Introduction

This document comprises a strategic plan for INI Group, LLC.  This plan was developed with contributions from all levels of the organization. The strategic planning committee consisted of two persons served, five Direct Care Workers (DCW), three Program Managers, Program Director, and Executive Director. This committee helped coordinate the planning process and provided important support and analysis to complete this plan. 

INI Group LLC assess both the challenges and opportunities it is likely to face over the next five years and set the context for the choices reflected in this strategic plan.  

Executive summary

INI Group mission: Provide outstanding Community Living Supports Services and ensure individuals served receive person centered care, dedicated and consistent staffing, organizational safeguards, and responsive management.    

background & history

Executive Director Ike Odum Sr. started INI Group, LLC in July of 2005. Ike Odum Sr. discovered an opportunity to make use of his extensive skills and experience in home healthcare and community service. At the same time, this opportunity afforded the Ike Odum Sr the means to meet several specific personal goals, including regular contact with consumer to express care and concern, control of personal work schedules, making a contribution in the community, etc. INI Group, LLC. first contracted with Washtenaw County in August of 2005, later branching into Jackson, Monroe, Detroit Wayne, Battle Creek, and various other counties throughout its 10-year establishment. INI Group is a for-profit organization that provides community living support services in a non-licensed setting to individuals, who are mentally ill, developmentally disabled or physically handicapped. INI Group’s mission is to provide outstanding community-based mental and physical health rehabilitation services that will be appropriate to the clients needs and would result in or contribute towards the desired or expected outcome. The INI Group’s main office is located at 2004 Hogback Rd., Suite #7 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

major goals

The following goals for INI Group LLC over the next five years are the organization’s response to the important issues identified by the strategic planning committee. These goals provide a roadmap for fulfilling the strategic direction. 

INI Group, LLC will achieve the following key targets over the next 5 years:

Service Delivery
INI Group LLC will provide exceptional community living support services to individuals with developmental disabilities, mental illness and physically handicaps through the following areas:

  • Creating a Culture of Gentleness within the home and in the community.

  • Community Activities  

  • Amount, Scope, Duration 

Human Resources
INI Group LLC will develop a stable, highly qualified and motivated team that actively delivers the organization’s mission. 

Service Oversight
INI Group will be well respected and highly involved in the supports to individuals served. Increased monitoring of Direct Care Workers will result in high quality services provided and allow family members and friends have peace of mind knowing their loved one are getting the best care possible.   

Vision
INI will be a leading provider in Community Living Supports (CLS) in South East Michigan. Creating a personalized experience that transcends traditional CLS by adding innovations and safeguards never seen before. 

Mission
INI Group LLC mission: Provide outstanding Community Living Supports Services and ensure individuals served receive person centered care, dedicated and consistent staffing, service safeguards, and responsive management.    

INI Group LLC developed a clear mission statement in this strategic plan. This statement reflects areas that define the purpose of the organization and its intended contributions to improving the lives of the individuals supported. The areas are:

Person Centered Care means the individual will have a choice in the service delivery from the start of service to the very end. 

Dedicated and Consistent staffing means having the ability to develop long lasting relationships and connections between person served and direct care worker. 

Service Safeguards means increased oversight of Direct Care Workers and Managers, ensuring that person centered care is being delivered. 

Responsive Management means every member of the organization has a responsibility to respond to any questions, concerns or problems timely and effectively. 

The corporate values governing INI Group LLC’s development will include the following:

  • Customer Focus- INI Group, LLC. will provide client satisfaction with all efforts focused on person served. 

  • Commitment- INI Group, LLC. staff works diligently, and always as a team with efforts focused towards the achievement of providing a quality service for the person served. 

  • Quality- INI Group, LLC.  Provides person served with the highest quality service, environment and relationships while striving to provide progressive improvements and higher standards than its competitors.

  • Integrity- INI Group, LLC.  delivers what is promised to the person served and creates a culture where complete care, and dedication is provided. 

  • Honesty- INI Group, LLC.  business and work transactions are done honestly and the consideration received is based on the value added to the lives of persons served. 

  • Optimism- INI Group, LLC. staff begin each workday optimistically, focusing on the positive and believing in always doing better. .

  • Professionalism- INI Group, LLC. performs its daily work with a high level of professionalism. Organizational members takes pride in what they do because of how vital it is to the person served. 

corporate values

Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats & Opportunity

The following is summary of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT), which apply to INI Group, LLC now and in the foreseeable future. 

Strengths:
INI Group LLC’s key strengths include the organization’s demonstrated ability to provide high quality, person centered service to improve the lives of persons served. An organization dedicated to innovating and improving traditional service delivery. Collaborations with other local community organizations giving persons served a new experience. INI Group has developed a reputation for exceptional problem solving, oversight, dependability and communication.  

Weaknesses:
Some believe that INI Group’s significant growth could lead to a lack of oversight, inability to recruit quality direct care workers, and loss of personalized service. There is a need to improve recruiting in order to decrease turnover at the management level. There was also a call for a wage increases, the return of paid time off, and more holidays to be included for holiday pay.    

Opportunities:
INI Group Opportunities extend much farther than just service delivery. An opportunity to become a consultant for the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, ensuring that all providers are properly following job duties related to persons served. 

Working with Eastern Michigan University Autism Collaborative Center to increase agencies knowledge and allow INI Group to become a specialist in a growing population of individuals needing service. Developing a training to decrease direct care workers common errors as well as improve costumer service, not only to persons served but to family, friends, and supports coordinators during visits.  

Threats:

  • Dependence on county funds. Funding from counties is decreasing due to Medicaid budgets being readjusted. Securing contracts with additional services will allow INI Group to be in a better position if the Community Living Supports budget continues to decrease. 

  • Staffing Challenges and cost of providing quality care. It is difficult to maintain a competent pool of good direct care workers. In order to keep top direct care workers the cost (salaries) are increasing. 

  • Record Low Unemployment. The record unemployment has cause a major concern to our industry. With people having an abundance of choices on which field they would like to work in, retention is really difficult. INI is now competing with fast food jobs and other unskilled labor that pays a high rate. 

  • Affordable Care Act (ACA). The mandatory insurance has caused an increased financial demand that was not previously required. The funding source did not factor ACA into providers budget and therefore have caused providers to limit Direct Care Workers hours to 29.5 per week or pay the insurance.