People Services Inc. Story

A brief history in time:

It all began in early 1974 when a group of parents decided to develop a community service for their adult sons and daughters. In November of 1974 the Lake County Council for Retarded Children opened the Clear Lake Activities Center (CLAC) in Lakeport. They gathered in the site that is now known as the Elks Club. The original volunteer staff of two serving twelve consumers assured everyone's access to the activity center by using their own vehicles for helping everybody get there. Mr. Richard Burnes was the first Executive Director and Ilene Bruch Dumont was the the very first volunteer.
By 197 the young organization boasted it's first 12-passenger van. In 1976 Paul MacCready became the new Executive Director and Ms. Dumont became the director of CLAC and transportation. Three years later (1978) the Lake County Council for Retarded Children had become Clear Lake Association for Developmental Services (CLADS). That same year CLADS began providing respite services under the direction of Ilene Dumont. CLADS also began it's first semi-independent living program for four people. Moving into 1979 and 1980 continued growth made it clear new service options needed to be considered and developed. Paid work became part of the service vernacular. The early days of work were spent providing janitorial services for other non-profits at minimum wage through a state program called NOVA.

By 1981 the growth of services had reached the point that the parent organization CLADS realized they no longer had the resources to provide the level and variety needed by the consumers of Lake County. With the support and mentorship of Paul MacCready, Ilene Dumont formed a non-profit organization that is known today as People Services, Inc.

1982 brought about Ilene Dumont's first successful grant. With the the help of an $88,000 grant People Services opened the doors of its new vocational facility Konocti Industries. By then the Clear Lake Activity Center had grown to 37 consumers and 12 of those had moved over to the new work services program (Konocti Industries). Struggling to prove its worth to its consumers and the community no job was turned away. Early work crews helped to glean walnuts and pears from Lake County orchards. They made novelty products from donated scrap materials. Konocti Industries and it's workers truly believed anything was possible! In 1984, Konocti Industries produced and distributed it's own health food bar (The No Junk Hunk) before anyone new what a health food bar was! Being ahead of the times, Konocti Industries ultimately had to find other ways of generating income and work. More successful grants were written by F. Ilene Dumont during the years of 1982 through 1995 providing the agency with six wheel-chair accessible vans to compliment its full service transit services for those served.

Continued growth at the activity center brought about a change in address and a new name for the Clear Lake Activity Center. The new day program was now known as the Konocti Day Training Center and moved to a site just north of Konocti Industries. Keeping pace with the changes both the Transportation and Respite Services continued to grow as well.

By the late 1980's and early 1990's Konocti Industries focus became grounds maintenance, janitorial, and woodworking. The shop produced gazebos, sheds and redwood furniture of the highest quality.

During the early years of developing work forces to hire the disabled, more successful grants were written by F. Ilene Dumont, which enriched the work training division of People Services Inc., Konocti Industries. It received three grants from the Department of Rehabilitation for equipment and trucks and one revenue sharing grant from the County of Lake to renovate and upgrade its woodshop.

At the same time Konocti Industries grew in numbers and strength, Konocti Day Training Center began experiencing growing pains of its own. By 1990 Konocti Day Training Center had grown to the point that it could now open a satellite site in the city of Clearlake. Never missing an opportunity to create a new "Konocti", both day programs became know as Konocti Instructional Services/Lakeport and Konocti Instructional Services/Clearlake. Finally, people living in Clearlake could work and learn in their own neighborhoods!

1989-90 also brought about the birth of more services. People Services could now provide Independent Living services. Also due to another successful grant written by Ilene Dumont, PSI could now provide consumer focused recreational transportation services in the form of Konocti Express. The biggest disappointment during this growth period was the loss of respite services through PSI. 1993 also brought about a temporary setback in the closing of the Clearlake day program site. A victim of decreased clientele and funding. The good news was there was work for any consumer who chose to work and an array of services for those who were making other choices! By 1993 every consumer who was choosing to work with Konocti Industries had found work in the community through work crews and supported employment. The "workshop" closed its doors because it no longer had workers "on site".

Two years later (1995) the Clearlake day program re-opened it's doors. Consumers were once again receiving services on both sides of the lake. By then both KIS/Lakeport. and KIS/Clearlake moved to their present sites. KIS/Lakeport will always owe a special debt of gratitude to Mike and Linda Gosset who made the 11th Street site in Lakeport. possible. 1995 also ushered the re-opening of the Konocti Industries woodshop. Many of the consumer/workers missed their "old friends" and requested that we open the old KI doors again.

Being an incredible year of opportunity, 1995 also gave way to the opening of the People Services thrift store. Appropriately named, As Good As If New (A.G.A.I.N.) and Marketplace Art.

By 1999 People Services, Inc. expanded out to support people with mental health needs.  A comprehensive employment services and training program was developed and implemented.  It was also the year Respite Services was once again being provided by People Services, Inc.

It was 1999 that People Services, Inc. celebrated its 25th birthday!  At that time, PSI had grown in numbers served from 12 to 160 and a budget of $125,000.00 to $2.7 million.  People Services, Inc. went from operating two services to twelve distinct services to meet the variety of needs for those we served.  At that time we employed over 80 staff and over 60 client employees.

In 2000 we began the development of a social and sexual educational program, which was geared to meet a fast growing unmet need. 

In 2001 we moved our Thrift Store to its current site at 395 North Main Street in Lakeport.  This allowed us to grow with increased space and more foot traffic opportunities.

In 2002 we were vendorized and funded to provide our newly developed social/sexual educational program, along with a “personal safety training” component.  We also received that year a contract with the Department of Rehabilitation to people with mental health needs for enhanced employment training.

In 2003 we developed and provided a specialized “traveling camp” vacation option for those receiving Respite Services.  This was such a great hit that we expanded the access to real, meaningful vacation to all clients by developing and providing “specialized vacation packages” under Konocti Adventures.

In 2004 the Lake County Wine Alliance chose People Services, Inc. to be a recipient of its community fundraiser.  We utilized these funds to support the marketing of our businesses that employ the disabled.  This was also the year that the “Priest Family Trust” jumped on board with People Services, Inc. to match its annual fundraiser.  With a match of every dollar raised we went from raising $10,000.00 annually to $15,000.00, which was then matched to support us with $30,000.00.  This was a huge, major factor for People Services, Inc. to gain the means for sustainability as more challenges were faced with State funding and rate cuts.

2005 marked the second time for the sheltered woodshop to close and supported employment expanded.  The woodshop workforce was aging and the capabilities to perform the tasks to make storage sheds; outdoor redwood furniture; dog houses; bat houses, etc. became too difficult.

In 2006 we opened a specialized licensed day program for “seniors”.  Sutter Lakeside Hospital Community Benefit Fund assisted with the funding, but within a year we found that we could not continue due to a lack of referrals.  These beneficial services were then blended into our existing licensed day programs.

With the continued support from Sutter Lakeside Community Benefit Fund our fundraising increased from $15,000.00 to $20,0000.00, resulting in $40,000.000 with the addition of the Priest Family Trust match.

Also in 2006 we were successful in writing another Cal Trans 5310 grant to replace two of our wheelchair accessible vans with new ones.

2007 was a year of transformation and significant strategic planning for the future.  We renewed our vision statement, “Dedicated to Dignity ~ Committed to Choice”; developed new brochures; kicked off a educational marketing campaign; and we acquired new trucks for our workforce.  These trucks provided a visual sign to the public of the pride, quality, and hard work our grounds maintenance and janitorial crews deserve.

It was 2008 that People Services, Inc. partnered with Sutter Lakeside Wellness Center to provide a “wellness program” for the developmentally disabled.  This endeavor has been very successful and has been selected by the Supported Life Institute as a presentation at the Supported Life 2009 Conference.

In 2008 we acquired our building in Clearlake that is our site for the licensed day program, Konocti Instructional Services.  We also received redevelopment funds from the City of Clearlake to upgrade this site and make it a place you can be proud to attend.

2009 brought an opportunity from United Way of the North Bay to be involved in a “Capacity Building” grant.  This professionally facilitated strategic planning process was perfect timing for us and blended into our “transformation” plan, as we continue to strive for excellence.

2009 was also the year we passed our accreditation survey from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for the 8th time receiving the highest rating possible with a three year outcome.

It has been a dream come true for many, a vision that became a reality, and mission to continue to strive for excellence in service for the many people that rely on us! We have made a difference and we plan to dedicate the future to even more and better services within our communities in Lake County. We realize and respect that the future of our target population is our future. We are always ready and willing to change, improve and develop new avenues of services. Your future is our future!

2009 is also the mark of our 35th birthday!  

As we complete our 35th year we are proud to annouce we provide services to 221 individuals with a staff of 92.