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 THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT.

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 IN LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. THE SPARC PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS 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-BASED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUPPORTS (CPS), WHICH OFFERS PROGRAM ATTENDEES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL GROWTH IN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THE SPARC PROGRAM ALSO DELIVERS ADULT TRAINING DAY PROGRAM SERVICES, WHICH OFFERS ADULTS WITH IDD A SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM IN AN ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT WITH ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH AMBULATION CHALLENGES.

AGENCY WITH CHOICE:AGENCY WITH CHOICE (AWC) IS A WAIVER-FUNDED SELF-DIRECTED PERSONAL CARE 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.THE AWC MODEL ALLOWS AN INDIVIDUAL OR THE SURROGATE OF THEIR CHOOSING TO HIRE PERSONS OF THEIR CHOICE TO SUPPORT THEM AS NEEDED WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL'S HOME AND COMMUNITY. THE ARC OF LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES ACTS AS A CO-EMPLOYER FOR PAYROLL, TAXES, AND WORKER'S COMPENSATION PURPOSES, HOWEVER, THE DELIVERY OF PERSONAL CARE SERVICES IS MANAGED AND SUPERVISED BY THE INDIVIDUAL AND/OR THEIR DESIGNATED SURROGATE.

ADVOCACY:THE ARC OF LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES IS ONE OF THE FEW AGENCIES THAT PROVIDES FREE RESOURCE COORDINATION, TRAININGS, AND ONE-TO-ONE ADVOCACY SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) AND THEIR FAMILIES. THROUGH THESE SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT CONNECTS WITH AND SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THEIR NAVIGATION OF THE INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SYSTEMS. THE ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES RESOURCE COORDINATION BY OFFERING DISABILITY-RELATED RESOURCES, REFERRALS, AND TRAININGS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND PROFESSIONALS. INDIVIDUALS CAN GAIN INFORMATION THROUGH A COMBINATION OF METHODS, INCLUDING OUR ON-LINE 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 THE RESOURCE COORDINATION AND TRAININGS MAY BE ACCESSED BY ANY INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP, ONE-TO-ONE ADVOCACY SUPPORT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF AN INTELLECTUAL AND/OR DEVELOPMENT DISABILITY (IDD) AND WHO ARE BASED IN LEHIGH OR NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES.

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 STAKEHOLDERS IN BOTH LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES.