Our Guiding Principles
Mission statements are not meant for your wall. They’re meant to be lived. We believe in turning our beliefs into action, so our guiding principles are how we see ourselves accomplishing our vision and philosophy in our practice.
Laurie Wilson, Director
I’ve always had a really strong philosophy that everybody, all of us, has equal rights and should have equal opportunities to live and work in the community and be part of our communities. so when I started INS, I really had a vision for INS that that’s how we were going to roll out our services.
Competence
and Integrity
We will consistently demonstrate competence
and integrity by:
Person-centered and self-directed problem-solving.
Applying valued based practice strategies with confidence.
Applying effective communication with individuals and other agencies.
Developing structures and strategies as a team.
Having awareness of how trauma affects a person.
Seeking and professionally applying new ideas.
Respect and Acceptance
We will create a climate of respect
and acceptance by:
Applying professional standards of communication and confidentiality.
Using non-judgment language and modeling support for each individual.
Allowing freedom of choice and validating individual perspective.
Being open to taking the individual from where they "are” and not where others think they should “be.”
providing clear expectations concerning roles and responsibilities.
Seeking win-win solutions to problems.
Community
We will have a reputation for contributing to the community by:
Supporting individuals to engage in safe and healthy
relationships within the community.
Participating in cultural activities and community events.
Networking with individuals and agencies to share, mentor, and advocating.
Attending and engaging in community meetings that individuals
supported by the agency.
Promoting and modeling the agency's mission and values in the community.
Identifying gaps in available services and advocating
to better meet the needs of residents.
Belong and TeamWork
We will foster a strong sense of belonging and teamwork: by
Developing trusting connections.
Positively contributing to each person feeling valued.
Nurturing sensitivity and respect for cultural diversity.
Promoting a welcoming atmosphere through validating and
understanding individual differences.
Promoting interdependence through teamwork.
Fostering a sense of ownership within the agency through
engagement and empowerment.
Practicing active listening and by seeking mutual interests.
Working to practice tolerance, forgiveness, and patience.
High Quality of Life
We will empower individuals to achieve a high quality of life by:
Providing opportunities for self-directed and personal-centered
development of skills.
Showing respect and promoting the rights and responsibilities of individuals.
Helping individuals to establish a purpose in life.
Encouraging 'informed choice' by individuals.
Improving competence in individuals through problem-solving and goal setting.
Supporting individuals to get their basic needs met and to seek,
gain, and maintain employment.
Advocating for individuals to receive appropriate treatment
for addictions, trauma, or mental health issues.