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St. David’s began as a small community nursery school in
the basement of St. David’s Episcopal Church 45 years ago.
Since 1961, St.
David’s has grown into a leading provider of comprehensive
services, currently serving over 2000 children, young
adults and families throughout the metropolitan area.
Although we are no longer affiliated with the church, we have retained the St. David's name
to honor our heritage.
St. David’s has five service areas through which we provide
support, education, and the necessary tools to help
strengthen families. Our five areas of focus are an Early Childhood Program, Home and Community Support
Services for clients with special needs, Therapy Services, Mental Health Services, and Social Services.
St. David's Milestones:
| 1961 - |
As an outreach to the community, St. David's Episcopal Church nursery school is officially
founded |
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| 1965 - |
With the philsophy of turning no child away, St. David's begins serving children with special needs. |
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| 1975 - |
Extended day child care is made available. |
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| 1980 - |
St. David's open its first integrated nursery school classroom. |
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| 1981 - |
Due to long waiting lists for the nursery school, St. David's rents four rooms
at the Burwell Community Center across the street. |
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| 1987 - |
Child Abuse Prevention is added to St. David's array of services. |
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| 1988 - |
Family Place begins with a grant from the McKnight Foundation. |
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| 1989 - |
St. David's purchases the Burwell Community Center (current Minnetonka site)
and begins a successful $3.2 million capital campaign. |
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| 1990 - |
St. David's is recognized as a United Way organization. |
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| 1992 - |
St. David's Annual Parent Symposium is founded by John Overton and Ann Lowry. |
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| 1993 - |
STEEP (Steps Toward Early Effective Parenting), a prevetive, early intervention
program for first-time mothers and their infants, is developed by Marti Erickson, Ph.D., of the Children,
Youth & Family Consortium of the University of MN. Dr. Erickson later joins the St. David's Board of Directors. |
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| 1997 - |
St. David's Mara Bennett Therapy wing is opened. |
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| 1999 - |
The Adventure Program, a summer daycamp for children with special needs is started. |
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| 2000 - |
St. David's begins an Early Childhood Program in Crystal. |
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| 2002 - |
Angel House, a unique group home environment for adults with special needs that introduces
the St. David's family-and-service-proivder collaborative approach, is opened. |
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| 2004 - |
The St. David's Feeding Clinic is launched. |
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| 2005 - |
Meme's Playground, a state-of-the-art, inclusive playground, officially opens its gates
on the northern perimeter of St. David's Minnetonka grounds. |
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| 2006 - |
Autism Day Treatment (ADT) welcomes its first class of students. |
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