Clearbrook West Crystal Lake CHOICE Program

Clearbrook, a nonprofit that empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities places an emphasis on helping those entrusted to them become as independent as possible in their communities. CHOICE, one of Clearbrook’s community day programs, allows clients to choose their own area of interest while utilizing opportunities for personal and professional growth through employment, volunteering, socializing, and leisure activities. The individuals are encouraged to find their own areas of interest and are given the choice to choose activities they would like to pursue each day. There are two locations, Crystal Lake and Park Ridge.

A few years ago, Clearbrook expanded into the McHenry County region to meet the need for services in that area. Clearbrook West serves over 200+ individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as their families within the McHenry County area. Clearbrook West has six locations in 39 different communities and seven counties. Located off of Northwest Highway in the Crystal Lake Plaza along with the nonprofit’s administrative office and vocational program, Naturally Gifted, CHOICE is the community day service offered through Clearbrook West. Around 35-40 individuals attend the program each day. However, when the day program closed due to the pandemic, not all the individuals were able to return back in September.

CHOICE serves individuals from Clearbrook West’s home-based and CILA (Community Integrated Living Arrangements) services. The CHOICE program helps build relationships with staff and other individuals they do not see on a daily basis, as well as provide opportunities to go out into the community.

Learn more at: www.clearbrook.org/west/