Tony DiLeonardi, STARS Family Services president

The Board of STARS Family Services (SFS) expresses deep appreciation to College Church for its ongoing support of the residences, families, and staff of SFS during an incredible year of blessings. Thank you for your prayers and support.

The Board of STARS Family Services (SFS) expresses deep appreciation to College Church for its ongoing support of the residences, families and staff of SFS during an incredible year of blessings. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Since we began in 2008, STARS Family Services provides private community-based homes (supportive living arrangements) and related services for adults with developmental disabilities in Wheaton. At present there are two homes for men and one for women. The homes allow for these individuals to continue living in their own communities, close to their family, friends and church. All residents are involved in the STARS Disability Ministry at College Church.

An abundance of positive work has occurred in 2021 with a renewed focus on organizational restructuring and maturity to enhance efficiencies while ensuing our focus on the best quality services to our residents and families. 2022 promises to be a year of building on the new infrastructure.

BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND “TEAM SFS”

• SFS now has a renewed focus to create a collaborative SFS community by facilitating town hall meetings, bi-weekly communications, an sll SFS Picnic.

• Grown to 32 SFS Team Members: SFS is now attracting/hiring staff with advanced degrees (nursing, occupational therapy, counselors).

• 2021 turnover rate remains high at 50%: hiring and onboarding on an average of one-two new staff per month; this rate is like many service-related industries.

• Pay ranges were increased to remain competitive in a challenging job market.

• The board of directors approved and initiated a staff restructuring plan that started March 1, 2021, with the Executive Director onboarding.

• New positions were created in the org restructuring to provide opportunity for career advancement within SFS (LEAD Life Skill Coach, Art Studio Coordinator).

• We had our first all-SFS gathering in September with 100+ in attendance (STARS, families, staff, and members of the partner program and STARS Resale Shop).

• Maturing fund-raising efforts to include foundations, trusts, corporations and larger donors.

RENEWED FOCUS ON RESIDENT PERSONAL GROWTH AND ADDRESSING CHANGING NEEDS

• Created Home Base & Community Time to address issues with residents’ weekday community activities not being available (due to COVID, changes to programs, less volunteers etc.) It’s held at Kenny’s Home—available 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday

• Daily theme with activities including art, music, games, and quiet/personal time. Piloted April 2021, by June 2021 fully integrated into resident daily life with positive feedback from residents, staff and parents.

• Piloted Day Programming for two College Church Community STARS Oct/Nov 2021 and Jan 2022.

• Respite care service were re-opened (after paused due to COVID 19) with our first College Church STAR staying in the Jean Hooten Home. More scheduled.

NEW PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES IDENTIFIED TO EXPAND TO COMMUNITY STARS

• Created The SFS Art Studio (Note that these programs were created out of meeting the needs of our residents during the pandemic)—the pandemic truly provided SFS with a new lens of possibilities of how we are serving the disability community. The Art Studio energies are focused on hosting exhibits and creating items available for purchase.

• Greater STARS Community: SFS is now leveraging the beautiful homes to better serve the overall STARS Community (Art Studio/Home Base/Respite Services).

• Enhanced the Partner Program (job coaching at STARS and Twice is Nice Resale Shops).

• Four College Church STARS joined the program which brings our total STARS participants to 20. Two new job coaches added.

• Continued focus on safety during the pandemic. SFS’s COVID Governance model has proven to provide the ongoing structure to drive COVID safety practices within SFS homes and programs.

• Our residents/families and staff have demonstrated true resiliency during challenging times.

• We’ve learned to adjust, live and grow—even though we are experiencing ongoing changes based on the COVID virus.

• Many thanks to Dr. Lisa McKenna and the church medical committee for their continued guidance.

I am grateful for the dedication of the board, who continue to serve and for whom I thank the Lord: Tom Paulsen (Vice President), Nancy Singer (Secretary), Michelle Linhardt (Treasurer), Wil Triggs, Julie Clemens, Bob Kay, Glenn Kosirog, Mike McKevitt and Jack O’Connor. As the executive director for SFS, Angela Killian has continued to guide the organization in such a wonderful, highly professional way, that remains a blessing to SFS. I am grateful to her (and Scott).

Thank you for volunteering, providing financial support and praying for the work of STARS Family Services. We are always looking for committed Christians to join our team of staff and volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a part of the SFS team, please contact Angela Killian for a list of current openings and to obtain a job application: angela@starsfamilyservices.org.

To God be the glory!