Who we are
We are here to empower people with disabilities through supports which connect them to resources and opportunities needed to thrive and live the lives they envision in the Iowa City area.
Our history
Our journey, more than 50 years of service in Iowa City
During this time, our primary service focus was working with disadvantaged youth, providing mentorship, job readiness training/opportunities, and fostering positive relationships and community involvement.
During these years our primary services continued to be youth focused. However, our programs started integrating more opportunities for kids with disabilities. We began offering an after-school program designed specifically to meet the needs of kids with physical and intellectual disabilities. Before long, we also began offering Adult Day Program Services to adults with disabilities, and providing some in-home services as well.
We opened our first Residential, Supported Community Living Home for adults with disabilities in 2009. This began tipping the scales in our transition from a youth service provider to a service provider specifically geared toward and designed to work with adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, as well as behavioral and mental health support needs. This period of time is marked by the intentional building of an experienced talent base to take the company to a new level. By 2013 we were operating five Residential Supported Community Living Homes and serving nearly 40 people in the Adult Day Program. During this time we grew from approximately 15 employees to nearly 100. In 2013 we discontinued all youth services and put full focus on what we knew had become our strength and passion.
This period of time is marked by continued growth. We carefully paced a growth rate built to never sacrifice the service quality we are committed to producing. We built our property infrastructure to meet service needs, administrative needs, and future growth opportunities.
Our mission
MYEP is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing advocacy and person-centered services which facilitate personal growth and community inclusion to people with disabilities.
Vision
MYEP will be recognized as a leading provider of services to people with disabilities in Johnson County and the surrounding areas.
- People and families will seek our services because of our reputation for fostering personal relationships.
- State, county and local professionals will seek our services because of our success in providing a broad array of personalized services.
MYEP will be recognized as a leading employer in Johnson County and the surrounding areas.
- People will seek employment with MYEP because of our supportive and positive culture.
- Employees will receive competitive compensation and benefits.
- We will attract, hire, and retain the best people.
MYEP will commit to ensuring service quality is never sacrificed for organizational growth.
Guiding Principles and Core Values
At MYEP, we deliver services that follow the principle of ‘Service Before Self’. To us, this means that before taking any action or making any decision, we carefully consider the benefits to or impact on our service recipients. We have respect for and believe in all human rights and strive to be creative, flexible, and cooperative in the services we provide.
To fulfill our mission, vision and the principle of ‘Service Before Self’, we adhere to the following values:
Our MYEP values
At MYEP, our jobs are more than just our jobs—they’re our life’s work, and the legacy we want to leave behind.
Exceeding expectations of those around us, while also understanding that mistakes are learning opportunities, are two of the ways that MYEP encourages continual improvement day in and day out.
Being honest, transparent, and ethical, as well as accountable, for our own actions. That is how we take ownership at MYEP.
Listening, collaboration, and communication are three of the biggest ways to engage and interact with those around us, and they are how we grow by learning from one another, each and every day.
Continual Improvement
- Practice good stewardship in order to build a better and stronger agency
- Be aware of and responsibly manage risk
- Exceed expectations of service recipients, families and funders
- Encourage flexibility and creativity in service delivery, and acknowledge that mistakes are learning opportunities
- Address systemic issues with creativity and perseverance
- Raise the bar for personal growth through collaboration and learning
- Embrace and drive change through continual assessment and evaluation of our services and trends in the service environment
Core value
Ownership
- Recognize that the actions of each and every one of us contribute to our agency's reputation and success
- Be honest, transparent, and ethical
- Own our actions and be accountable for their outcomes
- Meet commitments to stakeholders
- Be good stewards of resources
Click here to view our MYEP Ownership video.
Core value
Engagement
- Listen and communicate with service recipients, stakeholders and each other
- Empower service recipients to make decisions in their daily lives, and to be accountable to those decisions
- Cultivate better outcomes for service recipients by actively engaging them and ourselves
- Collaborate with others to promote community inclusion
- Make a connection with those around us
Meet our Co-Executive Directors
Megan Gerber
Chris Campbell
Meet our Management Team
Christine Fachman
Leather Berndt
Employee Testimonials
Our community resources
View our community resources below. Still can’t find what you need? Message us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Documents
Looking for our important documents? Click here to find everything you might need.
Make a Donation
Make a donation to MYEP today to help us continue providing for our community! Your donations help us help others.
