"The shortest and surest way
to live with honor in the world
is to be in reality what we would appear to be."
~Socrates

Mission, Vision, Values

The Mission of CASS Incorporated is to enrich lives.  Three simple words, yet an enormous concept.  Our job in serving our clients is to help them realize their fullest potential.  This is based on their assessment of fulfillment and their identification of dreams.  Our role is to teach and support.  At the same time, as an employer, we strive to enrich the lives of our staff as well by recognizing personal and professional goals of our staff and offering opportunities for on-going development in both.

The Vision of CASS Incorporated is to be pioneers in creating change that results in diverse opportunities for people of all abilities.  We often use the symbol of the wagon wheel as a reminder of the pioneers who shaped our nation as we continually pursue new and better ways of serving our clients.

The Values of CASS Incorporated were systematically determined by our stakeholders.  They are Integrity, Responsiveness and Enrichment.  Each one of these words is symbolic of the vast intent it represents.   In the simplest of explanations, we hold all major decisions made up to the intent of these values and we steadfastly hold to their manifestation as we  work with people and conduct business. 

To Those We Serve (Service Delivery)

As representatives of CASS Incorporated, our first priority is to be of service to the individuals involved with our organization.  Simultaneously we recognize that how we maintain the reputation of our organization will assure how it, and those we serve, are perceived and received into our communities. 

• We attest that our reputations and behaviors will enhance the lives of the people we serve, not detract from them. 
• We will assist each individual with the development of a written “life plan” created at their direction, or minimally with their input, if they are unable to fully participate, which will guide us throughout our service to them.  This plan will be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary.
• We believe that to give dignity to an individual is above all things.
• We pledge to support each individual at their direction, and in accordance with his or her personal goals and dreams. 

  • By helping them to discover, create and access opportunities to make and pursue choices
  • By giving them accurate, non-biased information with which to make informed choices
  • By helping them understand their choices and the consequences of their choices
  • By teaching and supporting skills necessary to enhance the competencies of daily living
• We believe that all people have the right to live where they choose, select friends of their choice, work, recreate and worship as they choose and make decisions for their own lives, providing their decisions do not violate the rights of others.
• We will challenge others, including support team members, health care professionals, etc., to recognize and support the rights of people to make informed decisions, even when the decisions involve personal risk.
• We will support the rights of individuals by promoting community inclusion, advocating when rights have been violated, and seeking to stimulate change within government as necessary.
• We will develop relationships with the people we support that are respectful, dignified, based on mutual trust, and that maintain professional boundaries.
• We will assist individuals in preventing illnesses and avoiding unsafe activity by helping them to identify areas of risk and safeguards specific to each.
• We will learn, acknowledge and respect the personalities, values, culture, diversity and gifts of those we support and facilitate their expression of their choices related to the same.
• We will address challenging behaviors in a pro-active and respectful manner.
• We will assure confidentiality and respect in our conversations with and about the individuals we serve and we will not talk about them away from the job.  We NEVER talk “about” them in their presence—we talk to and with them.
• We will ask permission of any person(s) we are working with before talking about them or their needs in their presence. 

To Those We Employ (Human Resources)

• We will provide a supportive environment where each employee and his or her contributions are respected and appreciated.
• We provide a comprehensive orientation over a period of weeks, covering the history of the organization, mission, values, principles and ethics, as well as requirements of specific job assignments.
• We will teach, set expectations and give feedback.
• We will honor and act upon personal and professional needs.
• We encourage life long learning and personal growth in a family atmosphere.
• We will only hire outstanding people and we will teach people what we want them to know with a consistent set of expectations, conscientious alignment and ongoing reinforcement and feedback about our ideology and ambitions.
• We will reward self-initiation and accountability but we will not tolerate negativity, mediocrity, unwillingness, unsuitability or misalignment and we will confront these things promptly.
• There will be no difference between rhetoric and reality.  We will walk the walk.
• We will tolerate mistakes, but not sins, toward our core values and ideology.

Professional Responsibilities

• We commit to the appropriate and conscientious use of equipment and supplies of the organization.
• We will provide to our governing Board accurate information in a timely fashion, allowing them to make informed decisions about our operations.
• We will act within the policies and procedures of CASS Incorporated at all times.
• We will be vigilant in identifying, and reporting any situation in which people may be in danger or at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation or harm.
• We will assure confidentiality of the individuals we serve in all communication.

Marketing

• We will be ever vigilant in the promotion of our services so as not to be misinterpreted by our competitors as unfair solicitation.
• We will represent our organization in all its dealings truthfully and factually, not embellishing or misrepresenting our abilities or services.
• We will obtain permission in writing from any individual being served before releasing a photograph of them or specific information about them in any form.

Business Practices

The business of CASS Incorporated is multi-faceted.  It concerns the agreements we have with funders of our rehabilitative services.  It concerns the assembly and packaging of contracts for business and industry done in our Resource Industries division.  And finally, it concerns the economic impact we make on our community and ultimately, our operation as a business in this community. 

• Anyone would find the operations of our organization rigorously honest and in compliance with all applicable regulatory entities at all times.
• We strive to develop and maintain a stellar reputation with all of our customers.
• We will honor our customers but never at the expense of compromising our values
• We will serve our customers fairly and honestly, expecting the same in return.
• We will charge a fair price for products and services based on current and reliable data.
• We will provide prompt quality service and adequate communication on progress.
• We strive to build positive, long term relationships.
• We support and contribute to the economic well being of our community by our membership and leadership to local organizations and civic groups.
• We will seek to acquire goods and services locally, if prices and customer service are competitive.