GCS Newsletter THE LEAFLET Issue JUL/AUG 2024

Garden Center Services

The View From My Chair

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Gerry & Cindy M. at the Sunny Smash

Inside this month’s Leaflet you will find an article speaking about the accrediting body, the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). We decided to seek out this accreditation to ensure that the focus of our programs and supports at Garden Center Services will always be on each individual that we serve, and will be driven by what each person wants as we give the utmost respect to the inherent rights and personal choices that every individual has. We believe that we have a really strong

and positive culture at our agency, but we can always do better, and I am very pleased and proud that we have taken this step and are now accredited by CQL. This formal status is recognized widely as an agency’s commitment to offer the best practiced programs and services to this population and will be helpful as we go forward applying for grants and financial assistance from charitable foundations and major gift donors.

I also wanted to gratefully announce that the Illinois’ legislature has once again demonstrated their understanding and support of disability services in our state by voting in a $1.00 an hour increase for our Direct Support Professionals in the coming fiscal year budget. Even though Governor Pritzker’s original projected budget contained no increase for services like ours, the intense work and

advocacy of our professional associations, our families and supporters, our staff themselves, convinced the House and Senate of the importance of providing a decent living wage for those employees that provide compassionate assistance to persons receiving services.

In terms of fulfilling our mission statement here at Garden Center, I am also pleased to share that all the final items have been addressed regarding our Permanent Supportive Housing project that will be located in the town of Worth will begin construction this August! This beautiful apartment building will provide a home for 16 individuals with disabilities that can live independently in the community with minimal support. I am very grateful for the support that we have had from so many for this project, and really

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GARDEN CENTER FAMILY

WHO IS THE COUNCIL ON QUALITY & LEADERSHIP?

CQL Rep. - Barney, visited GCS in May

The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) has been a leader in working with human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure, and improve quality of life and quality of services for youth, adults, and older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and psychiatric disabilities since 1969.

They offer accreditation, training, certification, research, and consultation services to organizations like Garden Center Services who choose to work toward exceptional services that are far above what is standard in the field.

Garden Center is excited to begin this journey to further enhance the services we offer and continue to be on the leading edge of programs for people with disabilities.

WORKFORCE GROWTH PROJECT UPDATE

Gerry announces followup plans from the listening sessions to GCS Staff via video

A few months ago we shared with you our excitement at being chosen as one of 16 agencies to participate in Intersect for Ability’s, multi-year, Workforce Growth Project funded by the Coleman Foundation. The project’s goal is to gather information, design, and implement solutions to solve the pressing challenge of recruiting and retaining dedicated staff and create a replicable template that can be used by other disability providers in the State of Illinois.

As a part of the project, in August of last year, GCS staff participated in a survey conducted by PECOS Consulting Group. In response to the survey results, Garden Center held 10 listening sessions in which over 50 staff gave feedback on a variety of topics. The listening sessions provided valuable information for future decision making at Garden Center, and for many of the items discussed, Garden Center was able to respond quickly. One of the biggest initiatives that came as a result of the sessions was Garden Center’s recent salary adjustments and the creation of a bonus structure that better recognizes our staff’s significant longevity.

We are excited by the success of the sessions and are continuing to put in place many more initiatives inspired by those discussions including continuing to hold listening sessions annually.

Tending Our Garden...Literally

We frequently reserve this section of the newsletter to talk about how some person or group has helped us “Tend our Garden” by supporting us in a way that makes a difference for those we serve. This time we are recognizing a group who, quite literally, has been tending our garden at the Kolin Ave. home for over twelve years. The Knights of Columbus Council # 14553 were there when we purchased the home in 2012. Back then, they helped clean up the back yard, did landscaping and painted the deck. Over the years they have made the space even more accessible (and beautiful) for the women who live there by building ramps that enable those in wheelchairs to get around more easily and building raised flower beds where the ladies enjoy growing flowers, herbs, and vegetables.

The Knights recently visited the Kolin home again to plant and get the area ready for the season. They have made a charming and inclusive space for the Kolin ladies to enjoy their summers and we couldn’t be more grateful - thank you Knights!

GARDEN CENTER FRIENDS & FAMILY FORUM IS BACK!

One of the many things we learned from the recent focus groups held by CQL was that families were looking for more communication and we heard you! On June 11th, Gerry & Cindy met with over 20 family members who responded to their invitation. The group discussed current happenings at the agency and also ideas for improving communication. The group chose to bring back quarterly Friends & Family Forum meetings starting this September.

Please join us October 8th, 6pm at the State Road Building - 8333 S. Austin Ave. in Burbank for the return of the GCS Friends & Family Fourm! Call Gerry for more info at 708-887-8588.

SUNNY SMASH WRAP UP!

Garden Center’s 2024 Sunny Smash Co-Ed Softball Tournament (now known as the 2024 Soggy Smash) was a success despite the less than ideal weather conditions. This year we had more supporters than ever and we can’t thank you enough! GCS raised over $45,000 for programs and services and had a great, if somewhat damp, time doing it. Please help us show some love for our event sponsors below and be sure to save the date for next year’s event - June 7th 2025!

OUR SPONSORS

HALL OF FAMER

The Sherwood Family

The Lovelady Family

MVP

CIBC Bank

Alley Cats

GOLD GLOVE

The Sibik Family

The Ballis Family

The Beagles/Haworth Family

Kevin & Jane Doherty

Marrello/Raspante Families

Alera Group

The Horton Group Garvey’s Office Supply

Wegner Family Charitable Fund

HOME RUN

Scannell & Associates

Chicago Fire Protection

Kaman Tool Corporation

Beverly Bank & Trust

Franconcello’s

People First Bank

WJW Architects

Petty & Bielik Orthodontics

The Craig Head Family

RJ Till Plumbing

Chuck’s So. Comfort Cafe

Howard Beagles

The Liquor House

Burbank Chamber

Jenny Wojcik

2 BAGGER

Tom Walsh - Edward Jones

Westside Children’s Therapy

Hallberg - Valek Allstate

Pete’s Service Center

The Studio Beverly LOL - Diedre Walton

Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities

Wonderburger/ LaFiesta

Rep. Mary Gill Luigis Paisans Pizza Inc.

Beverly Ride On

Bush Family Eyecare

Mitchell’s Flowers & Events

Burbank Park District

Burke Orthodontics

Fox’s Beverly Pub

Athenian Body Shop

Essential Home Services

Top Notch Cleaning

Ralph Storino

The Andersen Family

Joe Voves - Country Financial Mahoney Crowe Goldrick & Cannon

A special thank you to the many teams, donors, volunteers, and the businesses/organizations below, who made this event possible!

Calabria Imports, Cravings, St. Christina Fields, Brackenbox, Duffy Design, PepsiCo, Wolf’s Bakery, Beverly Bakery, and the Knights of Columbus Council # 14553.

Community Day Services will be closed on these dates in JUL-SEP

GCS Quarterly Friends & Family Forum OCT 8th at 6pm

State Road Building 8333 S. Austin, Burbank

Save the Date

Growing dignity and independence

8333 S. Austin Ave. Burbank, IL 60459

10444 S. Kedzie Chicago, IL 60655

phone 773-941-4151

email info@GardenCenterServices.org

web www.GardenCenterServices.org

SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SALES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Vice President

Treasurer

Secretary

Members

Rep.

Dr.

Ava

OUR MISSION

Advancing lives of connection, contribution, and meaning for persons with developmental disabilities and the individuals that support them.

NEON PROJECT UPDATE

In January, we told you about Garden Center’s selection as one of five agencies in Illinois to participate in the National Employment Opportunity (NEON) Project through the US Department of Labor. Garden Center has since been working with experts in the field of employment for individuals with disabilities to develop strategic plans for increasing employment opportunities for the individuals we serve, including those with significant disabilities and those who have faced additional barriers to employment.

In May, project leaders met with Garden Center’s Community Day Service program staff to discuss ways day service programming can be designed to best support individuals to reach their employment goals. Staff are working to implement ideas generated from that meeting and plans for similar future meetings are in the works.

How you can help - If you are a business owner, contact John at 708-887-8865 to learn how your business can join Garden Center to increase the independence of adults with disabilities.

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appreciate how this enhances Garden Center’s view as an agency fully committed to all persons with disabilities.

Finally, I want to express so much gratitude for everyone that found ways to support our recent fundraiser, the Sunny Smash softball tournament. Or, as some of us have been saying, the Soggy Smash tournament, due to the rain that visited us on the day of the event. I’m pleased that even with the drizzle and rain we were able to get some games in, had numerous raffle prize won, enjoyed delicious food provided by Calabria Imports and Cravings Ice Cream Shop, and people were able to stick around and enjoy each other’s company. Even with the inclement weather we overshot our financial goal and raised over $45,000 for the agency programs. I want to specifically give a well deserved shout out to Anne McFerron and Shannon Voves, the two staff that put a lot of time and energy into planning and running the event!

Please be safe out there and continue to enjoy what I hope will soon be a cicada free summer.

Peace,