Saint Rose Center
2009 Annual Report

Click here for the 2008 Annual Report
Click here for the 2005 Annual Report
Click here for the 2004 Annual Report

Table of Contents

• The Year in Review
• Mission Statement
• Nourishing Bodies & Spirits
• Community Outreach to Individuals Served
• Financial Statement

Every year brings a new challenge. This year the challenge was how to maintain a great program with the dark cloud of budget cuts in the air.

One saying goes, "God helps those who help themselves." And another, "God will provide." We will use the maxim from both these sayings. Work all we can and trust in the help of the Lord.

First, we will review our program.

Second, explore funding sources.

Third, encourage parents and friends to support the Center in any way they can.

In retrospect it was a good year in spite of the challenges. Our young people achieved their goals and objectives set by the Q.M.R.P's, family, D.S.P's and themselves. Lives were enriched by the environment, friends, staff, and the interaction of peers. Growth was visible and brought joy and smiles.

The following pages will provide a glimpse into life at St. Rose Center.

Remember your support and spread the news....St. Rose Center needs you.

Sister Theresa, Administrator

St. Rose Center offers a comprehensive program assisting adults with developmental disabilities secure independence within the community; we assist individuals striving for their highest potential. We value and support individual self-sufficiency and control by enlisting acts of choice, decision-making and self-regulation. Under the center's guidance, individuals are challenged to responsibly give forethought, perform, and evaluate their goals and goals of the community. The pillar of the program is to increase individual competency in achievement, social, personal, community, and living domains.

Building Hope and Providing a Better Future

This year... it is more important than ever that parents, staff and administrator work together in caring for the center. Families and staff have been giving their support through hard work to meet funding needs and challenges. While there were just a few physical improvements at the center such as the completed ramp in front of the building, the city's sewer project and new tables and chairs -- the majority of the improvements came from within.

This year... we chose a new President for the country who promotes volunteerism and soon parents will be choosing new volunteer officers to lead the center. In addition, we maintained most of a very dedicated staff. Staff continues to accommodate change and this year will do so without salary increases.

This year... the Illinois State budget wasn't passed until February and funding for the Department of Human Services 2008-2009 budget was cut by 2.5% and then checks were delayed up to 3-4 months. People worked harder than ever on volunteer projects such as Spring Fling, donations of product, time and money, as well as the annual appeal, candy sale, Knight of Columbus fundraiser, bread sale, Have-a-Heart Tag Day and two very welcomed grants from the Blowitz Corporation and Koch Foundation.

This year... Sister Theresa and other interested parties have talked and written to our State leaders such as Representatives Michael Madigan and Dan Burke as well as people from the State comptroller's office. We have not yet lost hope for offering day training services for adults with developmental disabilities although at the time of this writing the State is suggesting for their 2009-2010 budget a 40% cut in some services and a possible elimination on Homebase Services which funds 20 of our individuals.

We must... encourage our individuals to attend during the scheduled hours so that we may make the best of available funds and we must continue to be diligent in our fundraising efforts. One particular bright spot is that the center has hired Maureen, a professional fundraiser and grant writer, to guide us along new paths. It will be up to us to be at our best in providing services to the people who attend St. Rose Center because certainly they are well worth our best efforts.

St. Rose Center continues to thrive in our service to 47 individuals. We work on teaching individuals through our five domains of community, personal, social, living and achievement as well as teaching rights and assuring that all feel safe and secure in areas such as preventative fire safety, the flu epidemic, or in regular diet and exercise.

We have developed interests in other countries and ethnic backgrounds through our special summer program. And, this year we are working on a creative art program which will continue to showcase their talent and dedication. Additional activities were made available through holiday parties and through singing or sign language of the Lord's Prayer and other songs at Spring Fling.

Special interest groups have developed over the year or continued from previous years. The summer sport's program is where groups participate in competitive outdoor activities. In the CIRCLES program they learn about building healthy relationships. And, there has been a unique Men's group where the guys discussed issues of their concern with a qualified volunteer from the Christian Brothers. Another group participated in developmental games which emphasized thinking skills and camaraderie around the Pirate theme.

St. Rose Center will continue to review its program for content and flexibility. The individual's served are surveyed each month to better understand their level of satisfaction of what has transpired such as finding their steadfast appreciation in programs such as chapel and food preparation. To a high degree we continue to meet business and program standards for State and CARF accreditation and through that we produced a new checklist to assure better plans, design and delivery of Individual-centered services during our annual meetings and individual program plans (IPP).

What was happening in the community for St. Rose Center this year? Lots! Lots -- EVEN with budget decreases. More than ever we are participating in community volunteer and work programs.

Some of the individuals work at Jewels, Pete's Market and Walsh Elementary School and we have a new volunteer position at a local Archdiocese day care center. A few of our individual's are now even taking buses to work!

Workshop has continued with community jobs referenced as "Blue Bags, beads, Leo's Dance and laundry bags." Ask your sons, daughters, brothers and sisters what these terms mean! And, on several occasions, we have had people from the DARST (Peace and Justice groups) community volunteering to work here with individuals and groups.

The holiday spirit remains well especially toward the end of the year. We have been to the pumpkin patch and then down to Daley Plaza for Halloween. At Thanksgiving we had treats as with other special in-house events. And, we saw holiday decorations at local malls and we attended the Christmas Party for Joe's Angels at a VFW (Summit).

There's still more -- such as we enjoyed outings like fishing at McKinley Park, picnics at Millennium Park, tours through the Skate Park, bowling at Lawn Lanes, a trip or two to Burger King and as always our walking trips to local libraries and parks. At St. Rose as with others in the community -- this year we're economically - green!

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