Removing Barriers, Promoting Choices

Learn more about our services

You are here: Home / News

News

Rethinking Care with Constitutional Responsibility and Purpose

MCIL is grateful to The Elite Success Magazine for their latest article, which highlights the direct care crisis and our ongoing efforts to solve it.

"The direct care crisis is one of the most serious humanitarian challenges facing civil society today ... These static policies block stability. They erode personal dignity. They create fear around earning, saving, or accepting help from family. Over time, these pressures compound and trap people in cycles of dependency."

MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez "believes lasting change begins when care is treated as a shared responsibility, not a hidden cost, for everyone involved."

Read the full article, "Rethinking Care with Constitutional Responsibility and Purpose," on The Elite Success website.

Cover of The Elite Success magazine featuring Jesse Bethke Gomez.

Community input on Long COVID needed

As the medical community learns more about Long COVID every day, the impacts on the lives of people with disabilities are becoming increasingly clear. To better understand these impacts, the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL), a leader in education and outreach on the topic, is launching a new survey and seeking community participation.

The experiences of people with disabilities—including those currently living with Long COVID—are invaluable to this work. MCIL, in partnership with Access Press and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), encourages all community members to share their perspectives.

Learn more on the Access Press website.

Take the MCIL Long COVID Community Survey.

MCIL PCA College Service Corps Program Receives $24,000 Quality of Life Grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Grant helps advance innovative program, bringing meaningful change for those impacted by PCA workforce crisis

ST. PAUL, MINN – (January 21, 2026) – The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is proud to announce that it has been awarded $24,000 as part of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) 2025 Direct Effect 1st Cycle Quality of Life grants. Sixty-one grants totaling $1,240,870 were awarded. The Quality of Life Grants Program supports nonprofit organizations that empower individuals living with paralysis. Since the Quality of Life Grants Program's inception, more than 4,100 grants totaling $50 million have been awarded. Funding for this program was made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living (ACL grant #90PRRC0006 -04).

The Reeve Foundation's National Paralysis Resource Center offers several grants under the Quality of Life program, awarding grants in various categories with different amounts.

“Each award granted is a reflection of the Foundation’s commitment to advance accessibility, connectivity, and independence for individuals and families impacted by paralysis,” said Dan McNeal, Director of the Quality of Life Grants Program, Reeve Foundation. The remarkable strides and unwavering dedication these organizations make to further their mission are commendable. These grants illustrate a world of inclusion and accessibility, elevating quality of life for those living with paralysis.”

Funds from this generous grant will support the PCA College Service Corps. This pilot program, facilitated by the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL), is a first in the United States of America and is a pioneering approach to address our nation's critical need for Personal Care Assistants (PCAs), which has resulted in dire consequences for the disability community. Stretched impossibly thin, the gap between providers and those relying on care to live independently and safely is not an abstract statistic but a reality with daily, and potentially deadly, consequences. The PCA College Service Corps offers an approach that, at its core, alleviates personal suffering, enhances independence, affirms dignity and respect, advances moral and civic awareness, and stabilizes communities, while building the foundation for a critical workforce and a pathway offering personal and professional rewards.

How it works: The PCA College Service Corps offers college students flexible work hours, an elevated wage, valuable experience toward occupational goals, and the chance to make meaningful connections while serving their community. The program is open to students 18 years of age or older who are currently enrolled in a postsecondary education program in Minnesota. Students commit to 10-, 20-, or 30-week options, spending an average of 10 hours per week working as a PCA. Students are matched with Participants in the Minnesota PCA program who are assessed as needing 10 or more hours of PCA services per day, direct their own care, and are accepted into the PCA College Service Corps. When a match is made, the student meets with the Participant's PCA provider, and if approved, is hired directly by their agency. Training, guidance, and mentoring are provided. In addition to their competitive hourly wage, students can earn between $1,500 and $4,500 as a (taxable) incentive bonus award. The program is funded in part by the State of Minnesota and the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund of the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation. Although the program is based in Minnesota, it is designed to be replicated nationwide.

"We are honored to receive this recognition from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation," stated Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA, MCIL Executive Director. "MCIL is committed to removing barriers and helping people with disabilities live their most independent lives. Our work is fully aligned with Minnesota's constitution, which states that 'Government is instituted for the security, benefit and protection of the people, in whom all political power is inherent, together with the right to alter, modify or reform government whenever required by the public good.' This view and the constitutional rights of people, advances independent living as both an individual right, and a community outcome, and are driven to empower people to be whole, housed, and heard. We believe that freedom, safety, and fairness are not optional in systems that affect people's daily lives." Bethke Gomez added, "The Quality of Life grant is a validation of the PCA College Service Corps' potential to advance vibrant communities which in turn is necessary to expand a sustainable economy. This program brings a mindful, human-centered approach to a national crisis, holding great promise in improving the lives of people living with disabilities while building a dedicated workforce of direct care providers. We are grateful to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for their support of this endeavor."

Personal reflections:
Michelle Vrieze, PCA College Service Corps Administrator, shared: "The PCA College Service Corps has become a new avenue, even a go-to, for people who need PCA assistance. Those with disabilities have faced some dark times with staffing in the wake of the pandemic. I am both humbled and elated to see that this program has become the light that gets in for participants and college students alike. Their bond becomes this beautiful balance: students receive experience, mentoring, and funds for education, and participants receive a partner in care, an advocate, and an ally in achieving independent living. Success comes in building ongoing, meaningful connections that allow everyone to thrive."

PCA College Service Corps Participant Rachel offered: "As a lifelong wheelchair user, PCAs are integral to my life, and critical in supporting my daily living activities. I've traveled and worked across the U.S., earned a master's degree, purchased a home, and work full-time, all thanks to their ever-present support. For the past decade, I have directly overseen my care and personally hired my PCAs. Before the PCA CSC came along, finding support services was incredibly stressful. The PCA CSC has alleviated all that anxiety by providing a network of talented, dedicated PCAs. I'm incredibly grateful for all this program has brought to my life. It's been a bonus to get to know these students, hear about their academic pursuits, and even serve as a mentor in their journeys."

PCA College Service Corps Student James reflected: "I was uncertain about pursuing medical studies, and my school advisor suggested I check out the PCA CSC program. It was a life-changing decision. For the past two summers, I have worked with a PCA CSC Participant, "T." My confidence has grown, and I've gained a greater understanding of people and my ability to meet them where they are. "T" and I have formed a deep bond, sharing life advice and our experiences together. Working as a PCA has solidified my desire to work in the medical field and pursue a meaningful career where I can impact and improve people's lives."

About the Reeve Foundation: The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis. By uniting the brightest minds in the field, we are working tirelessly to accelerate scientific discoveries across the field of spinal cord research by investing in labs across the globe. Additionally, through a cooperati ve agreement with the Administration for Community Living, the Reeve Foundation's National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) promotes the health, well-being, and independence of people living with paralysis, providing comprehensive information, resources, and referral services, assisting over 139,000 individuals and families since its launch in 2002. The Reeve Foundation is committed to elevating our community's voices and needs to achieve greater representation and independence. We meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau's standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB's Charity Seal. For more information, please visit our website at ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.

About MCIL: Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA, is an award-winning Chief Executive Officer with expertise in executive, strategic, and healthcare leadership. Jesse has served on over 42 Commissions, Boards and Leadership Teams throughout his career. He is among the "100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota" (MN Physicians 2024, 2020). The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is a Twin Cities-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1981 with the mission: "To Advance the Independent Living of People with Disabilities by Removing Barriers and Promoting Choices." The agency is dedicated to the full realization of the Independent Living (IL) philosophy by assisting individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of independent living. MCIL is one of eight Centers for Independent Living in Minnesota and a member of the Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living. Visit MCIL-MN.org

Jesse Bethke Gomez: Leading the Charge for Disability Rights and Independent Living

“In my work I truly see the organizing principle for society as both the inalienable rights of the individual in pursuit of life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness and also human dignity defined as it is self-evident that human dignity is equally endowed in all humanity, that means every person throughout the world, and throughout all time.

So why does this most ennobled value matter—of advancing the ability of people to care for one another? The answer is within the nature of humanity. As my mother Irene Gomez-Bethke, who was the Commissioner of Human Rights for the State of Minnesota, would often say: We are one race—the Human Race.” -Jesse Bethke Gomez

Thank you to The Enterprise World for their October 2025 cover story! Read Jesse Bethke Gomez: Leading the Charge for Disability Rights and Independent Living on The Enterprise World website.

Jesse Bethke Gomez: Reimagining the Architecture of Independent Living

"The response he advances is moral and civic. It places the “top line” back where it belongs and treats dignity as a system requirement. From there, values like freedom, safety, and fairness become more than words. They act like scaffolding for communities that want to grow vibrant and stay economically sustainable."

We are grateful to Elite Business Chronicles for featuring MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez in a recent article!

Read Jesse Bethke Gomez: Reimagining the Architecture of Independent Living on the Elite Business Chronicles website.

Metropolitan Center for Independent Living receives Bush Foundation Grant for Direct Support Professional Certification Pilot Program

Groundbreaking project will institute college-accredited curriculum leading to the credential of a Certified Direct Care Support Professional for the direct care workforce

ST. PAUL, MINN, September 19, 2025 —The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) has received a $2.1 million grant from the Bush Foundation to develop a leading-edge pilot program offering direct care support professionals (DSP) and personal care assistants (PCA) a path for a college-accredited credential of a Certified Direct Support Professional. The Certified Direct Care Support Professionals Pilot Project builds upon MCIL's work of formulating the curriculum through broad-based input from stakeholders. MCIL's goal is to develop, test, and institute this new curriculum, leading to the credential of a Certified Direct Support Professional. MCIL is also committed to collaborating with government officials to assure that this new voluntary direct care role receives the legislative support needed to increase the earning power of this essential workforce, address the serious growing labor shortage, and improve the quality of care for those served and also to advance a vibrant community which in turn, leads to a sustainable economy.

One of Minnesota's eight Centers for Independent Living (CIL), MCIL serves both the seven-county metro area and for certain services, the statewide area, and is a recognized leader for its long-standing commitment and innovative approach to addressing critical issues facing the disability community. Minnesota has a growing and severe direct care workforce shortage gap of an estimated 53,000 unfilled positions, which places people who rely upon direct care services for daily living at great risk. Since 2016, Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA Executive Director of MCIL, has been working to address the direct care workforce shortage gap. In doing so, he identified the importance of a college-credit-based Certified Nursing credentialing for the medical sector of our nation's healthcare system. Jesse recognized the need for a similar college credit credential for the direct services of our nation's home care sector. MCIL led the development of an 80-hour, 85-page curriculum leading to the credential of a Certified Direct Support Professional.

The Certified Direct Care Support Professionals Pilot Project will be launched at selected metro-area colleges and universities. In conjunction with MCIL, these institutions are committed to refining and implementing the MCIL Certified Direct Support Professional curriculum that leads to a college credit-accredited course and certification for direct care service workers as a new career role, in addition to all other direct care roles. This groundbreaking program will provide more formal standards and stature than is currently available, and enrollees will gain a college-accredited level certification, a pathway for professional growth. MCIL is committed to obtaining the legislative support needed by the Minnesota Legislature, the SEIU Union, and the Governor, so that Certified Direct Support Professionals receive the appropriate increase in financial compensation.

"The direct care workforce is central in the care and human dignity for people with disabilities and older adults who rely upon direct care services for daily living," stated MCIL Executive Director Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA. "Over 5 million direct care workers have not had the opportunity for a college credit-based credential until now. To solve the direct care worker shortage gap, it is essential that we create this new opportunity to better support direct care workers for success by offering a college credit-based curriculum leading to the credential of a Certified Direct Support Professional and the financial and professional recognition they so justly deserve. We are immensely grateful to the Bush Foundation for their support of this groundbreaking project. We know that solving the direct care crisis will help to stabilize daily living for families, children, and individuals with disabilities and older adults, and can lead to a greater, vibrant community, which is necessary for a sustainable economy. This work in solving the direct care crisis is guided by the most noble value of a civil society, namely, to advance the ability of people to care for one another.”

According to PHI, a leading nonprofit national think tank on solving the Direct Care Crisis, the direct care workforce—comprised of more than 5 million personal care aides, home health aides, and nursing assistants—is projected to add over 860,000 new jobs between 2022 and 2032. This represents the largest growth of any job sector in the country. Despite providing essential care and support to millions of older adults and people with disabilities, direct care workers face siloed and disjointed training systems, limited career mobility, and inadequate compensation, leading to high turnover rates that ultimately compromise care quality.

“High-quality care and high-quality jobs go hand-in-hand—we cannot have one without the other," says Jeannine LaPrad, Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives of PHI. "PHI commends the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living for its work to fundamentally strengthen the direct care workforce. Initiatives like this are critical because they recognize a simple truth: investing in career development opportunities for direct care workers enhances the quality of life and independence of the people they serve.”

“Through our Community Innovation program, we look for ideas to develop, test and spread, and MCIL’s pilot project is a great example,” said Tony LookingElk, grantmaking director at the Bush Foundation. “This effort could become a model for others to replicate and help address the shortage of home health care workers that provide vital services to communities in our state and nationwide.”

Longtime champion of disability rights and inclusion, Minnesota Senator John Hoffman expressed, “The Certified Direct Care Support Professionals Pilot Project offers a much-needed career path enhancement for those who answer the call to serve fellow community members who rely upon direct care services for daily living. Our state and our nation face a growing critical shortage of direct care workers, a crisis that stands to directly harm those living with disabilities and older adults. This program validates the importance of Direct Care Support Professionals, brings a real-world solution to address the critical need for their work, and provides a sustainable support system for members of the disability communities and older adult communities.”

About MCIL: Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA, is an award-winning Chief Executive Officer with expertise in executive, strategic, and healthcare leadership. Jesse has served on over 42 Commissions, Boards and Leadership Teams throughout his career. He is among the "100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota" (MN Physicians 2024, 2020). The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is a Twin Cities-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1981 with the mission: "To Advance the Independent Living of People with Disabilities by Removing Barriers and Promoting Choices." The agency is dedicated to the full realization of the Independent Living (IL) philosophy by assisting individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of independent living. MCIL is one of eight Centers for Independent Living in Minnesota and a member of the Minnesota Association of Centers for Independent Living. Visit MCIL-MN.org

MCIL 7 Life Sustaining Dimensions Model

MCIL has now instituted a new framework called the Seven Life Sustaining Dimensions of Advancing Independent Living for Families, Children and Individuals with Disabilities and Older Adults. These seven life sustaining dimensions are universal to all families, children and individuals and yet the MCIL Model is specific for the disability communities and older adult communities, locally, nationally and globally. These seven life sustaining dimensions are also consistent with the required core services of a Center for Independent Living, which are the following: Information and referral, IL skills training, Peer counseling, Individual & systems advocacy, and services that facilitate transition from nursing homes and other institutions to the community, provide assistance to those at risk of entering institutions, and facilitate transition of youth to postsecondary life.

Tor Dahl, Chairman Emeritus of the World Confederation of the Productivity Sciences was a dear friend and colleague. Tor personally worked with over 40 countries and over 400 companies in advancing productivity. Tor's global work discovered that the nations with the highest presence of three vitally important society values, policies and presence of freedom, safety and fairness, also have the highest income per capita rates in the world. Investing in what people need to stabilize their lives to live independent living is good for an economy,

His work for us translates into the following framework leads us to discover the following:

  1. 7 Life Sustaining Dimensions stabilize Families, Children and Individuals with Disabilities
  2. This increases social and community connectedness
  3. Increase freedom, safety, fairness and connectedness advance vibrant communities
  4. Vibrant communities increase economic sustainability.

We look forward to our work together to advance independent living for all families, children and individuals with disabilities leading to greater vibrant communities, which in turn leads to greater economic sustainability.

Sincerely,

Jesse Bethke Gomez, MMA
Executive Director
Metropolitan Center for Independent Living

MCIL 7 Life Sustaining Dimensions Model for Independent Living (PDF)