REACH has been quietly serving the Bozeman community for decades, supporting adults with developmental disabilities through housing, employment, transportation, and daily life. In this episode, Executive Director Dee Metrick shares what REACH does, how the organization works, and what it takes to provide long-term, individualized care in a rapidly changing community.
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What REACH Does and Who They Serve
REACH is a Bozeman-based nonprofit that provides residential, vocational, and transportation services to approximately 90 adults with developmental disabilities. The people they serve range widely in their needs, from individuals who require 24-hour medical and personal care to those who live more independently and use REACH for support with finances, transportation, employment, and protection from exploitation.
One of the defining features of REACH is that services are truly lifelong. Some individuals enter the program in their early 20s and remain supported for decades, adjusting care levels as their needs change over time. About half of the people served live in REACH-owned housing, including homes and apartment complexes throughout the area.
Funding, Staffing, and the Reality of Care Work
Like many organizations in this space, REACH relies heavily on Medicaid funding, which covers roughly 70–75% of operating costs. The remainder must be raised through fundraising, grants, and community support. Dee explains how rising wages, housing costs, and staffing shortages have created real pressure for service providers, especially when reimbursement rates do not keep pace with expenses.
Despite these challenges, REACH continues to operate thanks to strong community support and long-term staff who are deeply invested in the people they serve. Dee speaks candidly about the difficulty of the work, but also about how meaningful and rewarding it can be when people understand the impact.
Perspective, Patience, and Human Connection
Throughout the conversation, Dee shares personal experiences that have shaped his perspective, from early work in the field to decades-long relationships with individuals supported by REACH. He talks about the unique gifts many clients have, the importance of patience and compassion, and how exposure to this community often changes how people see the world.
Rather than romanticizing the work, Dee emphasizes honesty, respect, and dignity, both for the individuals receiving care and for the staff supporting them. It’s a grounded look at what inclusion and community support really look like day to day.
Endurance, Running, and Carrying the Work Forward
Outside of his role at REACH, Dee is an ultrarunner who recently completed the Moab 240, a 240-mile endurance race. He shares how long-distance running has helped him manage stress, build resilience, and stay grounded through some of the most challenging years of his career, including leading through the pandemic.
The parallels between endurance sports and nonprofit leadership are clear, learning to stay present, find moments of beauty in difficult stretches, and trust that both hard seasons and good ones will pass.
If you’d like to learn more about REACH, their programs, or how to support their work in the Bozeman community, you can visit their website below. REACH is always looking for volunteers, donors, and people who want to better understand how to support adults with developmental disabilities in meaningful, long-term ways.
Learn more about REACH:
https://www.reachinc.org
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