Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 1 of The Illinois Commitment
Business Opportunities for Self Success (B.O.S.S.)
Sauk Valley Community College
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
The B.O.S.S. project is a joint effort to help individuals with disabilities become a small business owner or
return to work. The B.O.S.S. project is a unique and innovative program that adds to its dimensions a strong
component that helps build a community. Participants in this program are at points in their lives where they are
ready to return to work for an employer or to begin their own business. During the presentation day,
participants learn about the different training programs. Ideally they will work with their referring agency to
determine which path is right for them.
Description of the effective practice:
The original purpose of this partnership was to provide a community based referral network among public,
private, local, state and federal agencies. Our desire to bring customer service and quality programs to our
community were our original intent. The most wonderful transformation took place: Our community was
working together to create a community caring for those who live and work here. Founding partners for this
program include: Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPAO), Department of Human Services-
Division of Rehabilitation Services (DHS/DRS), Illinois Assistive Technology Project (IATP), Illinois
Department of Employment Services –Veteran Affairs (IDES/VA), Self Employment Resource Network
(SERN), and Small Business Development Center of Northwest Illinois (SBDC) at Sauk Valley Community
College and Highland Community College.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
The third session of the B.O.S.S. project will begin in the fall of 2006. Improvements to the training program
will include weekly meetings, additional classes held jointly, more quest speakers, and more community
involvement. This partnership is self sustaining
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
The graduating class of 2006 was amazing. There were eight participants for the Work Plan group and ten (10)
participants for the Business Plan group. At the final workshop, participants were offered an opportunity to
speak about their experiences and several chose to do so.
Our original group of participants was 43. Throughout the duration there were a total of 49 participants: 28
participants in the Work Plan and 21 participants in the Business Plan. The Business Plan participants have a
big project to undertake in the workshops. Out of the ten graduates, three are actively working in their
businesses, five are currently considering all options and formulating their complete business plans, two will be
moving forward with their businesses, but on a limited scale while seeking additional employment. These are
great success stories!
Work Plan participants attended sessions throughout the workshops services. Some discontinued their
participation due to having found employment. Fourteen individuals are known to have returned to the work
force during this time period. Three people learned of their job leads directly from the network that was built by
the participants themselves!
The most exciting opportunity for the participants is the building of networks within our community. The hope
of participants was that they, in turn, would build their own community and network. Each workshop started
out with a sharing time. Everyone was offered an opportunity to share their good news, such as job offers,
personal accomplishments, and the attainment of goals.
Contact Information
Name: Linley White
Email: whitel@svcc.edu
Phone: (815) 288-5511
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