Thursday, June 13, 2024
9:15 a.m. – Welcome and Agenda Review
Lore Baker, Executive Forum Chair and CEO of Association for Individual Development (AID)
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. – “Practical Applications for Hiring, Developing, Keeping and Empowering Direct Support Professionals”
Presented by Joseph Macbeth, CEO, National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
“We Have a DSP Problem”: We hear it all of the time and even more so as we emerge from the pandemic and enter back to community life. Home and Community Based Service providers are experiencing a crushingly high percentage of staff turnover, low morale, an inability to recruit and retain a quality direct support professionals to provide the essential supports that people with disabilities and their families deserve. How do we fix these long-standing issues that have been magnified in a highly competitive post-pandemic economy? The answers are complex and require a sound understanding of our field’s history and the impact that workplace culture has on our direct support workforce. Approximately 80 % of those who work in the I/DD service industry that support people with disabilities are direct support professionals. They deliver the day-to-day, moment-to-moment services at the point of interaction that we strive to assist people with disabilities to lead rich and fulfilling lives in the community. In addition to a brief description of our history and workplace culture, this lecture shares detailed information on highly effective recruitment, onboarding, professional development and career-ladder strategies to fortify and bolster the development of a stable and highly skilled direct support workforce that is prepared to meet the demands of the future expectations.
10:45 – 11:00 a.m. – Break
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – “The Head + Heart in Strategic Collaboration”
Presented by Judie Caribeaux, Mission + Strategy, and Greg Peterson, Keystone Alliance
In this fast paced 60-minute session, we will explore the importance of finding a balance between the pursuit of social impact (the heart) and the need for sustainable business practices (the head). Through engaging discussions and real-life case studies, participants will develop clarity around their critical organizational priorities, identify and understand key internal and external variables to achieving those priorities, and the importance of creating an inclusive organizational culture to achieve “next-level” mission impact through strategic collaboration. Participants will: Gain a clear understand of the core priorities that drive their non-profit organization. Identify and analyze the internal and external factors that influence their organization’s ability to sustain and expand impact. Recognize the importance of building an inclusive culture to achieving strategic collaboration. Through discussion and case studies, gain practical insights into successful strategies to balance social impact with sustainable business practices. Develop actionable next steps to assess your readiness for cultivating strategic collaborations and/or build a culture of achieving impact through strategic collaborations.
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. – Ligas Consent Decree Update
Presented by Ronnie Cohn, Ligas Court Monitor, and Sujatha Branch, Equip for Equality
12:30 – 1:45 p.m. – Lunch Break
1:45 – 2:45 p.m. – “The Importance of Advocacy in a Changing World”
Presented by Kevin Conlon, Conlon Public Strategies
In 2011, Kevin Conlon presented “Beyond Belt Tightening: How Nonprofits Can Use effective advocacy to achieve their funding and policy goals – Even in Tough Times.” At the time, Illinois nonprofits were reeling from the state’s budget crisis, and the messages and strategies Kevin provided then remain timely essential as these organizations recover from another crisis – the pandemic – and prepare for the next one. Kevin will share a new version of his 2011 presentation, updated with lessons learned from the pandemic and another 10+ years of experience as a consultant to Chicago nonprofits. Topics covered will include the benefits of an advocacy strategy and elements of a strong and effective strategies, including Relationship building (public and private), framing an effective message and, Active engagement with public officials.
2:45 – 3:45 p.m. – “From Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment Project”
Presented by Courtney Littlejohn, VP of Equity and Inclusion, AID and Kyle Menke, Community Research Specialist for the SWTCIE Project
This session will share an overview of SWTCIE (Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment) Project Partnership. Agency panelists will share their experiences working through the SWTCIE project and how this project benefits Clients working under 14C as it exposes them to Competitive Integrated Employment.
3:45 – 4:00 p.m. – Break
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. – “Community Employment for People with Higher Support Needs”
Presented by Kristen Huffman-Gottschling, PhD, LCSW, Executive Director, PACTT and Rosalie Der, Pui Tak
Hear from two providers who are successfully supporting people with higher needs to work in their communities
6:00 p.m. – Dinner at Maggiano’s
Meet in hotel lobby at 5:45 p.m. for a bus at Maggiano’s
Friday, June 14, 2024
9:00 a.m. – Good Morning!
9:15 -10:30 a.m. – Housing Navigator Update Panel
Panel includes: Kimberly Mercer-Schleider, ICDD
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. – Break
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. – “It’s All About RESPECT: Enhancing Leadership Opportunities for People with Developmental Disabilities”
Presented by Tara Ahern and Adam Wiser, Illinois Self-Advocacy Alliance
Let’s take a journey through the word RESPECT, and learn how to enhance leadership opportunities for people with developmental disabilities through Universal Design, self-advocacy resources, and much more!
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. –“Get out the Vote: REV UP”
Presented by Carole Rosen, MAID, CAPS, Going Home Coalition Manager and REV UP Illinois Director
1:30 – 2:45 p.m. – Systems Redesign Panel
Panel includes: Tara Ahern, The Alliance, Mike Bibo, LTC Support Services, Josh Evans, IARF, Kimberly Mercer-Schleider, ICDD, Tonya Piephoff, Director, DDD, Adam Wiser, The Alliance, and Kim Zoeller, Ray Graham Association
2:45 – 3:00 p.m. -Break
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – “Five Leadership Moves to Reduce Strategic Planning Pain”
Presented by Beth Michaels
Strategic planning can be less time intensive and less disruptive when five ongoing board and staff operational practices are in place. Learn what those five moves are, with action steps to make effective planning faster and easier.