Dungarvin Inc. has acquired three intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) care entities based in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The Mendota Heights, Minnesota-based IDD services provider announced Thursday that it acquired Bridges MN, Bridges WI and Rumi. Founder and President Blake Elliott and Vice President Bach Parker lead all three companies. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The deal is effective Sept. 1, 2023. The acquisition is the largest transaction Dungarvin has undertaken in its history. It will add 103 locations to the Dungarvin footprint, according to a press release.
Dungarvin provides IDD and behavioral health services in 15 states and has about 6,000 under its care. It operated in Minnesota and Wisconsin before the deal. Tim and Diane Madden founded it in 1976 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Bridges MN provides independent, supported and group home services; corporate foster care; and crisis respite. Bridges WI offers these services plus planning services, 24-hour emergency assistance and employment services.
Rumi is an app that matches people with a disability waiver with a compatible caregiver or roommate who can provide caregiving.
The deal will also see about 1,000 Bridges employees join Dungarvin.
“We are committed to ensuring that the transition of services is as seamless as possible for the people receiving services, their families and the staff who support them,” Dungarvin CEO Lori Kress said in the release. “With a strong history of providing services in these states, we plan to work closely with all stakeholders and our regulatory partners to deliver the stability that these individuals and families deserve.”
Lori Kress has been with the company since 1995.
Folks with IDD are more vulnerable to behavioral health issues than the general population, marking a clear need and opportunity to integrate behavioral health into IDD care.
While the IDD space sees fewer deals than the rest of behavioral health, there have been a handful of notable announcements this year. IDD nonprofits Merakey and Elwyn announced their intentions to merge earlier this year. That merger created an organization that generates about $1 billion in revenue.
Sevita, another large IDD provider, named a new CEO in June. It hired UnitedHealth Group veteran Philip Kaufman to lead the Boston-based organization.
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