Celebrating a decade of person-centered thinking.

How a grant-funded initiative grew into a cornerstone of how we support people, collaborate as teams, and lead with purpose.

By Nicole Conti

Ten years ago, Rise began a journey to become a person-centered organization. It changed everything. From how we support people to how we lead teams, Person-Centered Thinking (PCT) has become part of our DNA.

What Is Person-Centered Thinking?

Person-Centered Thinking is a philosophy that puts the person receiving services at the center of every decision. It’s about listening, honoring preferences, and supporting people in ways that reflect their goals, not just what’s convenient or traditional.

The idea comes from counseling psychology and the Disability Justice Movement, which emphasized that people are the experts in their own lives. Since the 1990s, PCT has helped ensure that people with disabilities have a say in how they live and receive support.

What Does It Look Like at Rise?

At Rise, PCT means the person served is in the driver’s seat, and team members are there to support the journey. As Quality Assurance Specialist Anne Mornes puts it, “PCT gives people the tools to tell us what they want and gives staff the tools to really listen.”

One of those tools is the one-page profile—a quick snapshot of what matters most to a person and how best to support them. It’s simple, but powerful.

Anne shared a story about “Jane,” a nonverbal person served who resisted help during meals. Instead of labeling her behavior, staff used PCT tools to dig deeper. They discovered Jane disliked forks and preferred spoons. That small change made a big difference, and now new team members know Jane’s preference from day one.

PCT Shapes Leadership, Too

PCT can be a leadership philosophy, too. Managers use PCT tools to better understand and support their teams, which leads to stronger relationships, better retention, and happier employees.

Anne says it even shows up in her personal life. “I use PCT with my parents as they age, and I send my daughter’s one-page profile to her teachers. One teacher even sent me theirs in return!”

How It Started at Rise

Rise joined the PCT movement in 2015 as one of four pilot sites selected by the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration. The goal: transform service delivery to empower people and shift organizational culture.

Anne Mornes and Crystal Woolcott led the charge, supported by a 16-person leadership cohort. By 2016, Rise offered a two-day PCT training for staff, and by 2018, PCT was part of new hire orientation.

COVID-19 paused in-person trainings, but the values stuck. Staff continued modeling PCT principles, keeping the culture alive.

Rebuilding and Growing

Rise restarted two-day trainings and launched a monthly PCT Community of Practice (CoP) in 2022. Two years later the PCT Champions subcommittee formed, bringing together staff from across Rise to share ideas and keep the momentum going. This fall, we are adding two new trainers.

Looking Ahead

What started as a grant-funded pilot is now a core part of who we are. PCT continues to shape how we support people and each other. Here’s to 10 years of Person-Centered Thinking at Rise, and many more to come!

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PCT THROUGH THE YEARS

2015 – Laying the Foundation

Our PCT journey officially began in April 2015 with a grant to implement Person-Centered Thinking. We launched this initiative with a group of 16 leaders.

2016 – Expanding Our Reach

Thanks to continued grant support, we extended the PCT initiative in 2016, welcoming more coaches and leaders into the fold.

2018 – Integrating PCT into Orientation

By 2018, PCT was embedded in our onboarding process. All new hires began receiving an introduction to PCT during their orientation, ensuring that every employee started their Rise journey with an understanding of person-centered values.

2019 – Growth

In 2019, we partnered with Mains’l—an organization that had also implemented PCT—to send additional leaders through their Coaching Cohort.

2020 – Maintaining Culture Through Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic paused many in-person initiatives, including PCT training. However, despite the physical distance, the culture and
values of PCT endured within our teams and programs.

2022 – Rebuilding Momentum

With health and safety measures in place, we resumed two-day in-person PCT training sessions in 2022. We also launched the PCT Community of Practice (CoP)—an offshoot of the SOS Committee—with a mission to engage the entire organization in practical, innovative applications of PCT tools and concepts.

2023 – Growing Community and Sharpening Strategy

In early 2023, as Rise implemented myEvolv and navigated staffing challenges, the two-day trainings were paused again. However, in September, we reignited our collaboration with Mains’l and sent five more leaders through their Coaching Cohort.

2024 – Strengthening Our Culture

In 2024, we affirmed our commitment to embedding PCT as part of our organizational culture. We began the process of adding two new PCT trainers and successfully reinstated our two-day trainings.

2025 – Looking to the Future

We are excited to officially expand our PCT training staff to offer quarterly two-day training courses to ensure ongoing access and engagement.