Trinity's Visionary
Book praises the ways a New Lenox agency and its director help the disabled
By Nick Reiher
Assistant City Editor
Ann Schauland knew there was something special about Art Dykstra when she saw him some 10 years ago.
She and the rest of the Trinity Services Board were interviewing the Illinois Department of Mental Health worker for their new director.
"He was so sincere.... I knew when we hired him we'd be in good hands," she said.
Oh, she added, he had those great contacts in Springfield as well. The ones who know how to get the necessary grants to maintain and, more importantly, expand programs to match the needs of the community. Trinity, based in New Lenox, serves handicapped and mentally disabled people.
You need not only connections to keep the grants and other funds coming, though. You need integrity. And both Dykstra and Schauland say Trinity's inclusion in a new book, In Search of America's Best Nonprofits, not only helps get the agency's name out, but gets it out to people with a strong recommendation Trinity is worth a donation.
The primary author, Dr. Richard Steckel, met with Dykstra for 2 days several months ago and came away with a great appreciation of both Trinity and its director. In fact, Trinity is one of two agencies mentioned in the first chapter.
"Art Dykstra is a visionary who represents a remarkable combination of sincerity, integrity, and dedicated analysis of his chosen profession," Steckel wrote. "His talent lies not just in making the people he communicates with feel appreciated (thus his penchant for gathering best friends), but in recognizing the value of standing back from the fire and feeling a refreshing breeze that carries insight and the possibility of change."
Love and labor
Dykstra is proud to be included in the book, but a little embarassed as well.
"I thought it was a little heavy on Art Dykstra instead of Trinity," he said. "But that's the way the author chose to do it."
But, and not taking anything away from the other talented people at Trinity, for many people inside and out of the business of service to handicapped people, Dykstra is Trinity Services. He said he has spoken about Trinity and social-service management principles in Colorado; St. Paul, Minn.; Virginia; and Orland, Fla., just since August. That's probably how Trinity was recommended for the book, he said.
Audiences want to know about the book he wrote a few years ago, Outcome Management--in fact, one Nebraska agency makes it required reading for managers--but they also want to know about Trinity Services. How they came up with the idea for Strides, the program that allows head-injury patients to gain confidence with horseback riding; and several recycling programs, including one that gathers old newspapers to bundle for use instead of hay in barns.
Those programs combine a couple of Dykstra's philosophies on serving those in need:
"The most important thing we can give is our love," he said. "The second is our labor."
Steckel noted Dykstra's ability to see the "big picture.... His ability to take a step away from the operations of an organization and assess the direction in which it is heading had made Trinity Services a non-profit characterized by consistent growth, flexibility in the face of change, and constant innovation."
Services in demand
The most recent example of that is a new program Dykstra came up with last year. They already are serving the needs of the mentally ill and developmentally disabled. But he said there is a big gap in community services for Alzheimer's patients who still are in good physical health. The board liked the idea, and in the near future, he said, there probably will be several group homes serving that need.
He hopes, anyway. He was called out for his expertise in a case near St. Louis, where an agency wanted to establish such homes. "But the people in the community didn't want their mothers and fathers in group homes."
In fact, Dykstra is called on quite a bit for his knowledge of the nuts and bolts involving social agencies. He helped set up a new group-home plan in Reno, Nev., when the current system wasn't cutting it. Just a matter of tweaking the management expectations and philosophies. Sometimes, those agencies want to hire him permanently.
"Oh, yeah, just last week in fact," Dykstra said. "I think it's an honor, but I like this place. The board is supportive, and I love the staff here. I just hope they let me continue my work."
Schauland said that shouldn't be a problem. "Any good things you want to hear about Art Dykstra," she offered. "He'll go out of his way to help anybody."
© 27 November 1997 Joliet Herald-News