2023-2026 ECF Strategic Plan

Founded in 1946, Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF) is a nationally recognized innovator of services for young children, students and adults challenged with special needs. ECF serves nearly 4,000 clients and their families each year at 14 program sites, remotely, in clients’ homes and in community settings throughout Los Angeles County. ECF is the only organization of its kind in California offering a full continuum of lifespan services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs.

Our Mission

The mission of ECF is to provide the highest quality services for children and adults who are challenged with special needs— empowering them to reach their greatest potential.

Our Vision

ECF envisions a society in which people of all abilities are valued and included in educational, social, employment, and residential settings.

SHELLEY I. SMITH Chair, Board of Directors

Letter from Board Chair & CEO

We are pleased to share with you the Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF) 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.

Since our founding in 1946, ECF has maintained our mission commitment to provide the highest quality services for children and adults who are challenged with special needs—empowering them to reach their greatest potential. Over 77 years, we have evolved into a nationally recognized organization serving nearly 4,000 people with developmental disabilities and their families annually from 14 program sites, in homes and in the community across Los Angeles County.

Our longevity and growth in impact have been guided by continuing regular analysis, innovation, and sound strategic planning. This strategic plan for 2023-2026 builds upon our past and current successes and provides a roadmap of strategic pillars and initiatives that will be pursued over the next three years. It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of our community and ensuring the advancement of our service mission.

VERONICA ARTEAGA President and CEO

This three-year strategic plan has been developed drawing upon broad and thoughtful feedback and insights provided by staff; our Board of Directors; policy advisors and field experts; service partners; and participants. We are grateful to everyone who collectively contributed their experience, ideas, and wisdom to this comprehensive planning process, and we are all energized with optimism for the transformative outcomes to come.

The children we serve, the students, the adults, and their families—deserve the highest quality services and opportunities to live their best lives. We launch these strategies, as always, guided by our enduring mission of service excellence, empowerment, and inclusion, and invite you to join us, as we continue our work together toward our exceptional vision for the future.

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The children we serve, the students, the adults, and their families—deserve the highest quality services and opportunities to live their best lives.

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Executive Summary

Every three years Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF) develops a strategic plan that outlines a detailed pathway supporting the assessed and identified priorities and goals in fulfilling our mission of empowering all those we serve to reach their greatest potential.

As a recognized premier provider of services to individuals challenged with special needs, this strategic plan for 2023 to 2026, represents ECF’s commitment to be ever responsive to the needs of those we serve, faithful to our mission and responsible in stewarding resources.

Beginning in the fall of 2022, ECF set out to engage our stakeholders to determine the needs of the community, and the resources required to sustain our mission. This process engaged all those contracting with ECF for publicly funded services, policy advisors and included a review of practice trends impacting our services. Also engaged in this process was ECF’s governing body, staff and service participants.

An analysis of the input provided by these sources indicated several important strategic issues, including—emerging service practice trends, the need for sustainable funding, and maintaining a talented workforce in a very competitive employment environment. After careful examination of our strengths and challenges and consideration of opportunities for further development, four strategic pillars were chosen as the focus of ECF’s strategic development for the next three years.

They are the strengthening of:

• Mission effectiveness and impact

• Workforce capacity

• Organizational culture

• Governance development

Each of these strategic pillars is accompanied by specific initiatives that will be pursued over the next three years. The adoption of this plan indicates a commitment by ECF to effectively address the needs of the community we serve and assure the maximum impact for all in our care.

2023-2026 Strategic Plan

Introduction

This plan represents the principal strategic initiatives, goals, and objectives of ECF, for the next three years. After considerable review and analysis by both the senior leadership team and the governing body, this plan was adopted in the spring of 2023. ECF is committed to implementing this plan as a statement of its resolve to continue to be an organization rooted in its mission and effective as a premier provider of services to those challenged with special needs.

STRATEGIC PILLARS

PILLAR 1 Sustain Mission Effectiveness and Impact

INITIATIVE A – Maintain sustainability of service array:

• Conduct analysis of practice trends and opportunities

• Explore alternative funding streams, including social enterprise, merger, or partnership opportunities

INITIATIVE B – Review organizational effectiveness and efficiencies:

• Infrastructure review and alignment

• Identify and prioritize initiatives that support quality assurance, professional development, and impact measurement

INITIATIVE C – Brand exploration and strategy development

PILLAR

2 Strengthen Workforce Capacity

INITIATIVE A – Develop and sustain a comprehensive approach to:

• Talent recruitment

• Onboarding

• Retention

INITIATIVE B – Determine how to maintain a competitive compensation package

INITIATIVE C – Leverage HR management system efficiencies

PILLAR

3 Strengthen Organizational Culture

INITIATIVE A – Improve intra-organization communication

INITIATIVE B – Streamline decision making process:

• Review and clarify decision making practices

• Create a shared understanding of decision making process

INITIATIVE C – Strengthen employee relations initiatives

PILLAR 4 Anticipate Governance Development

INITIATIVE A – Acknowledge ongoing generation transition:

• Prioritize board succession initiatives

INITIATIVE B – Develop strategies to maintain and strengthen board governance:

• Review and assess governance functions

• Enhance member diversity

INITIATIVE C – Review the role of the board regarding philanthropic support:

• Overall fund development strategy

Implementation

For each of the strategic initiatives associated with the four pillars, a detailed tactical plan has been developed for each year identifying action items, goals, targeted completion dates, and those responsible for its execution. The detailed tactical plan for each year becomes a source of reference to determine progress regarding each strategic pillar and serves as the basis for reporting to the board of directors, staff and all interested parties.

Program Descriptions

Early Start

The ECF Early Start Program provides home-based and center-based early intervention and educational services to families with children 0-3 who are developmentally delayed or disabled. Speech, occupational and physical therapies guide each child to develop motor, cognitive, language and social skills—contributing to healthy and age-appropriate development. Family supports offered include parent education, counseling, referrals and advocacy, and medical assessments.

Kayne Eras School

ECF’s WASC-accredited nonpublic K-12 school provides special education for students who have learning, emotional and developmental challenges. An Enrichment Program is also offered, including visual and performing arts, team sports, vocational and technology training and community service. All of our educators are committed to the idea that every child can learn—and with individualized support and care, we help each child develop their confidence and unique potential so they can succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Mental Health Services

Individual, group and family treatment is provided to help students overcome complex challenges that create barriers to their academic success, while also supporting their family members in improving overall family functioning. Medication evaluation and management is available, as is Applied Behavioral Analysis Services for those with autism spectrum disorders.

Exceptional Works / Pathways to Employment

ECF’s Exceptional Works program is a unique continuum of services that offer skill development, work training, on-site paid work experience and placement into community jobs—all creating Pathways to Employment.

• WORK READINESS teaches participants the skills needed to find and retain a job.

• EXCEPTIONAL PACKAGING SOLUTIONS offers participants skills training and paid work experience while fulfilling packaging and assembly contract work from local businesses.

• EXCEPTIONAL TRAINING ACADEMY offers hands-on specialized vocational training in computer literacy, culinary arts, janitorial services and warehouse operations.

• COLLEGE CLASSROOM PROGRAM, in partnership with educational institutions, provides in-class support to adult students, helping them successfully complete vocational training courses.

• EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS offers job placement and on-the-job training and coaching support.

ECF Art Centers Program

Established in 1968, the ECF Art Centers program provides fine art training along with opportunities for participants to exhibit and sell their work. Juried art shows, local gallery exhibits and partnerships with local artists and arts organizations provide community exposure for artists and their work. View and purchase art at www.ArtECF.org

Developmental Activity Center

The Developmental Activity Center provides participants with opportunities to strengthen their independence, social skills and self-determination, all with respect for each person’s ability level. Skills are reinforced through community integration experiences such as grocery shopping, attending cultural events and participating in volunteer opportunities.

Exceptional Community Connections

Exceptional Community Connections offers meaningful volunteer opportunities where participants can integrate into community ettings. Service projects are designed to assist participants in developing a variety of skills, along with sense of self-worth, while meeting the needs of diverse communities.

Residential Services

Residential Services offers a variety of living arrangements from apartment complexes to group homes, combined with independent living skills training and support services to foster the highest level of client independence. Around-the-clock assistance and medical supervision services are available to meet clients’ needs.

Organizational Chart

QIDP

KEYSTONE ILS Program Admin Celia Montes

WHITTIER SPRINGS

WESTINGTON

Administrative (2)

Clinical

Executive Leadership Team

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM

VERONICA ARTEAGA, LCSW

President and CEO

SONHUI “SUNNY” ROBILOTTA Chief Financial Officer

PAIGE NEWBOLD Chief Administrative Officer

MARYAM HAMEDANINIA Chief Programs Officer

LAUREN RAYNER Chief Development Officer

The Exceptional Children’s Foundation

is privileged to have highly qualified and deeply committed community leaders serving on its Board of Directors and Board of Governors. In partnership with an experienced Executive Management Team, these individuals give generously of their time and resources to help fulfill the organization’s mission.

Board of Directors & Board of Governors

BOARD OFFICER BOARD MEMBERS

SHELLEY I. SMITH, ESQ. President & General Counsel, GrayShell Consulting Chairperson

ANIL RANAVAT

Chief Financial Officer, Homebound, Inc. First Vice Chairperson/Vice Treasurer

MALCOLM MCNEIL, ESQ. Partner, Arent Fox

Second Vice Chairperson/Secretary

THOMAS HOPKINS

Vice President, U.S. Bank Treasurer

ELLEN TURNER

Principal and Vice-President – Operations, Turner Techtronics, Inc.

Assistant Secretary

STEVEN P. BELTRAN, ESQ. Senior Partner, Beltran, Beltran, Smith & MacKenzie, LLP

Immediate Past Chair

LESLIE B. ABELL, ESQ. Attorney, Leslie B. Abell, A Professional Corporation

FRED ALAVI

Managing Director, EH National Bank

LISA C. ANDERSON

Client Advocate

RUSSELL CHING, ESQ.

Attorney, Stonesifer & Chong

SCOTT COOPER, CMC

Principal, Pegasus Squire, Inc.

AZITA KARIMKHANY FATHEREE

MONICA M. JARAMILLO

Co-Founder, LABEL the Agency

MARY KAYNE

Community Volunteer

KIMBERLY LEWIS, ESQ. Ervin, Cohen & Jessup, LLP

LAN NGUYEN

LARRY RABINEAU, ESQ.

Attorney, Law Offices of Larry Rabineau

EUGENE SICILIANO

President, Western Management Associates

RALPH WALTER, D.PHIL, CFA

Visiting Fellow, Kellogg College, Oxford

LEONARD WASHINGTON

Digital Media and Business Operations Consultant

MONTGOMERY ZIMMERMAN

Vice President, Client Strategist, BNY Mellon Wealth Management

PAUL K. ZIMMERMAN

Independent Businessman, Imperfect Partners

BOARD DIRECTOR EMERITUS

Suzanne Kayne

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

BARBARA CULL

Founder, Kayne Eras Center

MONTE MARKHAM

JERRY MOSS

SHARE, INC.

Honorable Dickran Tevrizian

EMERITUS

ROBERT D. SHUSHAN, ED.D.

President Emeritus — In Memoriam

SCOTT D. BOWLING, PSY.D.

CEO Emeritus

A society in which people of all abilities are valued and included in educational, social, employment, and residential settings.

Acknowledgements

LIDDY AMADOR

Westside regional center

PABLO IBÁÑEZ

Lanterman regional center

ELLEN TELANDER

Source America

DEANNA PATTERSON

LAUSD

BARRY JARDINI

California Disability Service Association

MEMBERS OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE OF THE ECF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ECF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ECF MANAGERS AND DIRECTORS

OUR EXCEPTIONAL ECF STAFF

JOE COSTA

Strategic Plan Facilitator