Values are at the heart of CSA’s success
Community Support Advocates is celebrating 25 years of supporting individuals and families impacted by mental health or disabilities in Central Iowa. The nonprofit served 100 people during its first year in 1997 — and expects to serve more than 1,900 people this year.
A critical “first stop” organization that connects individuals and families to resources — such as employment, education, and community living — CSA’s impact has resonated throughout Polk, Jasper, Story, Dallas, and Warren counties.
To celebrate a quarter-century of service, CSA asked individuals to share their stories. Read more stories at teamcsa.org or follow #CSA25DSM on Facebook or Instagram.
David Higdon, who has worked as a partner with CSA since its beginning, was first introduced to the nonprofit through his work as a program planner at Polk County Health Services.
For the past six years, he’s served as CSA’s director of accounting. David shared his story in his own words:
For the last 25 years, I have had the opportunity to watch the growth and development of CSA from this ringside seat.
CSA has heart. Heart meaning the compassionate and passionate pursuit of helping people with disabilities live their best life. Compassionate, in understanding each person’s story and what is interfering with the pursuit of one’s best life. Passionate because CSA strives to be dedicated, competent, innovative, and persistent- to do what it takes to help a person live that best life.
As a reliable partner with Polk County Health Services, CSA always stepped up to help the Polk County service system develop and implement improvements and stretch to serve people with complex needs. When people returned to Polk County from an institutional setting, CSA exceeded expectations to integrate the person into the community. I was always confident that when I called, the person would be in good hands.
When Polk County wished to implement a learning collaborative, CSA was right there providing leadership in developing the network and then staff to do the work. The PBS Network is a viable coalition after more than fifteen years and CSA is still providing leadership for providers to focus on a common philosophy and tools to help people overcome life’s challenges.
As an employee of CSA, I had the pleasure of being a part of developing CSA’s values. Not many companies are dedicated and persistent enough to devote the time and resources to help people internalize a robust set of values – and it shows.
From the nonprofit’s infancy, it has always been on a path of embracing values and practice to forge a partnership with the members and families served. CSA works to insure that people are treated with the utmost respect, self-determination, and positive regard.
It is important for a community to have organizations like CSA to work with people and families that are trying to understand how to navigate a very complex disability service system. The folks at CSA are particularly adept at this role because of the experience and desire to genuinely guide and serve people.
A common sentiment I heard from families in support groups I attended was an appreciation of the experience, knowledge, and dedication of people working at CSA.
The Polk County community and surrounding communities in Central Iowa are better because of the work CSA employees humbly and dutifully perform every day. Many families rest easier because someone from CSA is providing direct community support to a loved one or advising the family.
This level of competence does not happen in a vacuum. There is a unity of purpose in this organization that does not just happen. It has to be diligently cultivated and regularly attended to.
The folks at CSA are never satisfied and strive to make the organization better each day. This persistent quest has been the hallmark of the last 25 years and I’d bet it will be for the next 25.
