Miller-Dwan Foundation

The Foundation supports meaningful healthcare programs on the medical campus and in the community. Grants are made throughout the year to improve healthcare in our region and are primarily focused on adult and adolescent mental health, hospice, physical rehabilitation, cancer care, burn care, surgical services, and end-of-life.

Amberwing - center for youth & family well-being is owned by the Miller-Dwan Foundation, who has continued responsibility for the stewardship of the home and the treatment program. Amberwing cares for patients from birth to 18 and engages the family throughout the treatment process. Approximately 1,200 kids annually present at amberwing seeking care. After an assessment, the majority of the kids enter the amberwing partial hospitalization program. If needed, children and families are referred to other organizations providing the type or level of care appropriate for that specific individual. The Miller-Dwan Foundation and amberwing continue to identify and implement ways to offer skills and education to children beyond those admitted to the amberwing program-both in-person and virtual. Dialectical behavior therapy (dbt) training. Was provided to regional school districts and colleges.the substance-use disorder (sud) program that was implemented at amberwing in 2021, continued for its second year. The sud fellow continued her onsite learning of specialized dbt and sud care for children and is planning transition to employee-status once the fellowship concludes.amberwing also houses a family resource center that provides support and information for people from throughout the community. The resource center is often filled with family members who are seeking information to determine if their child may need additional support or whose child is in the amberwing program. The resource center manager fielded an extensive number of phone calls and walk-in visitors, in addition to serving on 6 local committees and attending 12 regional events as an amberwing and Miller-Dwan representative. Dialectical behavior therapy (dbt) skills and education trainings for family and community members exceeded 100 sessions in 2022, reaching more than 1,000 individuals.amberwing is owned by the Miller-Dwan Foundation, and contracts with essentia health to provide the medical care. Miller-Dwan Foundation does not charge rent to essentia health for use of the facility.

The Miller-Dwan Foundation is committed to raising awareness of important health care issues by providing children and adults with knowledge and skills to move towards greater wellness, to manage their illness, and to understand options available throughout the course of their illness. In 2022, education was done in-person and included a visioning event to help people create the life they strive to live, as well as an event dedicated to the importance of therapy animals in healthcare settings. Each year the Foundation creates publications and resources which are widely distributed, has an online presence, and engages the media in sharing our message. Topic areas include, but are not limited to, hospice and end-of-life, mental health, cancer care and survivorship, physical rehabilitation, and burn treatment. The Foundation awards grants within the medical milieu and to community organizations who are focused on healthcare, specifically for the provision of education. Education grants are given to maintain and improve patient care, as well as prevention and aftercare for long term success.

1) solvay hospice house (expenses: $202,045)in 2003, the Miller-Dwan Foundation took on the role of community organizer, fundraiser, and developer to complete a $4 million capital campaign to create solvay hospice house, which opened in 2007. Solvay was designed to be a comfortable home for those facing the end of life and their families. In fy 2022, 220 were admitted and cared for at solvay. Of those, 82 were respite patients, who return home after their loved ones are able to enjoy a five-day break from their caregiving duties. On average, patients are at solvay 7.9 days before passing away or discharged to home or another facility. Most patients admitted to solvay qualified for financial assistance through the Miller-Dwan Foundation's compassionate care fund-a fund developed to ensure patients who would benefit from care at solvay would be able to, regardless of their financial circumstance. Solvay is owned by the Miller-Dwan Foundation and contracts with essentia health to provide the medical care. Miller-Dwan Foundation does not charge rent to essentia health for use of the facility.2) new programs (expenses: $50,985)when a new health care need is identified in the region or on the medical campus, the Foundation will focus attention and resources to help meet that need. Some of these needs can be met in the short term and can change from year to year. Response to these needs can take a variety of forms. In 2022, the effects of the pandemic on the mental health of people throughout our region is becoming more apparent. Referrals for adult and adolescent mental health care continue to be nearly double pre-pandemic levels. As such, Miller-Dwan Foundation developed an aggressive strategy to alleviate the mental health crisis. This involves a community-wide program to expand the workforce that will launch in 2023, as well as plans to expand family and group therapy care, to meet a significant gap in care in our region. Work continues in douglas county with an emphasis on mental health training, opportunities for residents to connect, provider recruitment and retention and the possible creation of a mental health center.3) development (expenses: $152,185)building and sustaining relationships with supporters is of paramount importance to our organization, as they are truly the catalyst in improving health care. Staff keep in frequent contact with supporters and use sophisticated software to ensure supporters' gifts are recorded, directed and recognized correctly and appropriately.