OUR MISSION
Ada S. McKinley Community Services’ mission is to serve those who, because of disabilities or other limiting conditions, need help in finding and pursuing paths leading to healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.

Board Presidents
Charles H. Ford (1959-1964)
Dr. Walter C. McCrone (1964-1995)
Byron E. Winton (1995-1999)
Dr. James P. Shoffner (1999-2004)
Stanley L. Hill (2004-present)
Executive Directors
William Hammond (1949-1955)
John Raglund (1955-1958)
Robert L. Neal (1959- 1965)
Ralph Burlingham (1966-1995)
George Jones Jr. (1995-present)

1919
Ada Sophia McKinley, a retired schoolteacher from Austin, Texas, volunteers as head recreational hostess of the War Camp Club, a civic center organized for returning soldiers and their families by the War Recreational Board at 3201 South Wabash.

1921
War Camp Club is renamed Southside Settlement House at 3201 South Wabash Avenue 1924 Southside Settlement House is incorporated

1933
Child care, infant welfare and job skills training begins

1949
Southside Settlement House reorganizes and is renamed Ada S. McKinley Community House, in honor of it’s founder, Ada Sophia McKinley

1950
Ada S. McKinley Community House (3201 S. Wabash) is razed; IIT donates new building at 100 E. 34th Street

1951
Good Neighbor Society merges with Ada S. McKinley Community House

1952
Cornerstone is laid at new building, Ada S. McKinley Community House; Ada Sophia McKinley dies later that night

1958
Agency reorganizes Casework, group work activities, home economic and adult education classes begin

1960
Ada S. McKinley Day Care is established

1967
Educational Services Center, located in Dearborn Homes Housing Complex, is established
Vocational Services Center opens McKinley Developmental Services is established
Ada S. McKinley Day Care Extension opens

1969
Highland School opens

1970
Aztlan Community Center opens Southern School in Uptown merges with Ada S. McKinley Community House Englewood Day Care Center is established

1971
Agency begins providing foster care, intervention and therapeutic services
South Chicago Community Services (South Chicago Neighborhood House, South Chicago Community Center and Trumbull Park) merges with Ada S. McKinley Community House

1972
Children’s Services Division is formed McKinley Southwest Special Education Center is established

1974
Early Intervention program is formed

1975
Foster Care Services program is created under Children’s Services Division

1976
McKinley Developmental School opens

1978
Supported Living Arrangement Homes are established

1979
McKinley Industries opens

1980
Adult Rehabilitation Services Division opens and receives accreditation by Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities

1981
Residential Services Divison is formed

1982
Intervention Services is formed under Children’s Services Division Ada S. McKinley Community House is rededicated the Clara S. Langston Center

1983
McKinley Living and Learning Center is established Family Services opens food pantry

1984
Home Individual Program begins

1985
Children’s Services Division is renamed Division of Family and Schools

1986
Five Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled are constructed

1988
Supported Employment Program is established Libra School, Riverdale, merges with Ada S. McKinley

1989
Family Services and Schools Division closes; three divisions emerge: Foster Care Services, Intervention Services, Special Schools and South Chicago Residential Services Division receives CARF accreditation Upward Bound program is established Screening Assessment and Supportive Services program is implemented

1990
First Community Integrated Living Arrangement is opened

1991
McKinley Kinship Investment Services program is implemented Agency acquires first state-use contract to provide employment opportunities in a state office building

1992
Vocational Classroom Training program begins

1994
Agency acquires first janitorial contract to provide janitorial services at Dirksen Federal Building Ersula Howard Child Care Center opens Center for Graduate Education is established

1996
Agency acquires Project Caring contract McKinley Fellowship Head Start program is established Agency acquires contract to open four alternative schools for youth

1997
Resource Opportunity for Life Employment program begins

1998
Illinois Job Advantage program is established

1999
Evelyn E. Wright Renaissance Child Care Center opens Agency recieves Council on Accreditation certification for its progams Urban Systems of Care program opens in Robert B. Taylor Housing Complex

2000
Agency assumes operation of Maggie Drummond Child Care Center from the First Church of Deliverance

2001
Educational Services Division relocates to 100 E. 34th
Street Agency receives license to provide adolescent outpatient and intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment by the Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

2002
Teen REACH program begins
Systems of Care program begins

2003
Agency acquires St. Thomas Child Care program from St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Agency receives subcontract to provide school-based mental health outreach services
Safe Home for Kids begins

2004
Ada S. McKinley is ranked tenth largest non profit agency in metropolitan Chicago in Crain’s Chicago Business
Attendance Improvement Family Support Initiative (school truancy) begins