Creating a Culture of Care and Support at Adapta with Executive Director, Kasi Haglund
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners in our community! We recently had the opportunity to chat with Kasi Haglund, executive director of a local nonprofit, who shared her experience of taking on a leadership role and creating meaningful change for the organization, staff, and residents.
Photo contributed by Kasi Haglund
Kasi Haglund, Executive Director of Adapta, an assisted living program designed to help individuals with brain injuries, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders, was on the verge of closure when she applied for the position in 2015.
Previously having worked in foster care (where she gained experience in business growth and development), school social work, medical social work, and as a mental health practitioner, Kasi was attracted to Adapta and the ways that it could bring all of her work experience together in a more cohesive role. However, it was clear that taking over that position would be fraught with challenges.
“I had done a lot of trauma work with youth in foster care and I enjoyed the medical social work aspect of the position. Knowing that it was a combination of trauma work, brain injury and mental health focus, as well as business growth and marketing really drew me in.” Kasi explained.
She continued, “When I started my interview, they said, “By the way, we may be closing.” which was very much true due to licensing changes in the state. So when I was hired I immediately had to figure out how to save the program and also work toward making a big culture change within the agency.”
Kasi was the first person with social work experience to enter a leadership role for the organization, and, with that experience, was focused on bringing more person centeredness into the program, as well as saving it.
Kasi worked with the state to grant Adapta licensure. Their program model at the time did not fit under the umbrella of changed licenses but Kasi worked hard to make sure that they could keep their doors open and the state “grandfathered in” their program. Since then, Kasi and her team have grown from twelve employees up to fifty and have expanded the program to include four different programs in four different buildings, now able to assist up to thirty-five individuals at once.
For residents at Adapta, the focus is on providing them a safe, stable environment where they have the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives.
“When people get here, the first thing they need is housing. As you can imagine, it’s really difficult to make a positive change in your mental or chemical health when you’re unhoused, living out of your car, or couchsurfing. So the first thing we focus on is getting residents a comfortable place to sleep. From there we look at food, medication, therapy, and transportation.”
Adapta spaces range from two regular houses, a group home, and individual apartments. The group home operates not unlike a college dorm, with semi shared spaces and private bedrooms. Residents share a kitchen, bathrooms and a living room. “It’s always exciting watching a new resident coming into the space and meeting everyone. It’s very much like freshmen entering a dorm. It’s like having your own little family setting. Somehow everything, meshes” Kasi said.
Photo contributed by Kasi Haglund
Adapta works hard to get their residents out into the community for activities and events.
“We’re constantly running around, driving to various activities. I’d say our greatest need in the program is a fifteen passenger van.” Kasi explained.
While Adapta does not have a designated length of time for residents to stay in the program, they do their best to set residents up for success outside of Adapta, no matter how long they end up staying.
“Some people are here for fifteen days, others for fifteen years, and it’s hard to track how people do after they leave us. But we do our best to set them up with the tools they need to move forward whether that be with a job, an apartment, or a car.”
Photo contributed by Kasi Haglund
Kasi finds her work at Adapta to be rewarding for several reasons.
“I really think Adapta has become the place where myself or one of our staff would want to be if we needed a place to stay. It’s an agency where we all feel safe and supported, and that’s the atmosphere we want for our residents.”
She loves the family aspect of the Adapta resident and staff community and the culture of care and support that has been cultivated there.
As a very “people driven” individual, she also appreciates the networking aspects of her work and the community connections she has been able to make through the program.
She also loves watching her staff grow and flourish through their roles. “When we learn to take care of others, it also benefits our own personal relationships. It makes us better partners, parents, and friends. So I love watching people grow through their positions here.”
Kasi and Adapta staff during staff development training.
Kasi is a mother of three and spends much of her time outside of work with her children, getting outside, going to their games and activities, and boating in her hometown of Lake City. She also enjoys spending time with friends, enjoying local live music, and horseback riding.
As a word of advice to anyone considering taking over the leadership of an organization, Kasi said, “Ask questions! There will always be people that know more about some things than you and you don’t need to be the expert on everything.”
She continued, “Make sure that it is something you’re truly passionate about. At a certain point you won’t be able to fake it, and when you care about something, it makes those late nights and frustrating moments totally worth it.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Kasi’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also learn more about Adapta, their work in the community, and how to support them by clicking the link below!
A special thank you to our storytelling sponsor, Fredrikson & Byron, for their support! Their Midwest-based law firm is known as the firm “where law and business meet.” Their attorneys provide practical legal advice and advocacy that help people achieve their business goals. Just as Collider amplifies the voices or Rochester’s business community, Fredrikson & Byron helps new and growing businesses with a full range of services, combining a common-sense approach with decades of experience. to get things done for clients.
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider
