Impact Report 2025: Belonging

When a person feels like they belong, they’re likely to be more engaged, more willing to contribute and more likely to thrive in their community. A sense of belonging also helps them feel safe, valued and connected.

In summer 2024, while attending a One Mosaic Day celebration in Garden City, Kansas, Craig introduced himself to Tony, who had applied to become a Mosaic at Home® (MAH) Home Provider. 

“Craig came up to me and noticed I had a shaved head. He lifted his hat and said, ‘I’m bald too,’” Tony said. “That’s when we hit it off and we both knew right away that we’d be a good match.”

Over the course of six months, as part of the matching process, Mosaic staff facilitated additional meetings for Tony and Craig to get to know each other and further their connection. The pair has now been living together for more than a year.

As an alternative to group homes or congregate living settings, MAH has become Mosaic’s largest residential supports service offering. Because MAH is a highly personalized service, the matching process is a key component. 

Stephanie Releford, a Mosaic at Home Manager in Southwest Kansas, said staff were determined to find Craig the right fit.  

“Tony and Craig are a great match,” Stephanie said. “Tony lives alone so he is able to put his full focus on supporting Craig. They seem more like friends than a person supported and a Home Provider.”

While Craig has established his own routines, like going to Mosaic Day Services, attending church, and playing bingo a few times a week, he also enjoys doing activities and traveling with Tony. They often visit family and friends in other states. His favorite trips so far have been to Denver, where they attended basketball and baseball games.

Craig joins Tony on local adventures too, as he shops for and delivers groceries to people in the area. In doing so, Craig has improved his social skills. 

“Craig is the star out there,” Tony said. “When we go to the store, he often sees people he knows.” 

Stephanie said the experience of helping Tony with grocery orders has been positive for Craig.

“It helps Craig feel a sense of belonging while earning some money,” she said, adding that Tony has also helped Craig learn how to budget.

Craig is also involved with his church, Stephanie said.  

“They have accepted him into their congregation and it means a lot to Craig to feel involved, engaged, and included.” 

To help Craig stay active in the community and build relationships, Tony invites his friends from the day program to watch football on television. Tony is happy with the progress Craig has made—his relationship with his girlfriend and siblings notably stronger. 

As he helps Craig achieve the goals he has identified as important to him, Tony has felt a sense of belonging himself, noting that become a Home Provider has been a blessing.

“I lost my mother when I was young, so I never really lived with family in the same house,” he said. “I wanted to create a family not just for Craig, but also for me.”

A desire to continue using his experience and knowledge of caregiving in a home setting led Tony to Mosaic. After traveling for more than seven years and picking up nursing jobs along the way, three years ago he moved to Kansas and was ready for a change. 

“I previously worked at a group home in Garden City and was doing 12-hour shifts five days a week,” Tony said. “It got to be too much, so I was excited when I heard Mosaic was looking for Home Providers.”

Since moving in with Tony, Craig has been working to improve his health with frequent walks and learning to cook.

“I like cooking and so we spent about a year learning to cook meals together,” Tony said. “We enjoy spending time in the kitchen together and this year, we are working on cooking healthier options.” 

Craig is not the only one in the relationship who is learning.