Empower Specialist Services

Empower Support Services are provided by professionals designed to promote, support, and augment staff and caregiver competency to meet a person’s needs in eligible areas. Empower Support Services have a primary focus on; behavior and mental health symptom support to strengthen effective emotional and behavioral functioning and manage harmful symptom expression, community safety training and support, and skills to live independently.

Services provided:
Assessment of the person and situation to determine the factors precipitating the crisis.
Development of a provider intervention plan in coordination with the service-planning team.
Consultation and training to the provider(s) and/or caregiver(s) to ensure successful implementation of the provider intervention plan.
Ongoing technical assistance to the caregiver or provider to implement the provider intervention plan.
Recommendations for service plan revision to prevent or minimize future crisis situations and increase the likelihood of maintaining the person in the community.

Vision:
Empower individuals to live the life they want to live and remove barriers.

Mission:
Enhance quality of life
Maximize access to inclusive opportunities
Promote person centered practices
Offer training & technical assistance
Widen use of positive support strategies
Eliminate restricted procedures
Reinforce dignity of risk

Trainings: EMPOWER Specialist Services staff will be providing virtual training, free to Bridges staff, in a variety of topics throughout the year to assist in expanding your knowledge and skills.
The training will be offered through the zoom and will be an interactive learning environment. Participants will be required to have a functioning camera and microphone to participate in the training.
If you wish to participate in the training and do not have access to a device that has these functions, please contact your supervisor or regional HR representative for assistance.
Any questions about the various trainings please contact Nichole Meyer or Madelyn Dailey with the EMPOWER Specialist Services Department.
Please click the link below to view the 2022 training calendar and register.

Questions contact:
Nichole Meyer, MSW, LGSW
Bridges MN Empower Support Services
Mental Health Professional

Nichole Meyer has a long professional career with a strong focus on services and supports for individuals living with developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and/or trauma. She has worked in the disability field for over eleven years in a variety of professional roles, including; Direct Support Professional, lead agency Developmental Disabilities Social Worker, Positive Support Rule Trainer, Positive Behavior Support Trainer, in-home family and adolescent clinical therapy, and Wraparound Coordinator.

She received her Bachelor’s degree from St Cloud State University in Social Work with a minor in Criminal Justice in 2013 and a Master’s Degree from St Cloud State University in Social Work in 2017. Her professional knowledge is in disability service policies, trauma-informed practices, Positive Behavior Support, person-centered philosophy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, solution-focused therapy, and disability rights.

Maddie Dailey
Bridges MN Empower Support Services
Behavior Analyst

Maddie Dailey has long history of working with individuals living with autism spectrum disorder as well as other developmental disabilities and diagnosis. Maddie has been in the human services field since 2013 and has worked in many different roles in both residential and clinical settings. Some of the roles Maddie has had include Direct Support Professional, Program Manager, Behavior Technician, Supervising ABA Therapist, Early Intensive Developmental and Behavior Intervention (EIDBI) Coordinator, and most recently the role of Behavior Analyst with EMPOWER Support Services. 

Maddie has her bachelor's degree in Human Services from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2016, is finishing up her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Saint Edward’s University and is wrapping up supervision for her certification to be a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. 

Maddie has great professional knowledge in autism spectrum disorder, early intervention, positive behavior support, and person-centered practices.