Community Link

Adult Day Services:
Community Link's Adult Day Services are person-centered and individualized to promote personal growth and encompass a variety of skill-building opportunities for persons 18 and older who have a developmental disability. Learning opportunities are available in the areas of life skills and vocational and work supports.

The programs ensure quality services through accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and licensure surveys by the Illinois Department of Human Services as well as utilizing input from persons served and other stakeholders for program improvements.

Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs):
"This is your home", is the philosophy of Community Link's residential programs. Through seven Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs), which are small group homes providing 24-hour supports, Community Link assists participants to enjoy their home, be responsible for routine, daily care and to engage in their community through typical activities and becoming members of organizations or clubs. The homes are located in Aviston, Breese, Carlyle, Germantown, and Highland. Each home has four to eight participants and the homes are located in neighborhoods close to community resources and activities.

Staff provides assistance and support for each person based upon their unique set of needs and their personal desires. All persons are encouraged to participate in the daily activities of living in their own home including responsibility for room care, personal possessions, sharing of household chores, and assisting with meals. Individualized assistance also is given for medication and financial management.

While Community Link supports each participant to make choices regarding their desired lifestyle and personal goals, safety for the participants is still a priority. Community Link provides a nurse consultant for medical oversight and to ensure staff is properly trained in medication administration. Staff is also certified in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as well as the Mandt System which emphasizes the development of relationships and understanding between the participants and the support staff.

First Step:
First Step offers services to meet the needs of pregnant moms, infants, toddlers, and children ages three to 21 and their families in Clinton, Washington, St. Clair and the surrounding counties.

Families can be confident they are receiving quality services. Community Link programs meet or exceed the United Way of Greater St. Louis Quality Standards for Agencies; CARF Standards, Parents-As-Teachers Quality Standards, and Federal Head Start Standards.

Annually, First Step:
- works with more than 200 families, 23 schools, and several child care centers to provide developmental and behavioral screenings;
- provides 5 different types of pediatric therapy services;
- hosts dental-hygiene clinics serving youngsters ages 2-12;
- facilitates inclusive playgroups and socializations for young children and their families;
- offers bilingual assistance;
- provides informational classes regarding innovative parenting strategies;
- improves school readiness; and
- links families to agencies that can provide crisis interventions, basic needs, and health care.

Parts and Assembly Packing:
Community Link has more than 30 years of experience in parts assembly and packing of more than 1,400 different products. Both the workforce (150 plus) and the production supervisors have years of experience which contributes to the efficiency of producing the product as well as its quality and resulted in an "Outstanding Supplier" award from one vendor. Vendors appreciate the reliability of the workers and Community Link's ability to meet deadlines. In one month, Community Link workers packed 15,000 boxes and assembled 250,000 parts.