Get to Know a Neighbor - Neighborhood Involvement Program

The Neighborhood Involvement Program (N.I.P.) is a non-profit organization providing a variety of programs to the Twin Cities community. Many in the South Minneapolis neighborhood may be familiar with the big red brick building at 2431 Hennepin Avenue that houses Neighborhood Involvement Program, and may have used the services provided by the Uptown Community Clinic and/or our Counseling Center. But you may not know the variety of services provided by N.I.P. N.I.P. programs provide medical, dental, and mental health services to people without insurance; counseling and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence; tutoring and mentoring for at-risk kids; assistance to elderly homeowners through chore services; and social outlets for isolated seniors. In 2002, approximately 35,000 clients in the Twin Cities area were served through at least one of our seven programs. In upcoming issues of this newsletter I will describe in better detail the services provided within these seven programs. In this issue I would like to state the mission of N.I.P. and provide a brief look at our history.

The Neighborhood Involvement Program's mission statement reads: The Neighborhood Involvement Program strengthens individuals and the community by providing health and social services to our underserved neighbors. N.I.P's mission has always reflected a community philosophy of caring, cost-effective, professional services. We are constantly trying to help people reach their potential by working through problems that may hold them back, such as limited resources, academic difficulties, costly health care, emotional concerns, physical frailty and personal safety issues. People with these concerns come to us for understanding and professional services they can afford.

During the mid-1960's, a group of businesses, religious groups, civic groups and neighbors came together with similar concerns. They were aware of social problems in their south Minneapolis neighborhood and wanted to do something to help. Their solution was the formation of the Neighborhood Involvement Program.

N.I.P.'s neighborhood has grown to include Hennepin County and its outlying areas. N.I.P. offers a variety of health care and social services to women, men and children in need. N.I.P.'s small staff and large group of caring volunteers together provide effective, affordable services that clients can appreciate and can use to improve the quality of their lives. The Neighborhood Involvement Program's paid staff numbers only 50. Therefore we depend greatly on the help of volunteers. In 2001, over 850 volunteers donated over 36,000 hours of their time and talents to N.I.P. N.I.P. services are free or based on a flexible, sliding fee scale. No one is turned away due to their inability to pay.

N.I.P.'s seven programs include the Uptown Community Clinic, Rape & Sexual Abuse Center, Counseling Center, Therapy Associates, Seniors Program, Youth Program and Cargill Scholars (R). In the next issue of the newsletter I will focus on the Uptown Community Clinic medical and dental services and community education programs.