Managing a human services provider in Illinois these days is no easy task. According to Mark Klaus, the President and CEO of Charleston Transitional Facility (CTF), it is absolutely necessary to be proactive. Even though CTF programs did not experience significant funding cuts, the cost of providing services is outstripping the reimbursement rate. Human service providers did not receive a cost of living increase for this fiscal year. That does not mean, however, that the cost of living did not increase. Insurance costs rose, utility costs increased, grocery store prices went up, etc. Managing in this type of environment demands careful planning and tough decisions in order to maintain quality services and supports to individuals and families.

Maintaining high quality programs in this financial climate requires controlling variable expenses and turning over every rock in search of grants and donations. CTF’s dedicated staff will be going without a wage increase this year and every salaried staff member is taking a week furlough before the end of 2009. Additionally, many staff members have spent a great deal of time petitioning against the threatened cuts to human services this past summer. These grass roots efforts were successful in obtaining a six month funding continuance for grant funded programs in Illinois that currently do not receive Federal matching funds. After the six months is over, these grant-funded programs will convert to fee-for-service funding. The programs will then be eligible for Federal matching funds that will garner Illinois millions of dollars in additional revenue.

CTF’s fundraising efforts over the past several years have grown and are very successful. Below is a partial list of the results from these efforts:

Proactive management planning and a dedicated staff are the keys to providing high quality services in uncertain times at CTF.