.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} Mosaic is a national organization serving people with developmental disabilities. It is guided by the principle that every individual is a person of worth.

The Des Moines Mosaic office was formed in July 2003 by the consolidation of Bethphage and Martin Luther Homes, two Nebraska-based charities that provided services to people with disabilities in and around Des Moines. The organization employs a staff of 280 full- and part-time employees and serves 140 adults with disabilities in more than 30 group home, apartment and employment settings.

Carol Mau, executive director of the local chapter of Mosaic, said the organization offers several types of assistance to those with mental disabilities. From 24-hour-a-day group homes to employment placement, Mosaic’s goal, she said, is to enrich its clients’ lives any way it can.

“What we do for our clients depends on their need,” Mau said.

One of the ways the organization helps its clients is through its retail store, Mosaic Treasures, 3614 Sixth Ave., whose handcrafted products are made and sold by Mosaic clients.

The majority of the group’s funding comes from Medicaid, with two-thirds from the federal government and the remainder from the client’s home county. But when counties begin running short on funds, organizations like Mosaic have to scramble to find money for their programs. Mau said this may be the case with Polk County this year because of a shortfall in money designated to helping organizations like Mosaic.

“If someone gets 20 hours a month of home visits, we may have to scale them back to 10,” she said. “What we’re trying to get our legislators to understand is that if we have to do this, those people could end up in a hospital, which would financially cost more in the long run than funding the programs in full now.”

Karen Jackson, Mosaic’s community relations manager, said the organization holds two fund-raisers each year: a golf tournament in mid summer and a wine tasting in February. The proceeds go directly to a foundation to purchase items like wheelchair lifts and other devices that clients wouldn’t be able to afford.

“If we do have a shortfall, we may have to start using that money to fund our programs,” she said.”

Jackson said though donations of money are always accepted, other items, such as towels, gardening equipment, pots and pans or paint supplies, are also in high demand.