Strategic Plan Survey 2011-2013

Thanks to all who participated in the survey. Results will be posted soon.

2008 - 2010 Strategic Organizational Goals

Every organization benefits from good planning. In 2008, Countryside Association completed our strategic planning for the next three years. In that process, representatives from all our stakeholder groups participated in several input activities designed to identify the needs of our organization and those we support. The primary focus of the plan identified specific projects related to maintaining our current facilities, developing additional day program space, extending specialized services to adults who are aging and those who have severe disabilities, creating community residential opportunities and improving transportation services in the area.

Specific objectives include the following:

Goal 1: Develop Long Term Facility Plan for Countryside Center Including:

• Acquire additional Training Center space in Palatine area
• Develop Senior Center services
• Develop Prevocational Center Services

Goal 2: Develop Long term Facility Plan for Lakeside Center Including:

• Identify current and potential clients residing in north-central Lake County needing day support services.
• Acquire additional Training Center space in the north central Lake County area

Goal 3: Create Residential Options for Adults

• Identify clients interested in moving to more independent residential alternative
• Acquire and develop at least one group home projected during the next 36 months.

Goal 4: Reduce Transportation Barriers

• Work with members of the Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services Committee to develop a coordinated, borderless, accessible and affordable transportation system for persons with disabilities and seniors living within Lake County.

For more information on these objectives contact: Wayne A. Kulick, Executive Director (847) 540-3701 or waynek@countrysideassn.org. Click here to download a copy of The Case for Countryside Association.

2009 Accomplishments

This year Countryside Association made the following achievements in response to the identified needs of people with disabilities and their families.

People with Disabilities Want to Work

• This year Countryside's Production Services generated more than $498,000 in subcontract revenue from both Work and Training Centers providing significant paid work opportunities for more than 319 adults with disabilities. Total revenue this year exceeds last year by 3.5%!
• Our Community Employment efforts were impacted by the economy however we continued to support more than 25 persons with disabilities in a variety of individual and group sites at employers throughout Cook and Lake Counties.

People with Disabilities Want to Live More Independently

• Consistent with our strategic plan, Countryside Association obtained its first residential license to develop group homes for persons with developmental disabilities. Efforts to develop those homes are set to begin this year.

People with Disabilities in Transition Receive Specialized Services

• A formal program (Golden Opportunities) began at both our work and training centers to offer specialized day support activities to older adults with developmental disabilities.
• Transition Services for students with disabilities were developed for Waukegan High School and students from school district 211 (Palatine).

Families Need and Deserve Critical Support Services

• Countryside Association's In-Home Respite program provided this important support service to a total of 203 enrolled families this year.
• An additional 70 new families received in-home respite services during 2009.

A Committed, Stable Work Force is Essential

• With the knowledge that our professional direct service employees are experts at what they do, Countryside , with the assistance of the Foundation, was able to offer competitive salary increases to all employees for the sixth consecutive year. .
• Direct Service Professionals turnover rates remain exceptionally low.

Transportation Services Are Critical to Accessing Services

• Countryside Association added a new, 14-passenger paratransit vehicle to our fleet thorough an award from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
• As a representative on the Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services Committee, Countryside Association assisted the County in attaining a New Freedom Federal transportation grant designed to increase paratransit services for residents with disabilities and seniors who reside in Avon, Grant, Antioch and Lake Villa Townships.

Leadership and Supervision is essential to Providing Quality Services

• The Association Board of Directors increased their membership to 13 volunteer members. The Foundation increased their membership to 5 volunteer members.
• Twenty Countryside supervisors and managers successfully completed formal Supervisory Training offered by the Lake County Community College and funded by Lake County Workforce Development.

Community Support Is Essential to Maintain Current Services and Plan Future Growth

• Countryside generated sufficient interest and support from 6 area state legislators to become a recipient of the 2010 Illinois Capital Plan resulting in additional funding becoming available for facility renovation and expansion.
• Our two major fundraiser's (Opportunity Walk and Recipe for Success) exceeded FY09 expectations for number of participants and resources raised.
• Private fundraising in general has increased significantly.
• Family participating and support from Countryside families continues to grow.

2010 Challenges and Projects That Need Your Support

2009-2010 continues to offer significant challenges for Countryside Association. Specific goals include:

• Countryside Center facility improvement plans must be completed and additional resources identified.
• Countryside Center sewer lines must be connected with local utilities in order to make building expansion feasible.
• Lakeside's Senior's program area must be renovated and expanded at our Waukegan location.
• Group home properties must be obtained and renovated and support services initiated.
• Individual donor, corporate and foundation support must be increased to offset state public funding reductions.
• Board development must continue to increase our leadership capacity to secure much needed resources.

Want to help or know someone who can? Contact Wayne A. Kulick, Executive Director (847) 540-3701.