ENVISION UNLIMITED

When first widely implemented in the 1960s, adult day centers marked a dramatic improvement in the lives of people with I/DD – many of whom would have otherwise been institutionalized and largely forgotten about by society. Day centers, like those still operated by Envision Unlimited and other agencies across the country, offered an opportunity for people with I/DD to work and play, for socialization and social services. However, like many progressive changes made in previous decades, that model is no longer aligned with the hopes, dreams, and expectations of individuals today who want more independence and more choice in their lives. Envision Unlimited is committed to ending the segregation of individuals with I/DD and to supporting them in achieving total community inclusion. Over the last several years, Envision has laid the groundwork for broader inclusion through the development of client-led councils that participate in decisions such as facility use, vendor selection, program offerings, and even input in hiring and roles during new hire onboarding.

Envision's big picture focus is the continuing evolution of its programming for people with I/DD – a project that will see the transformation of all Community Day Service program centers from sheltered locations to a community-based model. Each newly-created Community Hub will offer social, therapeutic, skill development, job training and placement, creative, and other services, while engaging for- and non-profit community groups to utilize the spaces and interact with Envision program participants. Additionally, Envision will continue to move away from large group residential settings in its Community Living programs (defined as > 4 people per residence), instead expanding utilization of smaller groups living with greater independence.

Envision has three overarching strategic goals that guide its programming, planning, and vision for the future:

1) Maximize the independence and community integration of program participants, thus creating an improved quality of life for our clients.

2) Implement a long-term, financially-sustainable and diversified business model that decreases dependence on any one funder or revenue stream.

3) Establish a culture that engages employees in creating successful outcomes for clients, staff, and the agency as a whole.

For more than 50 years, Envision Unlimited has served people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Chicago's most economically-distressed communities (more than 90% of Envision's clients live at or below the Federal Poverty Level). Envision is the largest provider of Community Day Service programming in Illinois, offering individuals with I/DD the opportunity to engage in their community, develop support groups outside of the family, and cultivate personal interests and vocational skills. Envision's goal is to offer robust programming that builds capacity in program participants by emphasizing social impact and community inclusion, enhancing their lives and expanding their futures.

In the past two years alone, Envision can demonstrate remarkable effectiveness throughout its operations. In 2016 (the most recent year for which calculations are available), Envision's Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) homes saved Illinois taxpayers $30.1 million. Though people with I/DD experience nearly double the rate of unemployment of people without disabilities, more than 100 Envision clients have found meaningful employment. In addition, more than 80 children and families with specialized needs have found safe homes through Envision's foster care services.

Moving forward, outcomes of Envision's programming will be measured using evaluation tools based on the Council on Quality and Leadership's (CQL) Personal Outcome Measures® – a component first implemented in 2017. By establishing a clear record of individual and organizational progress, Envision will demonstrate both its capacity to create change and success in doing so.

At the start of Envision's 2018 Fiscal Year, the agency has made significant progress towards its goals with continued movement towards its short- and long-term objectives. Programs have become more personalized, with fewer people receiving services in large group settings, and more people in smaller groups. Clients also have more choice in their lives and experience community life more fully.

The success in creating inclusion at new levels for clients is the result of several factors, including training, dedication, and excitement. Yet the main driver of this change is partnerships – both within the agency among staff and with individuals and community groups outside of Envision. Engagement at multiple levels has made a dramatic impact in establishing a culture of creating successful and individual organizational outcomes.

Envision's business model has achieved a measure of consistency and positive results. Finding ways to be on solid ground financially helps prepare for inevitable lean years and mitigates the risk involved in pursuing new initiatives and investing in infrastructure. This has also helped ensure that financial decisions are not made in a vacuum but in the context of the services delivered and the client outcomes pursued. This is exemplified in Envision's new Applied Behavior Analysis program, which brings net revenue into the organization that, in the past, had gone to another organization, while also giving Envision more control over the quality of its program to maximize clients' skill development and minimize their maladaptive behaviors and aggression. Similarly, an organizational merger announced in November 2017 will strengthen Envision's market position in Chicago and create economies of scale within its budget. It will also bring together skill sets that are missing from the individual organizations to create better quality, more efficient service delivery.