Richard have been practicing hellos and goodbyes, they hope to get jobs as greeters at Wal-Mart when they graduate from Children's Care.
