Annual Report FY 2009 www.arccarroll.com 1 Mission To support people in their individual pursuit of a fulfilling life. Vision We are a leading organization that champions for and supports people with developmental disabilities, while cultivating relationships that enrich our community. Core Values Innovation – our founders pioneered the opportunities that exist today for people with developmental disabilities. We build on their courageous tradition of innovation and creativity in the design and delivery of our services. Integrity – we operate with integrity in all that we do – as a service provider, as an employer, and as members of our community. Respect – we treat everyone with respect. Dignity, choice, ability, privacy and opinion are fundamental principles of who we are. Quality – we embrace the highest standards in all that we do. Quality in service and character drives our actions and attitudes. Caring – we act with a genuine spirit of caring. A sincere interest in and concern for the complete well-being of all people define our actions. Strategic Priorities To achieve The Arc’s mission and vision, the following strategic priorities will be emphasized during this planning period: n Evaluate the individual program and service needs of those we serve. n Evaluate all tangible and intangible assets and develop strategies to manage and maximize those resources. n Enhance staff development through structured training, orientation and target recruiting for hard-to-fill positions. n Advance program quality through improved staff training, innovation and continual feedback. n Increase awareness of The Arc. n Develop and improve relationships and partnerships with all major stakeholders. n Assure sound fiscal management. The complete 2009-2011 strategic plan is available at www.arccarroll.com. 2 The Arc | Annual Report Welcome Dear Friends of The Arc, We are pleased to present the FY 2009 Annual Report highlighting the growth of our services to the community and as an organization overall. This report comes to you at a time when we are receiving substantially less funding from the State of Maryland due to the unprecedented budget reductions that have been made, and we expect this financial scenario to continue into the next fiscal year and perhaps beyond. Still, we remain committed to providing the highest quality programs and services to those we support. The creativity, innovation, and commitment of our staff is evident in the quality and quantity of services that we provide. In November 2008 The Arc was re-accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in 12 program areas. We are the only organization in Carroll County exclusively serving people with developmental disabilities to have sought and achieved this gold standard designation. This means that people who receive services from The Arc can be assured they are receiving the highest quality. After many years, the board of directors drafted new bylaws to help carry The Arc long into the future. The new bylaws reflect the way The Arc operates today and ensures compliance with all state laws and regulations. It was important that we strengthen the very foundation of the organization. As we looked ahead to celebrating our 55th anniversary in 2010, we crafted a new strategic plan to guide us. An inter- disciplinary team worked for several months to develop this plan with priorities that will carry The Arc through the next three years. The plan is actionable, achievable, and will move The Arc quickly into progressive and innovative program areas. During the time this annual report represents, July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, we saw many other changes at The Arc as well as in within the disabilities community: n Rosewood Center, an institution for people with developmental disabilities, closed by order of the State of Maryland. The Arc of Carroll County now serves the next-to-last person to leave that institution, Mary Smith. Read more about Mary in this annual report. n A young girl from Baltimore County was the inspiration for “Rosa’s Law,” legislation that changed the words “mental retardation” in all State legislation and other documents to “intellectual and developmental disability”. That same legislation is now before Congress. n New leadership at The Arc of the United States has developed a strategy to move forward nationally that will involve sweeping changes in many areas. We are looking forward to the advancement that these changes will bring not only for The Arc of Carroll County, but for people with disabilities everywhere. Also during this time, we were saddened by the loss of our long-time Executive Director and friend Tim Atkinson. His passion for people with disabilities and his dedication to The Arc will be sorely missed. We hope you will enjoy reading about the outcomes of our efforts. Thank you for being a part of our mission. Sincerely, Sherri Chavis, President Donald Rowe, Executive Director www.arccarroll.com 3 Mary Francis Smith At Home in her Community early 50 years emptied, until there were only two residents left. Mary ago, a young Francis Smith was the next-to-last person to leave Ng i r l n a m e d Rosewood before it closed its doors forever. Mary Francis Smith went to live at Rosewood Center. After nearly five decades, Mary left Rosewood and moved Only nine years old, to a new home – her very own apartment in Manchester, Mary’s parents made the very near her parent’s home. Mary receives staff support decision that the state-run at home from The Arc of Carroll County and attends the institution for people with day program at The Arc building in Westminster. In the developmental disabilities few weeks after her homecoming, Mary had visited her was best equipped to meet parents for dinner, attended two picnics and a carnival, Mary’s needs and help their family. Mr. and Mrs. Smith sported a stylish new haircut and was featured in a front- visited often and were very happy with the care Mary page article in the local newspaper. Mary’s neighbors received. They were at ease knowing that she was have embraced her and watch out for her like good comfortable, safe, and well cared for. neighbors do. She gets to see her parents more often than ever before. Mary is Over the next nearly 50 years, Mary was a favorite of experiencing new the staff at Rosewood. But the world outside slowly things and new changed, and community living became the standard of people each day. living for people with developmental disabilities. Mary adapted to Then came the movement to close Rosewood. Mr. and Mrs. community living Smith were naturally concerned. This was Mary’s home, almost instantly, where they knew she was safe and happy. Despite their leaving little efforts to fight the closure, and after much contentious doubt that she debate, the State of Maryland decided in 2008 that is going to do Rosewood Center would be closed by June 2009. quite well with her newfound Thousands of people had to leave Rosewood. Most went independence. into community living settings. Slowly the buildings 4 The Arc | Annual Report Chris Shaffer At Work in his Community is attitude is positively infectious. He loves both of his jobs. He’s very involved with his Hfamily and plans to stay in his community because to Chris Shaffer, it’s home. At 26, Chris has already accomplished much in his brief lifetime. Chris was born prematurely and sustained birth injuries that caused blindness in his right eye as well as a developmental disability. His family wanted him to go to the Maryland School for the Blind, but Chris insisted on staying in public school so that he could earn his high school diploma. He graduated from North Carroll High School in 2001. He then went to the Maryland School for the Blind and began participating in The Arc’s vocational program in July of 2004. “He’s not someone with a After first coming to The Arc, Chris was part of an disability,” said Haughn, enclave that worked for Fidelitone in Hampstead before the company moved to Chicago. Now, he works for “He’s just Chris.” KFC/Taco Bell in Hampstead where he maintains the dining room during the busy Friday night dinner rush and volunteers at Carroll Lutheran Village where he maintains the dining room two days a week. His enthusiasm is evident as he goes about his work at KFC/Taco Bell and it is clear that the Manchester resident loves being a part of the fabric of his community. His community loves him back. Sherise Haughn, a manager at KFC/Taco Bell, said the staff and customers at the restaurant all know Chris and enjoy his personality, and no one treats him any differently because of his disability. “I feel like I’m important because I’m working and providing a service,” said Chris. Not only is Chris committed to his work, he loves numbers and math, which fits right in with his passion for sports statistics. He admits that he spends “way too much time on the computer” following a variety of sports, including football, baseball, NASCAR and college basketball. When he’s not surfing for sports scores, he’s keeping up with the world at a variety of news web sites. That way when you see him at work, you can talk to Chris about just about anything. www.arccarroll.com 5 Financial Highlights Revenues – FY 2009 Total $11,054,100 $6,520,000 Government $202,900 61.41% Industry 1.91% $173,500 Contributions 1.63% $256,100 Client Fees 2.41% $222,700 Other 2.10% $3,241,300 Bd. Of Ed.