The Arc Of Lehigh And Northampton Counties Inc

THE ARC OF LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES (THE ARC) CHAMPIONS A LIFE OF INCLUSION, OPPORTUNITY, AND EQUITY FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORTS. ITS VISION IS THAT ALL PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ARE VALUED, RESPECTED, AND FULLY INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY WITH THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY.

SPARC:THE SPARC PROGRAM IS BOTH A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM AND A STATE-LICENSED ADULT TRAINING FACILITY THAT SERVES ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) IN LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON, AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. THE SPARC PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH IDD TO EXPLORE INTERESTS, DEVELOP SKILLS, AND PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES IN A SUPPORTIVE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE SPARC PROGRAM ADDRESSES EACH PERSON'S UNIQUE NEEDS THROUGH A PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH TO HELP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP DAILY LIVING SKILLS THROUGH COMMUNICATION, SOCIALIZATION, HABILITATION, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION.THE SPARC PROGRAM DELIVERS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUPPORTS (CPS), WHICH OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL GROWTH IN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THE SPARC PROGRAM ALSO DELIVERS ADULT TRAINING FACILITY SERVICES, WHICH PROVIDES AN ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT WITH ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH AMBULATION CHALLENGES. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS CAN CHOOSE TO ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF CORE CONCENTRATION OPTIONS BASED ON THEIR ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHOICE THAT INCLUDE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERISM, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, DAILY LIVING SKILLS, FACILITY-BASE SERVIES AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES.

FAMILY-DRIVEN/FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES: THE FAMILY DRIVEN/FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES (FD/FSS) PROGRAM EMPOWERS PEOPLE AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE FD/FSS PROGRAM IS AN INDIRECT REIMBURSEMENT OR DIRECT PAY SERVICE FOR ELIGIBLE FAMILIES FUNDED AND REGULATED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. THE ARC OF LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES (THE ARC) ASSISTS IN SUPPORTING THE FD/FSS PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE FAMILIES IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES. THE SCOPE OF THIS SUPPORT VARIES DEPENDING ON THE COUNTY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE FAMILY. THE ARC EMPLOYS AN FD/FSS COORDINATOR FOR LEHIGH COUNTY WHO CAN HELP FAMILIES COORDINATE THEIR APPLICATIONS AND BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROGRAM OPERATES TO USE THEIR ALLOCATIONS. THE ARC ALSO PUBLISHES A BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES STAKEHOLDERS.

AGENCY WITH CHOICE:AGENCY WITH CHOICE (AWC) IS A PERSON-PROGRAM BASED ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SELF-DETERMINATION. THE AWC PROGRAM EMPOWERS PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES BY PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHOICE AND CONTROL OVER THEIR SERVICES AND SUPPORTS; THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EACH PERSON BEST KNOWS THEIR OWN NEEDS AND HOW THOSE NEEDS SHOULD BE MET.AN INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATING IN THE AWC PROGRAM CAN BE THEIR OWN MANAGING EMPLOYER (ME) OR IDENTIFY A SURROGATE TO ACT ON THEIR BEHALF AS THE ME. THE ME CAN SELECT THE SUPPORT SERVICE PROFESSIONALS (SSPS) AND DIRECT PROVISION OF SERVICES. THE SSP WILL BE HIRED AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE ARC FOR PAYROLL, TAXES AND WORKER'S COMPENSATION PURPOSES, BUT WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF THE ME FOR THE SERVICE ACTIVITIES.

ADVOCACY:THE ARC OF LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FREE RESOURCE COORDINATION, TRAINING, AND ONE-TO-ONE ADVOCACY SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) AND THEIR FAMILIES. THROUGH THESE, WE ARE DEDICATED TO CONNECTING WITH AND SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THEIR NAVIGATION OF THE INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SYSTEMS. THE ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES RESOURCE COORDINATION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS DISABILITY-RELATED RESOURCES, REFERRALS, AND TRAINING TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND PROFESSIONALS. INDIVIDUALS CAN GAIN INFORMATION THROUGH A COMBINATION OF METHODS, INCLUDING OUR ONLINE SUBMISSION FORM, INTAKE PHONE LINE, AND DIRECT PHONE/EMAIL TO THE ARC.THE ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT ALSO OFFERS FREE ONE-TO-ONE ADVOCACY SUPPORT BY ASSIGNING A KNOWLEDGEABLE ADVOCATE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL GUIDANCE IN ADDRESSING COMPLEX CHALLENGES. WHILE ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP MAY ACCESS THE RESOURCE COORDINATION AND TRAINING, ONE-TO-ONE ADVOCACY SUPPORT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF AN INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY (IDD) AND WHO ARE BASED IN LEHIGH OR NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES.