SLI (Sheltered Living, Inc.)
Serving people with intellectual disabilities since 1971
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We are SLI. A not-for-profit supporting the efforts of individuals living with intellectual/developmental disabilities by promoting: Success • Learning • Inclusion. Our programs, supports, and services are focused on improving the quality of life for persons with IDD and ensuring that they are able to fully participate in community.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community Living Program (residential & independent)
The community living program has two main service delivery approaches: independent living and community living. Within the independent living program, individuals live independently in their own apartments or homes with minimal support of 15 hours or less from Sheltered Living, Inc. Individuals supported in the community living program require additional supports to be successful in the community. Most individuals in this program are supported 24/7.
Community Integration Program
The Community Integration Program provides day supports to individuals with intellectual disabilities. This program is self-directed by the individuals served. They choose what activities and learning opportunities to participate in. The 55 persons supported in this program also volunteer over 800 hours per month at local non-profit organizations.
Targeted Case Management
The case managers at Sheltered Living, Inc. help persons with intellectual disabilities and their families navigate the support system in Kansas.
Transportation
Transportation is provided for all SLI clients for medical appointments, community events, shopping, church and social activities.
Medical Advocacy & Safeguarding
SLI provides staff as an advocate when needed for a client when at a medical appointment or hospitalized.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Chamber of Commerce 2013
Chamber of Commerce 2014
Chamber of Commerce 2015
Chamber of Commerce 2016
Chamber of Commerce 2017
Chamber of Commerce 2018
Chamber of Commerce 2019
Chamber of Commerce 2020
External reviews

Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
To accomplish the mission of SLI, the organization will:
• Offer guidance to clients in determining and following their chosen path in life
• Enhance clients’ individual capabilities and skills by offering life-long learning opportunities
• Engage clients, families, and guardians in developing plans and measuring accomplishments
• Promote clients’ rights through education and advocacy
• Promote inclusion in all aspects
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Fundraising and Fund Development / Financial Strength and Stability:
A stable financial structure is critical to the successful implementation of the strategic plan. In light of federal legislation and increasing state accountability, oversight of our financial system and overall financial health drives our efforts to use dollars effectively and efficiently. This strategic area encompasses activities aimed at developing and maintaining resources to set the foundation for supporting and maintaining the services provided to our consumers while sustaining financial viability and health.
Client Services and Programming:
At the heart of our organization are the programs and services designed to address the needs of the clients, families, and the community we serve. To that end services must be periodically reviewed to determine efficacy and viability, community needs assessed and opportunities for new services identified. They must be aligned with our mission and vision.
Infrastructure and Organization Capacity:
Human resources and the basic facilities, technology based support, and homes of SLI form the foundation for this organization. Ensuring capacity in these arenas creates an enabling environment for service delivery and development. Resource development and periodic review of our human resources and basic facilities is vital in determining how and where improvements should be made.
Governance:
It is of primary importance that a governance plan demonstrates the respective roles board and staff play in governance of the organization. Leadership, management and delegation processes for board operations and staff operations must be able to respond to changing environments and changing conditions while maintaining focus on the mission and vision of the agency. The following goals are tailored to address the emergent issues of governance for SLI.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The strategic plan of the organization is the work of the Board of Directors, staff, and observation of community need, determining direction, ensuring resources and providing oversight of the work of SLI.
The strategic plan provides a "guiding influence" for the organization. The leadership component addresses where we go tomorrow; the delegation component addresses who is responsible; the management component addresses what is to be done, and the oversight and vigilance component assesses if it happened.
We have served our target population and the Topeka community since 1971 and will celebrate 50 years in 2021. We have continually received the highest level of CARF Accreditation and are currently in the process of renewing our accreditation in 2021.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
SLI Board of Directors and Leadership Staff provide on-going reviews of the resources, data and information that are utilized in various plans and outcome measurement systems, as listed in the Indicators. These reviews continually indicate positive progress of the organization for our persons served.
Another indicator of the positive progress of the organization is the accreditation earned by CARF International. SLI has earned seven accreditations from CARF - each time earning the highest accreditation. In 2015, SLI was honored with their latest three-year accreditation from CARF. Once again, SLI puts itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during on an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: residential, community integration, medical support and advocacy, and targeted case management.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
SLI (Sheltered Living, Inc.)
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2022
Mr. Russ Cobb
Evergy
Term: 2021 - 2024
Mr. David Heit
CIVIUM Architecture & Planning
Term: 2021 - 2024
Lisa Jackson
Abby Lear
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Ron Shelton
Retired, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Beth Simpson
Heartland Homecare Services
Jeanette Johnson
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
David Heit
CIVIUM Architecture & Planning
Phil Whalen
Capitol Federal Savings
Russ Cobb
Evergy
John Cassidy
Topeka Transit Authority
Traci Brown
TEB Consulting
TJ Lorson
Heartland Title Company
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data