Project Profile: Ounce Of Prevention Fund

The Ounce of Prevention Fund is a public-private partnership that promotes healthy child development and serves more than 5,000 high-risk, low-income families a year. The organization’s Child and Family Support Services Division (CFSS) operates one Early Head Start program and three Head Start programs. CFSS also partners with the Cook County Bureau of Health Services to operate a community health center.

The Challenge

CFSS had experienced rapid growth, which was expected to continue. To ensure that the organization continued to operate efficiently and effectively during that period, management requested that ESC review its current organization structure, including policies and procedures and the management of facilities.

ESC’s Response

The ESC team gathered information through personal interviews with site directors and key management personnel, made site visits, and reviewed documentation. The ESC team also examined fiscal and contract management and undertook a facilities study.

The Outcome

Based on its findings, the ESC team recommended a decentralization plan to streamline operations and give site directors increased responsibilities, reassignment of staff and new procedures in the accounting department, and the hiring of a facilities manager. These changes and other cost-saving measures were implemented in several areas.

What our client had to say

“Executive Service Corps really made a difference. Walter and his team helped us identify new and better ways to manage our work.”

Sarah Bradley, Vice President for Finance and Administration, The Ounce of Prevention Fund