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Dear Friends
of The Arc:
The New Year
is a great time to figure out what you want to accomplish and
like everyone, we here at The Arc, have a full plate of new initiatives.
Here’s a quick summary of some of the things we will be working
on in 2012:
First,
I am extremely excited about a new grant we have secured from
a local foundation that will transform what we do in our
adult day centers. This three year grant will have two
major objectives. First, will be to significantly increase the
time program participants spend in productive and meaningful activities
in inclusive community settings. This will occur through the development
of partnerships with other nonprofits, community centers, gyms,
dance and art studios, libraries and a host of other community
resources. The second objective is to provide professional in-house
programming in the areas of the arts, fitness, and personal development.
We’re just getting started with this project and are open to any
ideas or assistance you might provide.
Second,
is our effort to effectively and efficiently implement the new
waiting list initiative called “services of short duration.”
Between now and June 30, 2012, we will be helping individuals
and families on the “Crisis Prevention List” attain over $2 million
of short term services such as respite care, day care, housing
modifications, therapeutic services and a variety of other community
supports. This is a big job to be completed in a short period
of time. If you have been notified by DDA that you are eligible
for these services, please contact us at 1-877-967-5272. Our sister
agency, Maryland Community Connection (MCC,) can also assist you.
You can reach MCC at 1-877-622-6688.
Third,
is the installation and implementation of a new computer
data base system that will organize all the information
we have to keep and continually use related to the hundreds of
individuals we support. This includes demographic data, financial
information, individual plans, medical records, incident reports,
transportation and property management. We are using a product
called LifePrint that was developed by The Arc Baltimore and has
been in use for nearly a decade.
Fourth,
is the re-opening of our respite home in Ft. Washington.
After a year of renovations and improvements, the home will be
re-opened for weekend respite care by early spring. We think our
guests and their families will love the changes we have made and
hope that many of you take advantage of the opportunities this
unique home will provide.
Fifth,
is the continuation of our Committee Nights.
Committee nights allow Arc members to participate in the overall
governance of our association. Join us for a light dinner followed
by the simultaneous meetings of our Governmental Affairs, Resource
Development, Human Resources, Residential, Day and Employment,
and Family Services Committees. It’s a great way to get involved,
meet some wonderful people, and help The Arc move forward. Our
next Committee Night is January 26th at 6:30 PM. Please feel free
to contact me at mramsey@thearcofpgc.org or 301-925-7050 ext.
234 if you have questions or would like to join us on the 26th.
In
conclusion, these five initiatives are just the “tip of the iceberg”
in terms of what we have on our 2012 agenda. By the way, 2012
also is our 60th anniversary as an organization.
Throughout the year we will be celebrating our accomplishments
since our founding year of 1952. Stay tuned and Happy New Year!
Mac Ramsey
Executive Director
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