TEUTOPOLIS – Community Support Systems recently organized a ceremony to announce its 15,000 square foot expansion, remodels and upgrades to their Community Day Services building. The organization’s other Teutopolis location and its two rented office suites in the Lincolnland Building in Effingham will then move into the newly renovated and expanded Community Day Services building. The off-campus site in Olney will remain as is.
Community Support Systems helps both children from birth to 3 and adults with developmental or cognitive disabilities. The birth to 3 program serves 11 counties and roughly 950 children. About 145 adults receive support from Community Support Systems and are referred to as “individuals served.”
“It has always been a dream of previous administrations and boards of directors to have everyone under one roof, and we feel now is the time to do that,” said Executive Director Andy Kistler. “It’s pretty easy to get fragmented. It’s pretty easy to become disassociated with your coworkers, and it’s never a good thing.”
If a child is born with a qualifying medical condition or a developmental disability, a hospital, physician, parent or other concerned person can refer the parents to Community Support Systems.
Community Support Systems offers work services for individuals served, which includes supported employment and work enclaves. There are also different classes, such as art and cooking, and volunteer opportunities.
“They enjoy learning cooking skills, but I think it’s more eating afterwards. The fun stuff,” said Community Day Services Coordinator Kami Mason.
Those in supported employment have jobs at places such as Kirby Foods and Walmart where they have job coaches that check on them to make sure they’re doing their work and that the employer is satisfied with the individuals.
Community Support Systems also contracts with local businesses to bring in work for individuals served to do while there.
“There’s several different work opportunities for individuals served above the in-house opportunities that we offer here,” said Kistler.
Along with work and volunteer opportunities, Community Support Systems also provides residential living programs and intermittent living services where someone checks on them from time to time.
Kistler hopes the $5 million dollar expansion, upgrades and remodel will be completed by Memorial Day 2026.
“We have gotten community support for years and years and years,” said Kistler. “We are as successful as we are today because of the community support,” citing Centenary United Methodist Church allowing them to temporarily use their classrooms while the Community Day Services building is being upgraded as the perfect example of this.
In the coming months, Community Support Systems will launch a capital campaign to help offset the $5 million price tag which will ask communities to donate to the cause.
Several years ago, the organization built two new four-bed group homes that were completely funded by donations from the community.
“I think this agency over the last 63 years has worked very hard to earn the trust of people in the community, and it’s obvious when you reach out and ask them to help.”