MSSA
MSSA is the largest organization for human service professionals in Minnesota, and the MSSA Conference is the largest human service conference in the state. Visit http://www.mnsocialserviceassoc.org/ for more information.
Fun + work = MSSA conference
Who ever said work can't be fun? Well, they were wrong, just ask several staff members from Nexus treatment sites who recently attended the Minnesota Social Services Association's (MSSA) 114th Annual Training Conference and Expo, titled "Times They Are A Changing."
Clinical Supervisor Roy Neumann and Admissions and Transitional Services Manager Jeff Hansen represented Mille Lacs Academy and Admissions Coordinator Loren Nerison represented Gerard Academy. Neumann's wife Cindy, a former Mille Lacs Academy staff member, continues to go to the conference in support of the academy. The group has been attending and participating in the conference for the past three years.
"MSSA is an opportunity for us to network with other professionals and share ideas of where we all want to go to serve children and families in more creative and productive ways," stated Neumann.
Each year the conference includes an evening social, which is kicked off by opening the hospitality cabanas; the cabanas are hosted by a variety of organizations, and every year there are different themes. This year's theme was Music Fest, and Nexus hosted a cabana with the theme of "Sounds of Summer," complete with a beach ambiance. Nerison says the cabanas present an opportunity to network in a more social and personal setting, and it is those interactions that are most likely to have a lasting impact.
"It's nice to hear what people around the state have to say about various topics ranging from the specific services they want for their clients, to creative interventions they've seen, to legislation that affects families," said Neumann. "Every year, I bring back new insights to Mille Lacs Academy that I can share with my team and with other social service agencies."