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.

2008 Accomplishments

• Countryside Association received a three-year national accreditation for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for all program services that we offer.
• The Association Board of Directors increased their membership to 12 volunteer members.
• We expanded our transportation fleet by three vehicles adding 2, 14-passenger vehicles through the Illinois Department of Transportation and a 12 passenger van.
• The Countryside Community Employment Program assisted 14 persons to find and retain job opportunities throughout Lake and northern Cook counties.
• Countryside's janitorial services mobile work crew began in 2008. Training and job placement in this skill area is now available to any interested participant.
• During 2008 we added a Quality Assurance Coordinator to the team to assist us collect, analyze and continually improve our program performance.
• We exceeded our target for the amount of billed production work during 2008 attracting new customers and making additional work available to our clients.
• During 2008 we purchased and installed an automated Case Management software system throughout Countryside Association to improve our case manager's ability to report client progress.
• With the knowledge that our professional direct service employees are experts at what they do, Countryside was able to offer competitive salary increases to all employees for the fifth consecutive year.
• During 2008 our program participants exceeded all program attendance goals in our Work & Training Programs.
• Countryside's In-Home Respite Program added 30 new families during FY2008.
• Our two major fundraisers (Opportunity Walk and Recipe for Success) exceeded all expectations for number of participants and resources raised. Thank you to all our supporters!