Title
Ray Graham Association Consulting Agreement
History
The Special Recreation Division of the Village's Recreation and Parks Department provides year-round recreation programming, special events and Special Olympic opportunities for people with disabilities. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, there were 2,892 program registrations serving 315 participants that ranged in age from 7 to 67.
Special Recreation provides a robust menu of professionally produced offerings. After the recent resignation of a key member of the Division, staff explored the assistance of an outside agency to evaluate current practices, program quality, effectiveness and efficiency.
Special Recreation Associations (SRA's) in Illinois include the South Suburban Special Recreation Association, which serves Country Club Hills, Hazel Crest, Homewood-Floosmoor, Lan-Oak, Matteson, Oak Forest, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park and Tinley Park, Park districts, and the Lincolnway Special Recreation Association, which serves Frankfort, Frankfort Square, Manhattan, Mokena, New Lenox, Peotone and Wilmington Island Park districts.
In the western suburbs, the Gateway Special Recreation Association was formed through an intergovernmental agreement between the park districts of Burr Ridge, Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Pleasant Dale, Westchester and York Center, the City of Countryside, and the Villages of Hinsdale and Willowbrook. Gateway contracts the services of the Ray Graham Association (RGA) to provide recreation programs. In addition to recreation programs, the Ray Graham Association offers early intervention, children's group home, respite programs, community learning centers, home and community based support, and employment services.
In an effort to examine its services, staff seeks to contract with the Ray Graham Association to provide leadership consultation and program support in a team approach which would include an onsite presence of a senior RGA manager.
Specifically, the Ray Graham Association will:
Evaluate:
*Current practices including activities, scheduling and transportation;
*The quality of service delivery for people with disabilities and their families;
*Staffing and daily operational efficiencies;
*Staff competency when working with people with disabilities;
*The need for restructuring the staffing plan and leadership structure of the Special Recreation Division; and
*Policies and procedures, including recommendations for service enhancements.
Provide:
*Training to enhance knowledge and align services with special recreation and disability related industry best practices, including leadership development if warranted;
*Recommendations for direct service enhancements, improvements in effectiveness and efficiency measures, and establishing measures when necessary; and
*A menu of services, up to, and including outsourcing special recreation services to Ray Graham Association including a report outlining all recommendations and proposed strategic steps.
Attached, please find a proposal from the Ray Graham Association for a 6-month consultation period at $5,000 per month. Consultation will consist of 15 - 20 hours per month, and will include on-site observations, interaction with Village staff, participants and participant's families, along with virtual consultations. After the 6-month consultation period, the Village would evaluate a full management agreement for the Ray Graham Association to oversee all aspects of programs and services for person with disabilities on the Village's behalf.
Financial Impact
Funds available from an open full-time position will be used to fund account 283-4008-432800 for this expense.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve the contract with the Ray Graham Association to provide leadership consultation and program support to the Recreation and Parks Department for a 6-month period at $5,000 per month for a total cost of $30,000;
And,
Authorize the Village Manager to execute all related contracts, subject to Village Attorney review.