Community Corner
Palatine's Little City, Countryside Association Officially Merge
Two longstanding agencies that help people with developmental disabilities now become a single organization.
Palatine, IL—Two locally based agencies that work with individuals with developmental disorders have officially merged after a year of talks.
Little City and Countryside Association for People with Disabilities will join together to become a combined organization, according to a statement released by Little City.
Officials on both side hope the merger creates "more comprehensive services and a greater array of person-centered programs" for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Countryside Association's strengths include focusing on home-based services in the Northwest suburbs, while Little City’s assets include a day school, recreation center, vocational programming and arts center.
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“With significant governmental and legislative challenges, joining forces will increase the organization’s ability to efficiently serve and advocate for children and adults with disabilities, and their families,” Howard Reicheneker, Countryside's interim executive director, said in the statement.
Reicheneker will join Little City's financial team to work on the integration of the agencies, while Shawn Jeffers will be the new organization's executive director.
While the merger was made official Friday, July 8, a complete integration between Little City and Countryside might take a year, according to Heather Ritter, board president for Countryside Association.
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"Be assured that the primary goal of the newly comprised leadership team is to make the merged organization better and the transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved: employees, participants and their families," Ritter wrote in a memo to Countryside employees.
Both agencies have served the area for more than a half century. Countryside began in 1954, and it offers support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With its headquarters in Palatine and offices in Chicago, Little City has worked with adults, children and families living with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities for more than 50 years.
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