Just a little more than five years ago, 43-year-old Frank Malone was looking for direction.
The Harvey resident found it at Southwest Community Services, Inc., in Tinley Park, when he became one of more than 5,000 people served by the non-profit in its 40-year history.
After successfully completing his vocational program, Malone joined the SCS staff working as a janitorial supervisor. Now he is a role model other program participants look up to.
“His story helps you realize what it’s all about,” said Executive Director Mary Pat Ambrosino.
The organization is celebrating its four decades of service this year, starting Thursday with a business after hours event 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with the Tinley Park, Orland Park, Mokena and Chicago Southland Chambers of Commerce.
Based in an industrial-sized building off Oak Park Avenue Prosperi Drive, SCS serves about 350 people with mental, developmental and physical disabilities from 37 different communities in the south suburbs.
It has come a long way since 1971 when it got its grassroots start with the support of a few churches in Markham.
Founder and Past Executive Director Charlie Smith said the original organizers were looking to offer programming that would support people with disabilities and give them an alternative to institutionalization. For those who were already living at institutions, SCS became the first organization in the state to offer day programming for them, too, Smith said.
Today, SCS offers programming that guides those looking for clinical and vocational programs to help them become more independent.
(PHOTOS: SCS celebrates 40 years of service.)
“We’ve really come a long way, as has society, and we really try to push vocational training for them to go out into the community to obtain employment,” Ambrosino said.
One program serving many participants on site each day is vocational training where through subcontracts with area businesses, SCS participants do light assembly and packaging work. In exchange, they earn a paycheck and also learn new skills.
In addition to the hands-on training, SCS also provides services like resume and interview support that participants will need while looking for employment in the community.
“I think we are able with all the services we do is take them from the beginning to the end, which I think makes us pretty unique,” Ambrosino said.
Through other services both in Tinley Park and at its therapy center in Mokena, SCS serves people of all ages with all levels of disabilities.
Organizers say they attribute SCS’s success to its willingness to adapt and always move forward with programming, especially in the face of cuts in state funding.
“You can stay status quo, I guess, or diminish services because state funding is diminishing, but that’s not our focus nor or mission,” Ambrosino said. “We will move forward and find new initiatives, which make it better here.”
For information about SCS services, anniversary events or volunteer opportunities, visit www.swcsinc.org, call 708-429-1260.
