Our Agency - History

HISTORY

On May 26, 1919, Ada Sophia Dennison McKinley, an African-American school teacher, who migrated from the state of Texas during World War I, recognized the tremendous social needs of soldiers returning home from the War and pioneered the beginning of one of Chicago's oldest and largest social service agencies. In recognition of her founding spirit and her many years of leadership and service, the Agency was officially given her name, Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc., in 1949.

Since its founding, Ada S. McKinley has been a non-discriminatory, non-sectarian and non-political organization with a mission of promoting individual and family welfare, preserving and encouraging human potential, dignity, and self-development and aggressively serving the community.

In fulfilling its mission, the Agency continues expansion of service to thousands annually through child care, education/college preparation and placement, mental health, foster care and adoption, vocational training/job development and placement, residential living arrangements, and other services by serving the community through an increasingly effective network of social services.

MISSION

Our 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.

VALUES

We believe...

that all people should be treated with dignity and respect.
that the people we serve should be provided quality programs and services.
that the service recipients and their communities should be involved in the planning and implementation of programs.
in developing and maintaining a professional, well-qualified, and dedicated staff.
our programs and services must be operated with fiscal integrity.
in a partnership with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, families and communities of our recipients and funding and accrediting sources.

CLIENTS

Our clients are of all ages and reside primarily in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods throughout Chicago’s South Side. More than 40% of the 12,000 clients that the Agency serves annually is developmentally disabled. Our clients represent a broad spectrum of races and cultures, including 91% African American, 6.5% Hispanic, 2.4 % Caucasian, and the remaining .7% Asian, Native American, and other.