CEO
Strategic Directions
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The Voice, September 2003
Folks, I always love the early fall, because this is the time we begin new actions in earnest. After a long summer which offers the respite and opportunity to relax a bit more, in the fall we turn our summer reflections into reality and get back to work.
For UCP this will be an exciting fall. Over the past 10 months our Board of Directors, under the able leadership of President Thomas Motley and Strategic Planning Chairs, Maggie Guzzo and Dr. Wes Rohrer, have articulated a direction that not only strategic, but dynamic as well.
Our 4 major goals offer a blueprint to keep UCP among the leaders in non-profit human services in our region. These 4 goals will position us in a way that will continue our growth and development.
Quite simply our goals are:
- Establish UCP/CLASS as the preeminent community based service system for people with all types of disabilities. This goal is about us telling the story of a full and inclusive community and the many successes experienced by folks that UCP/CLASS supports. We expect that these stories will not only help the general public to better understand our mission, but will serve as an invitation to others to join our cause.
- Broaden the scope of services. In all areas of our service delivery system we see room to broaden and enhance what we do. In this area we see the further development of the vocational and social opportunities for the people we serve. Further we can expand our adult education effort and revise our Independent Living assessment process.
- Further enhance and expand the UCP/CLASS Attendant Care Program. We know that as the baby-boomers age the need for personal assistant services in the general public will increase. In the past 5 years we have already established UCP/CLASS as the leader in attendant care and look now to expand this service to other markets.
- To optimize funding from private and/or public sources. As UCP/CLASS enters its 52nd year of service to the community we are proud of the fact that the Pittsburgh Business Times has found us to be the 19th largest non-profit human service agency in SW PA in 2003. We realize, however, that we must continue to explore and expand funding markets if we are to continue to grow and develop.
To achieve these goals we must focus our efforts and maximize the effective use of our resources. The next 5 years, by all estimates, will continue to be challenging ones with a struggling economy, difficulties with state and local funding, and rising health care and insurance costs. In fact, this past year has already taxed us in ways that are uncommon. For the first time in many years, we had to pare back on staff and adjust our budget and services. We know these challenges will continue.
Still, all of us at UCP/CLASS are bullish on the opportunities and potential that remains. We know that we have some of the very best professionals in all of human services and a Board of Directors that are committed and hardworking. I am sure that our 4 strategic goals and others will be realized and maintained.
So to all of you who have worked with UCP/CLASS and have supported us in the efforts of building a full and respectful community, I want to say thank you. Without you we could not have succeeded. More importantly, however, to those of you reading these words who may not have yet have had the chance to partner with us, I offer a warm welcome. Know that when you align with us, you are connecting with one of the most committed and energized organization in the Tri-state Area.
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