Achieve with Us.®
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Achieve with us.® Annual ReportFiscal Year 2015 July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015 Individuals with disabilities are our Inspiration Individuals with disabilities The Arc of the Quad Cities Area’s mission is to live and work in partnership with the community to support are our individuals with developmental and other disabilities, through a variety of support services. The Arc has been serving the Quad Cities since 1952, promoting inclusion for individuals Inspiration with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a wide variety services designed to meet a full spectrum of needs. This 2015 annual report showcases a few of the many ways The Arc has risen to support the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. We hope that, taken together, these snapshots provide an impression of work accomplished and, more importantly, the core values behind those services. There is no better substantiation of our collective efforts than the success of the individuals we serve as they define it. ARCQCA.org 2 Moving into a new home! Moving into a new home is a steady home from another local provider. The unfolding of many new experiences; Arc refurbished an existing home to the first time walking in the front door, accommodate these individuals at a the first time meeting new neighbors, moment’s notice, all while managing the first meal at the new home. These the opening of three new homes and experiences, when multiplied by 24 (the transferring Heritage Fifty-Three number of residents now living in their residents into community life. new group home), quickly add up to The Arc of the Quad Cities Area is many transformed lives. proud to be a part of the expanding Concurrently, the Residential Program community-based housing choices in welcomed additional members to The the Quad Cities community through The Arc family when The Arc took over Arc’s residential program. operations of an additional group 24 Residents transferred into community-based housing 2 Group homes currently under construction 100% Families satisfied with services of CILA homes. (as of June 2015) We’ve Obtained CARF Accreditation in 2015! Residential Services Goals • Successful transfer of remaining residents of Heritage Fifty-Three location • Achieve fundraising goal for sixth group home Arc provided 24 hour/365 day support to 119 individuals! (as of June 2015) ARCQCA.org 4 Putting Opportunities to Work Work services at Arc Industries are crucial for individuals with disabilities. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are vastly underrepresented in the work force. Arc Industries offers an antidote that redefines what individuals with disabilities are capable of, where the work floor is bustling with the energy of workers purposeful movements. Arc Industries provides valuable business services to area businesses including; secure document destruction, assembly, manufacturing materials processing and custom box manufacturing. These contracts have made it possible to increase worker wages by 9%. Arc Industries client workers meet their customer’s needs with enthusiasm and pride while gaining important skills like training in The Arc Industries computer lab. Partners: • US Army Mailroom • Corps of Engineers • State of Illinois • John Deere • Nestle Purina 97 Number of persons served Work Services Outcomes • Client workers received training on appropriate social interactions • Increased client involvement with special events • Tripled computer lab training hours “With great change comes great achievement and a promise for the future.” -Anonymous ARCQCA.org 6 Helping Individuals Get and Keep Their Jobs Competative Community Employment they are fully equipped to take on their is the ultimate source for improving new responsibility. the lives of individuals with disabilities. Through job matching and job Individuals who have made the choice coaching, CES provides local to pursue community based employment businesses with quality employees and find that the services provided by provides individuals with disabilities Community Employment Services valuable work skills and self-sustaining (CES) are invaluable, both for obtaining employment. Businesses looking for employment and keeping those jobs. a steady and reliable workforce that The Arc’s trained staff is with each comes to work with enthusiasm find individual at every step of the process. that partnership with CES is truly a From navigating online applications, “win-win.” to teaching interviewing skills, CES Partners: staff lay the groundwork for success. • Hy-Vee When employment is obtained, a job • Butterworth Center coach follows individuals into the work • Advantage Marketing environment, navigating and ensuring Provided job development coaching Community Employment Services Outcomes • Achieved positive satisfaction surveys • Increased partnerships with area businesses “People coming together as a community can make things happen.” -Jacob Rees-Mogg ARCQCA.org 8 Facilitating Hope for the Future Individuals with disabilities and to live. QIDPs provide the support that their families have their own set of make dreams a reality and alleviate priorities and anxieties. Each individual’s families concerns for the future. disability is different and it takes in- Family Services strives to be a depth knowledge and skill to navigate resource for families and individuals the system successfully. Thankfully, with disabilities and continues to supply The Arc has a team of dedicated Quality the tools, knowledge and experience Intellectual Disabilities Professionals to achieve the vision individuals set for (QIDP) that helps bridge gaps so that themselves. individuals can live the life they want GOAL Maintain excellent records for all individuals Family Services 360 Number of individuals who received case management Outcomes • Downsized Heritage Fifty-Three to CILA homes • Earned accreditation from CARF & Bureau of Accreditation & Licensure (BACL) “It takes a lot of experience to learn how to care for people.” -Barry Schwartz ARCQCA.org 10 Maximizing Community Partnerships The Arc’s Developmental Training program has built a solid foundation of support for individuals with disabilities, built around augmenting functional skills and participation in work activities. Developmental Training takes community engagement seriously. The Arc creates work activities for individuals through Moments Remembered, which has developed partnerships with area funeral homes and florists to create lovely dried floral wreaths and memory bowls for customers. To build skills and community access, Developmental Training staff constantly seeks opportunities for volunteerism and community engagement opportunities. The need continues for expanded opportunities through Moments Remembered to create and sustain work activities for individuals with disabilities. The Arc is looking forward to ongoing growth with community partners. • Increase work opportunities through GOALS Moments Remembered • Increase volunteer and outing opportunities 145 Individuals provided with training Outcomes • Individuals participated in work activities • Accessed community with volunteer activities and outings Developmental Training “Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.” -James Cash Penney ARCQCA.org 12 Bridging Gaps 70 Number of individuals served Can an iPad increase the functional skills. This is the purpose of assistive capacity for an individual’s disabilities? technology, to bridge technology gaps The answer is a resounding “yes, it and increase functional capacity for can.” Being able to communicate basic daily living. From basic, adaptive utensils needs and wants to caregivers gives to high tech iPads, assistive technology individuals who cannot otherwise removes barriers with a wide range of communicate the means to express adaptive tools. themselves, gain confidence and build To provide in-depth service and training to individuals GOAL with assistive technology needs Assistive Technologies Outcomes • Met goal of 4,649 service hours • 91% of referrals completed within 30 calendar days • Exceeded goal for number of individual and staff trainings Assistive technology removes barriers with a wide range of adaptive tools. ARCQCA.org 14 Building Confidence The Arc is most proud of the work of Speak Out, a self advocacy group focusing on learning the skills necessary to communicate the issues that are most important to individuals with disabilities. Speak Out is a self-run group which provides leadership opportunities for individuals interested in governing and leading. Officers and representatives of Speak Out often serve on The Arc of the Quad Cities Area’s Board of Directors and on the Alliance board, a statewide self advocacy group. Speak Out members take pride in staying active in local and state matters. GOAL Provide additional opportunities for public speaking 44 Members in the group Speak Out Outcomes • Addressed “bullying” issues, healthy habits and nutrition “People matter - whether or not we agree on the issue, people matter. -Ann Marie Buerkle ARCQCA.org 16 Helping individuals in their homes The Community Support program From life skills like cooking and cleaning, wraps services around individuals to management skills like budgeting with disabilities to help them to live and medical care coordination, independently in the community by Community Support helps individuals providing the right prescription of live independently. service per each individual’s needs. GOAL Provide additional opportunities