Little City Foundation
Outcome Measurement Summary
Executive Summary
Fiscal Year 2003

Little City Foundation provides state–of-the art services to help children and adults with developmental, emotional, and behavioral challenges to lead meaningful, productive, and dignified lives.  In order to demonstrate our commitment to continuous quality improvement, the organization obtains input from management staff, direct care employees, people receiving services, guardians/family members, and other stakeholders to identify program needs and assess the degree to which each program achieves success.  The agency’s strategic planning process incorporates outcome measures in its development as well. 
For fiscal year 2003, Little City Foundation’s program outcome measures focused on the following areas: enhanced opportunities; services provided in the least restrictive environment; and consumer and stakeholder satisfaction.  Our outcome measurement system represents results from the following Little City Foundation programs:

• Children's Residential Services (Child Care Institute/CCI)

• Foster Care and Adoption Services

• Families One Program

• Adult Residential Services

• Employment Services

• Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center

• Support Services

• Summary

Children's Residential (CCI)

The Child Care Institute (CCI) provides care for children in homes on our Palatine campus.  The program offers treatment planning, case management, behavioral analysis and intervention, individual and group therapy, recreation, and medical and psychiatric services.

The goal of the CCI program is to assist children and young adults in developing new skills and increasing their independence.  Program staff, in collaboration with stakeholders, identify outcomes and the method of assessment.

The highlights of the outcome measurement findings are as follows:

• During this fiscal year, the Children’s Residential Program provided services to fifty-two individuals.  This number includes forty-two (42) individuals residing in the program, thirteen (13) individuals discharged, and ten (10) new admitted individuals.  Of the thirteen individuals discharged, all but two children moved to CILA (less restrictive setting) with another agency.  One of the children discharged was found to be too behaviorally severe for the program, and the other was discharged to a Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) independent living program.

• Four (4) children or 7.4% (down from 10% FY ’02) of children receiving services required psychiatric hospitalization, meeting our expectancies for the year.  Of the four children hospitalized, three (3) were hospitalized due to escalations in behavior that were severe enough to threaten the child’s safety or the safety of others.  The fourth child was hospitalized as a precaution during a significant change in medication and anticipation of negative side effects. 
   

• Approximately 67% of the children on psychotropic medications either maintained or decreased their dosage, thus the program did not meet its expectancy of 75%.  Clinical Program Managers continue to work with physicians and psychiatrists towards reducing medication levels to the lowest effective dosage and to decrease and/or eliminate medications when at all possible.
   

• Satisfaction surveys were distributed to children receiving services, parents/guardians, and collateral contacts (e.g. schools).  Because of small response rates in previous years, the organization reassessed the satisfaction survey process.  Beginning this fiscal year, the Quality Assurance Department became the recipient of completed surveys (allowing for stakeholder anonymity from the program), did follow-up survey mailings, and conducted phone surveys to parents and other stakeholders to facilitate increased participation in the survey process.  Children were satisfied 90% of the time with program service provision, meeting the program goal.  Parents/Guardians were satisfied 89% of the time with program service provision, exceeding the expectancy of 85%.  Overall satisfaction of school personnel was 80%, exceeding the program goal of 70%.

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At Little City Foundation, we provide a variety of living options that give adults the opportunity to make choices, develop independence and live life to its fullest potential.  Adult Residential Services is comprised of the following programs:

• Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA):  Provides community based home settings for people with developmental disabilities.  The program provides a range of support from intermittent supervision to 24-hour care depending on the needs of the person. 
   

• Supported Living Arrangement (SLA):  Offers semi-independent apartment living where adults live by themselves or with roommates and receive case management service
   

• Community Living Facility (CLF): Provides campus based dormitory living for adults with 24-hour support.

 The highlights of the outcome measurement findings are as follows: 

• One hundred, sixty-three (163) individuals received residential services in FY’03.  The CILA program provided services to ninety-two (92) individuals, while the CILA 1/SLA program provided services to thirty-six (36) individuals.  The CLF program provided services for thirty-five (35) individuals
   

• With regard to the use of psychotropic medications, a goal was set that 80% of the participants would maintain or decrease the amount of psychotropic medications taken for psychiatric symptoms.  The achievement of  91% exceeds expectations and confirms concise communication between program staff, persons receiving services, their families and the treating psychiatrist.
   

• For the year, the program achieved its goal of increased community participation.  Individuals receiving services participated in community-based activities 70% of the time.

• Satisfaction surveys were distributed to individuals receiving services, families, and collateral contacts (e.g. referral sources).  Because of the small number of satisfaction surveys returned, the organization reassessed its survey process.  Beginning this fiscal year, the Quality Assurance Department became the recipient of completed surveys (allowing for stakeholder anonymity from the program) did follow-up survey mailings, and conducted phone surveys to parents and other stakeholders to facilitate increased participation in the survey process.  Individuals receiving services and their families/guardians continue to be satisfied with services provided 95% of the time, thus achieving the program expectancy for year. 

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Adult Services - Employment  Services

Just as living options vary according to individual needs and capabilities, so does the scope of Little City Foundation’s Employment Services.  This program allows adults with developmental disabilities to become productive, tax-paying members of society by earning money for meaningful work. The goal of Adult Employment Services is to develop skills and provide enhanced opportunities in the least restrictive environment.

In fiscal year 2003, Little City Foundation provided employment services to more than two hundred (200) individuals, including those who receive residential services through Little City Foundation as well as individuals from the local Northwest Special Education Organization.  

Little City Foundation’s Employment Services department is comprised of the following programs:

• Supported Employment Program (SEP): Offers both full and part-time job opportunities in a variety of community settings.
   

• Organizational Employment Services (OES):  An onsite workplace that allows adults with developmental challenges to earn money and gain knowledge while they continue to gain skills for other meaningful job opportunities
   

• Life Enrichment Program (LEP): Offers vocational training, job opportunities, and alternative activities to adults unable to work a full day.

The goal of the Supported Employment Program is to increase both program and individual productivity, in the context of maximizing individual job retention, increasing the number of community employment opportunities, and improving individual satisfaction.  Highlights of the outcome measurement findings are as follows:

• Seventy-five (75) individuals received services from Supported Employment.  The program discharged one (1) individual.
   

• An average of 95% of individuals participating in community-based employment successfully maintained that employment for more than seventy-five (75) days.  This achievement exceeds the program expectancy of 80%.  Several factors contribute to this success, including improved appropriateness of job placement and each individuals desire to succeed.
   

• Six (6) individuals obtained independent employment this year, achieving program expectancies.  The program defines independent employment as employment outside of the work center and without a job coach. 
   

• Nearly 93% (92.5%) of individuals receiving employment services through the Supported Employment Program expressed high satisfaction with those services.  The program defines high satisfaction as any score of 85% or above on the satisfaction survey.  Key reasons for success in the area relate to a continued increased availability of community based employment opportunities.

The goal of Organizational Employment Services is to provide opportunities for individual skill building, to maximize productivity and to increase consumer satisfaction.  Highlights of the outcome measurement findings are as follows:

• Fifty-one (51) individuals received services, while the program discharged one (1) individual.
   

• The program exceeded its expectancy of 80% for productive time an individual spends in OES activities.  Individuals spent 99.5% of their time productively.  Productive time is defined as any period an individual is participating in structured activities including: contract work, alternative activities, and /or training. 
   

• The individual productivity goal of  (15%) exceeded expectancies in both the second and third quarter of fiscal year ’03 (16.79% and 17.43% respectively).  Productivity is defined as the average performance of all individuals compared to the performance of experienced workers doing the same work in the local community.  Although first and fourth quarter results were less than expected, the overall achievement demonstrates continued success in this area.
   

• 91% of individuals receiving employment services through Organizational Employment expressed high satisfaction with those services.  The program defines high satisfaction as any score of 85% or above on the satisfaction survey.  Key reasons for success in this area relate increased exposure to other employment options through discussion groups, field trips to local employers and relevant interest inventories to expand individual knowledge of potential employment opportunities.

The goal of the Life Enrichment Program is to provide opportunities for skill building, increased community integration and enhanced productivity, which leads to greater individual earnings.  The highlights of the outcome measurement findings are as follows:

• Thirty-five (35) people received services in the Life Enrichment Program.  The program discharged two (2) individuals.
   

• The average for monthly community-based activities achieved was two (2).  This is below the set goal of six (4) and reflects a decrease from the previous fiscal year.  Factors that continue to impede success in this area include limited availability of staff to maintain ratio on the community as well as for individuals who choose to remain at the campus-based program.  Community-based activities are defined as any activity individuals participate in away from the Palatine Campus. 
   

• Individuals spent an average of one (1) time per week participating in sensory enhancing activities.  This was below the program expectancy of an average of two (2) times per week
   

• Satisfaction of individuals receiving service in the Life Enrichment Program averaged 88.5% for fiscal year 2003.  This exceeded the goal of 85%.  The third and fourth quarter numbers revealed even greater individual satisfaction, 94% and 93% respectively.  The mid-year increases may be due in part to the relocation of the program into improved physical space on the Palatine campus.  This space allows greater interaction between all members of the team and the individuals with whom they are working. 

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Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center (MDAC)

Dedicated to the Memory of Charles Evans Gerber, the Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center (MDAC) offers individuals with developmental challenges the opportunity for high visibility in new social roles.  The MDAC encourages artists to explore performance, media, and studio arts in a diversity of genres including dance, music, radio and video production, painting, drawing, sculpture, and photography.  MDAC is comprised of the following programs:

• Studio Arts Program: offers a creative environment, guidance from professional artists and access to the arts as employment, with opportunities for artists to exhibit and sell their work.
   

• Media Arts Program: Offers access to technology and creative independence both in front and behind the camera, through production of the award-winning Kiss My TV Show.  The program fosters self-expression and self-advocacy while also educating the public as to the complexity of life for people with developmental challenges.
   

• Have Art, Will Travel: An outgrowth of the Studios Arts Program, this program allows us to share our innovative ideas with other organizations providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities where they live, work, go to school and play. 
   

• Next Generation/Children’s Art Program:  Children with developmental challenges, living in diverse settings, attend after school and weekend classes in visual arts, dance, media, theatre, and drumming.  The program also sponsors an annual inclusive Summer Arts Camp.

For fiscal year 2003, MDAC measured outcomes for the following program:  

• Studio Arts Program: The Studio Arts Program is a vocational day program for adults with developmental disabilities, who demonstrate both interest and proficiency in the arts.  The program provides opportunities for artists to participate in large-scale exhibitions, including international collaboration, increase artwork sales and maximize consumer satisfaction.  Highlights of the outcome measurement findings are as follows:
   

• Thirty-four (34) adults participated in the Studio Program, in fiscal year ‘03.  Four individuals chose to withdraw from the program, indicating that making art was no longer of interest to them.  The program supports four (4) full-time artists and twenty-six (26) part-time artists. 
   

• Artists participated in eleven (11) art exhibitions.  Little City sponsored four (4) of these exhibitions while other arts organizations sponsored the remaining seven (7) shows.  This exceeded the program’s goal of participating in three (3) Little City sponsored exhibitions and four (4) exhibitons sponsored by others groups.  These eleven shows included individual (one-person) shows as well as group exhibitions
   

• Income is a direct result of art sales and the goal set for fiscal year 2003 was $8,000.  The program’s actual income this year was nearly $10,000.  Fiscal Year ’02 income reflects our first international collaboration, which resulted in an unprecedented income.  In this fiscal year, our income, as a percentage is higher.  The program remains committed to increased exposure of the artist’s work through exhibitions.
   

• 83% of participating artists surveyed expressed overall satisfaction with the program.  This number falls just below the expectancy of 85%, and well below FY ’02 satisfaction levels.  This year a greater percentage of the artists participated in the satisfaction survey process, twenty-three (23) of thirty (30), which may account for the lower number.  The program has seven (7) artists, who are non-verbal and creative ways to assess their level of satisfaction must be identified.   

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Support Services

In an effort to maximize organizational improvement, the Program Support Areas (Finance, Human Resources, Development, Facility Maintenance, Staff Training and Information Technology) will begin assessing performance based on identified outcomes.  The Quality Assurance Department oversees and assists these areas as they move forward in process implementation.  For FY’03, participating areas are:

Quality Assurance: Evaluates agency-wide performance as it relates to professional standards and best practice including the provision of efficient, effective and satisfactory services.  Highlights of the outcome measurement findings are as follows:

• During this fiscal year, the Training Department became the only non-program area to participate in the outcomes measurement process.  This number (1) fell below the program expectancy of three (3).  The Quality Assurance Department will continue to strategize and support other areas as they implement this process.
   

• Scores obtained during quarterly program site inspections averaged 90.5% exceeding the program expectancy of 85%.  Quality Assurance conducted ninety-two (92) site inspections in fiscal year 2003.  Inspected sites included both residential and vocational locations (CILA, the Life Enrichment Program, Children’s Residential, the Adult Vocational Service Center [AVSC], and CLF.) 
   

• Because of the small number of satisfaction surveys returned, the organization reassessed its survey process.  Beginning this fiscal year, the Quality Assurance Department became the recipient of completed surveys (allowing for stakeholder anonymity from the program) did follow-up survey mailings, and conducted phone surveys to parents and other stakeholders to facilitate increased participation in the survey process.  The number of completed/returned surveys (82.1%) exceeded the program expectancy of (70%).

Staff Training and Development:  Ensures that all organizational employees receive competency-based instruction relevant to their position and reflecting the organizations’ mission statement, internal requirements, policies, and procedures.  The Training Department ensures agency awareness of and adherence to all external requirements that affect service provision, including state and federal laws, as well as licensing, funding and accreditation requirements.  Highlights of the outcome measurement findings are as follows:

• In fiscal year 2003, the Training Department provided (directly or through linkage) instruction to nearly 1,200 Little City employees, service recipients, foster and birth parents and employees from other organizations.  This includes New Employee Orientation, DSP and QMRP training, and an array of informational workshops.
   

• An average of 68% of Little City employees attended recertification classes (Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (70%), CPR (91%) and Standard First Aid (43%)) as required.  This number fell below the program expectancy of 90%.  The training department continues to work with all areas to increase training compliance.
   

• In fiscal year 2003, 90% of staff completing in-service evaluations expressed satisfaction with the training process: presentation of information, preparation of instructors and course content.  This percentage fell below the program expectancy of 100%.  The Training Department continues to assess the satisfaction survey process, with an eye towards restructuring the evaluation form and providing for additional input through an annual employee training survey.

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Summary

Programs collect outcome measurement data on a quarterly basis, and review it against projected internal benchmarks.  Each program must address issues or concerns identified through the outcome measurement process and incorporate those items as part of the program’s annual strategic plan review. 

As we look towards fiscal year 2004:

• In collaboration with the Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center (MDAC), the Supported Employment Program will create a brochure for potential employers.  This brochure will highlight the diversity of services and talented employees and outline benefits to companies who choose to initiate or expand employment related services.

• In an ongoing effort to provide individuals who receive services access to technology, Employment Services created a computer lab in the work center, through the generous support of SBC.  Individuals learn a variety of software skills, as well as gaining experience using the Internet.
   

• The Children’s Residential Program continues its focus on expanded staff training in the DIR model (Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based).  DIR is an intervention model based on a developmental approach to promote healthy, adaptive functioning in children.  Program changes include a reinvented Recreation Center, whose rooms and activities facilitate sensory enhancement and fine and gross motor skills and additional supervisory staff to ensure best practice in service provision.
   

• The organization continues to reassess its services and strategize how best, to meet the increasingly complex medical needs of aging individuals receiving services
   

• The Organizational Employment Program will continue to improve individual preparedness for community jobs through the Job Club, attempts to enhance individual vocational independence skills, and increase the number of community based employment opportunities. 
   

• Adult Services continues to expand its partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) related to the use of augmentative communication technology.  As part of this process, UIC thus far has provided thirty-four (34) individual assessments and communication devices to three (3) individuals.  In addition, UIC provides staff training and guidance.
   

• The Life Enrichment and Families One Programs will continue to review and reduce identified obstacles to community integration.

In summary, Little City Foundation provided direct services to more than four hundred and fifty people with developmental disabilities over the course of fiscal year 2003.  That number however, reaches well over one thousand people when families, guardians, and outreach efforts are included.

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