About Us

Safe Haven Shelter For Youth DBA Safe Haven was incorporated as a Minnesota nonprofit 501(C)(3) Corporation in 1995. The following year, we began hiring staff, creating policies and procedures and shifted our focus to leasing an existing home. In early 1997, we opened a 6-bed residential group home in a suburban neighborhood in Scott County for Twin Cities area boys aged 10-18 who are in transition back into the community.

Based on the positive response to this program, the following year, the boys were moved to a new 10-bed home and the original home was re-opened to serve girls. Both homes provide a unique community-based service to youth in transition from metro, suburban and rural counties in the Twin Cities area and focus on reunification with families whenever possible.

In 2000, Safe Haven purchased two homes to be used for transitional housing. In 2001, Safe Haven worked closely with Dakota County to receive a federal grant that would provide ongoing operating support for young adults ages 16 to 21 who are homeless or at risk for homelessness. The goal of this program is to help youth increase their self-esteem and confidence, complete educational goals, save money, learn independent living skills and transition to a safe, permanent independent living arrangement.

Our mission is to create change in the lives of youth and young adults through strength-based services.

Safe Haven was founded on the philosophy that there is an immediate need to help at-risk children and youth who have lost faith, hope and have a great need for love.We pride ourselves on being flexible to the needs of the community through focus groups and evaluation feedback from participants, regular contact with county and other nonprofit programs serving youth and creating programs and services in response to gaps in service. Partnerships play a central role in all of our programs.

Daniel D. Saad

Dan is the founder of Safe Haven and currently President and Executive Director. He received his MBA with emphasis in marketing from the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota and a BA degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas. He has over 30 years of experience working with youth as a coach and through youth ministry. Dan has more than 15 years of experience involving fund-raising and special events.

Board/Staff/Volunteers

Board -- Safe Haven is governed by a board of directors comprised of a wide variety of professionals. Our board includes a former county social services coordinator, a founder of an adoption agency, an attorney, and a high school principal. About half of the board has previous nonprofit board experience. Most board members have significant management experience. Several are adoptive or former foster parents. The board provides fiscal oversight and guides the direction of programs and services.

Staff -- Safe Haven employs 21 full-time and 16 part-time paid staff (approximately 28 full time equivalent employees). Most of the staff working directly with youth has a Bachelor's degree in a human service field (often psychology, criminology or sociology). We look for employees who are able to recognize and build on assets in youth and have past leadership experience. Staff is representative of the population we serve; approximately 15% of our staff are members of ethnic minorities. Our staff is required to complete 30 hours of continuing education per year.

Volunteers -- We are fortunate to have approximately 30-40 volunteers from the community each year. We have several volunteer speakers who share their personal experiences about drugs, self-esteem, etc. in an informal group setting. Another group of volunteers helps transport kids to and from community events; others help fix up our homes, from painting and electrical work to planting flowers and laying sod.

In addition to having volunteers help us, youth in our programs are also asked to volunteer their time in the community.