Our Services
Imagine for a moment all of the needs that you have had in your lifetime from birth to the present and the needs that you anticipate having until the day you die. It is difficult to name all of the needs that people have throughout their lifetimes. But, at Michael Dunn Center, providing for the needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities is our mission, our goal, our passion.
How We Serve
Please don’t confuse meeting our supported persons’ needs with any type of institutional setting. In fact, the opposite is true. Each service is designed to support an individual’s choices to be involved in their own communities. Each service strives to integrate each individual into their community in ways that are meaningful and valuable to both the individual and the community. In fact, Michael Dunn Center has a long history of partnering with groups and individuals to create opportunities for people supported to be active in their respective communities.
It is difficult to summarize the many ways Michael Dunn Center meets needs. Please learn more about each individual program by clicking on the links to the programs. As you see, the programs are presented in a way that takes you through the daily life of a supported person. We also invite you to come see for yourself the many ways the persons we support are achieving independence and realizing opportunities through the services provided by Michael Dunn Center. If you are interested in helping Michael Dunn Center meet the needs of the people we serve please give today at the Donations page.
Our Programs
Below are just some of the many programs we offer to help meet our community’s needs.
Conservatorship Program
MDC is contracted with DIDD to support people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities statewide. The MDC Conservatorship Program employs 35 Conservator Representatives across the state. The average caseload size for a Conservator Representative is 20-25 people.
Day Habilitation
The Day Habilitation Program at Michael Dunn Center provides adults with developmental disabilities the chance daily to belong to a network of friends while participating in the community around them.
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Early Intervention
The Michael Dunn Center [MDC] Home and Community Based Early Intervention service is a voluntary educational program for families with children ages birth to five years of age with disabilities or developmental delays implemented through a contract with the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
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Family Model Residential Services
Family Model Services employees work tirelessly to match families who want to open their hearts and their homes with individuals who need a home. Thanks to the support and care coordinated by the staff of Family Model Services, the individuals and families can live more meaningful and peaceful lives.
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Health Care
With a staff of over 50 nurses, 6 therapists (including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nutrition and Speech Therapy) and approximately 100 unlicensed direct service professionals and support staff, the Health Services Department offers a variety of health related services.
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Physical and Occupational Therapy
The therapy department sees individuals who live in Michael Dunn Center homes, as well as homes in other agencies that are similar to Michael Dunn, across east Tennessee. Additionally, the Outpatient Center will also be able to see individuals without disabilities through workers comp insurance, as well as individuals without disabilities through their own private health insurance.
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Residential Habilitation
The Residential Habilitation Program at Michael Dunn Center offers quality housing in a community setting for individuals with developmental disabilities. The staff of the Residential Habilitation Programs is responsible for providing a safe and healthy environment which supports each individual’s choices to lead the lives they desire. All individuals that reside in a Residential Habilitation home are involved in daily activities outside of the home including work, community participation, or attending the Michael Dunn Center Adult Day Program.
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Supported Living
Individualized care and support is a very common theme among the programs you will read about on the Michael Dunn Center website. Nowhere is that more true than in Michael Dunn Center’s Supported Living homes. The needs of the individuals who live in these 10 homes housing up to 4 individuals vary greatly. Regardless of the level of support required, each home is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with Direct Support Professionals who are specifically trained to support the needs of each individual within the home.
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Work Programs
Off-site work opportunities include assembly at industrial and manufacturing centers, recycling and sorting, janitorial, plantscape, curbside recycling, and trash pickup service. Supervisors are provided to train employees and assure quality work. Ongoing follow up takes place to maintain successful employment at integrated community job sites. Our employees are also available for full time and part time employment directly with outside companies.
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Other Services
It takes a total team effort to provide for all the needs of 900+ children and adults. The needs are many and the resources are limited. Planning, efficiency, and execution are the goals of the departments that provide the infrastructure of the agency. Michael Dunn Center is no different than any other successful company in the roles of the departments that provide indirect support to those who utilize the services.
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