Today, we’re celebrating a critical milestone in The Arc Central Chesapeake Region’s (The Arc’s) history – we hit 500 employees.

We’ve seen significant growth across the organization over the last three years, including a record number of people served (over 3,000), a record number of funds raised at our annual golf tournament ($155,000), and a budget that tops $100 million. But, growing to more than 500 employees is significant for any company.

What’s So Special About Hitting 500 Employees?

Having 500 employees means you’re no longer considered a small business – you’re a mid-size company. At The Arc, we see this as an important step in our company’s growth and a forecast of future things to come.

“For our team, it’s not about growing to any particular size,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO. “It’s about having the right support and leadership at every level of the organization. This growth directly reflects the community’s need – and we will continue to grow to meet that need.”

As a regional organization, The Arc serves roughly one-third of the state of Maryland. The Arc continues expanding and growing services throughout the region, ensuring that people with IDD have choice, opportunity, and access to quality services that support them to live, work and connect with their community. We are committed to growing where the community needs us – and our employees are critical to making that happen.

Why Do People Want To Work At The Arc Central Chesapeake Region?

The Arc believes in the power of its people, fosters leadership at every level, promotes equity, respect, and diversity, and embodies a culture where people feel a deep sense of belonging and inclusion.

In 2017, The Arc’s new leadership embarked on a campaign to change the organization’s culture, creating a place where employees can bring their authentic selves to work and feel engaged, heard, and cared for. And it’s been working.

In Fall 2022, The Arc partnered with Nonprofit HR to survey employees and gauge their overall satisfaction working at The Arc so we could better understand and continue to improve their workplace experiences. The results showed what we already knew and felt to be true: The Arc is an organization full of heart-driven, action-oriented people who value individuality, equity, and respect, and they’re happy here.

From making salaries across the organization more competitive to creating opportunities for leaders at every level to creating an environment where people can be their authentic selves and feel a sense of belonging – The Arc is invested in the health, happiness, and well-being of its employees.

Our employees are committed and loyal – all 500 of them. Their drive and passion are why The Arc can grow and support the community in so many ways.

How Can I Be Part Of The Team?

The Arc’s continued growth means we are hiring at every level of the organization.

You can learn more about current opportunities and our total rewards package and apply to join our team at thearcccr.org/careers.

Today marks the first day of Black History Month. All month long, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) is recognizing the vital role that African Americans play in the fight for disability rights.

As of 2019, over 5.7 million African Americans in the United States have a disability. For context, that’s one in every four people.

It is essential to have conversations about the realities and challenges that impact the lives of African Americans with disabilities. Throughout history, many disability advocates and protestors were Black people—including many members of the Black Panther Party who provided food and drinks to Section 504 disability protestors in the 70s. And in 1990, The National Black Disability Coalition (NBDC) was created to address the unique concerns and issues of African Americans with disabilities, especially those living in poverty.

Here are a few statistics about disability in the African American Community:

• African Americans are the most likely minority in the United States to have a disability.
• Only 28.7% of working-age Black Americans with disabilities are employed, compared to 72% of Black workers without disabilities.
• Just 57% of Black students with disabilities graduate from high school compared to 74.6% of Black students without disabilities.
• Black or African American students with disabilities are more likely to be identified with an intellectual disability.

They are celebrities, activists, actors, musicians, historical figures, professors, and more. They came from all walks of life and paved the way for other people with disabilities to do the same.

We must continue to advocate and fight for disability rights so people of color with disabilities can access the same jobs, education, and quality of life. The Arc is committed to creating opportunities and serving diverse communities throughout Maryland.

The Arc’s offices in Severn, Annapolis, and Easton will open on time. All services will operate as scheduled. People supported in Workforce Development should follow the operating status of their employer.

So many resources for children with disabilities – like effective therapies, equipment, and learning opportunities – are not covered by insurance and are out of reach financially for many families. To create greater access to these critical resources, The Arc founded the Family Fund in 2017.

Since then, the Family Fund has granted over $90,000 to children in the community for therapeutic riding, specialized medical equipment, assistive technology, and alternative educational opportunities.

This year, with support from The Bowen Foundation for Autism, the Family Fund will distribute $75,000.

“We are incredibly grateful to the community for their generosity to the Family Fund this year,” said Catie Comer, Vice President of Advancement. “With costs increasing everywhere, it is gratifying to know that the community prioritizes programs like this that create greater health equity and access for everyone. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the fund this year – we would not be able to offer this resource without you.”

The Family Fund is 100% donor-funded and saw a record number of contributions this year, including a $21,000 donation from The Bowen Foundation for Autism in memory of Bowen Levy.

This year, families will also be able to apply for overnight camp for their children, thanks to The David & Jason Sandel Scholarship. The scholarship will pay up to $1,000 in expenses for one child.

Applications for the Family Fund open on February 1 and will close on February 17. To be eligible, families must:

1. Have a child with a disability under the age of 21
2. Live in one of the nine counties supported by The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
3. Complete and submit the online application

Preference is given to thorough applications that clearly explain the grant’s impact on their child and family, as well as first-time applicants. If you have questions about the application, contact our Family Navigator at resources@thearcccr.org.

Open dialogue can change lives and create safe and healthy communities. People deserve to discuss their struggles with mental health without judgment and should feel empowered to ask for help when needed.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often have co-occurring mental health and disability diagnoses and experience frequent mental health distress almost five times as often as adults without disabilities.

Time to Talk Day, the nation’s most influential mental health conversation, is on Thursday, February 2. This movement aims to create communities of family, friends, and colleagues that speak up about mental health without the judgment and shame that can often come with sharing.

The Arc cares about mental health. In 2020, in response to the pandemic, The Arc received a small grant to start ‘Coping with COVID.’ These small group therapy sessions, led by nationally recognized psychologist Dr. Karyn Harvey, allowed people with IDD to process their emotions about the pandemic, highlighting the need for more robust and targeted mental health services. This program inspired The Arc’s concept of behavioral health.

The Arc’s Behavioral Health takes a holistic approach to behavioral supports, focusing not on managing specific behaviors but on the necessary mental health counseling and other clinical supports that go along with it. The Arc uses licensed clinicians who have experience providing mental health counseling to people with IDD and deliver individual and group therapies through the lens of trauma-informed care.

Recognizing the importance of this work, The Arc’s Behavioral Health program is a core pillar of the strategic plan, Leading Boldly, and will receive $250,000 in federal investments to grow the clinical team over the next two years. The federal funding was secured through the FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen.

“Connecting people with disabilities to the services they need is critical to helping them achieve their full potential. These federal funds will help The Arc Central Chesapeake Region meet that mission and empower people with disabilities as we build a more inclusive community,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Appropriations Committee.

As people throughout the community continue to deal with the effects of an uncertain economy and workforce, The Arc is actively focusing on hiring and retaining quality employees.

In January 2023, The Arc increased Direct Support Professionals starting hourly wage to $17.25/hour. The rate increase took effect Sunday, January 29, and DSP hourly wages increased by an average of 4.83%. The Arc announced additional COLA increases are expected organization-wide in July.

“While The Arc has done a great deal to increase DSP pay, expand employee benefits, and make health care more affordable – it is our ongoing priority to do more,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO. “DSPs are the backbone of The Arc’s work. Every day I am humbled by the tireless work our DSPs do to ensure quality services for the people we support.”

The Arc’s continued rapid growth means the organization is actively hiring for a variety of DSP roles. To keep pace with new people coming into services, The Arc hires an average of 30 DSPs monthly.

“We have a great team here. People know that and want to be a part of it,” said Joan Green, Director of Talent Acquisition.

With the market rate increase for DSPs and total rewards package – which includes zero-deductible healthcare, 13 paid holidays, and numerous other benefits – The Arc continues to invest in its people. More information on The Arc’s benefits can be found here.

How do you become a DSP? 

You can become a DSP today by applying online here.

The Arc also offers a referral bonus program for current employees referring new candidates. For more information on the program, contact People & Culture here.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) is pleased to announce the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill will bring a $1 million investment to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) throughout Central Maryland.

The recently enacted federal funding legislation includes $750,000 to support the construction of The Arc’s Port Street Commons project in Easton, Maryland, and $250,000 to scale The Arc’s Behavioral Health program across the region. The funding is a result of the support of U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

“We are grateful that Senator Cardin and Senator Van Hollen significantly prioritized people with IDD with this legislation,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, The Arc. “With this funding and the successful completion of Port Street, we will bring services to people on the Eastern Shore who desperately need them, creating opportunities for them to live, work, and connect within their community. We’ll also be able to significantly grow our Behavioral Health program – an essential part of our services – ensuring that the mental health needs of people with IDD are a priority.”Continue reading

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) increased the hourly starting wage for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to $17.25/hour. The Arc implemented the market increase to support employees as people throughout the community continue to deal with the effects of an uncertain economy and workforce.

“While The Arc has done a great deal to increase DSP pay, expand employee benefits, and make health care more affordable – it is our ongoing priority to do more,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO. “DSPs are the backbone of The Arc’s work. Every day I am humbled by the tireless work our DSPs do to ensure quality services for the people we support.”

The rate increase will take effect Sunday, January 29, and DSP hourly wages will increase by an average of 4.83%. The Arc announced additional COLA increases are expected organization-wide in July.

To apply to become a DSP today, click here.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and Michele Tharp, Board Chair, are pleased to welcome Stephanie Lacaze to The Arc’s Board of Directors.

Stephanie brings a diverse background of experiences to The Arc that will be a welcome addition to The Arc’s current advocacy efforts focused on increasing access and opportunity for people with IDD. As a resident of Easton, Maryland, Stephanie brings valuable support as The Arc continues to deepen services throughout the Eastern Shore.

“We are excited to welcome Stephanie to our Board,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc. “Her experience in housing and community development, as well as quality and compliance in the healthcare space, means she will bring a valuable perspective as we continue to invest in our behavioral health services and expand affordable housing across the region.”

Committed to providing quality improvement solutions in a variety of healthcare areas, including disability, health disparity, and behavioral health, Stephanie is eager to support choice and opportunity for people with I/DD on the Eastern Shore. Currently, Stephanie is the Senior Contracts Administrator for Qlarant, a federal contractor headquartered in Easton, Maryland, focusing on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Previously, she served as the Housing and Community Development Coordinator for Kent County, Maryland, and as Deputy/Executive Director for Interfaith Housing Development Corporation of the Maryland Eastern Shore.

“I look forward to contributing to The Arc’s ongoing commitment to address the diverse needs of our community, from greater choice around services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to creating more affordable housing throughout the region,” said Stephanie.

Stephanie earned a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland and her Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Baltimore. She is a 30-year resident of Easton, Maryland.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Dr. King) was a Baptist minister and one of the most influential pioneers in the Civil Rights Movement. As an advocate for non-violent activism, he organized and led marches, sit-ins, and boycotts, uniting people across race, class, religion, and gender boundaries. But did you know Dr. King’s non-violent fights for equality included people with disabilities?

Many people don’t associate disability rights with Dr. King’s campaigns, but his purposeful work helped influence the Disability Rights Movement. He advocated for all people and emphasized that separation is not equal.

“It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people,” said Dr. King. State and Federal governments excluded people with disabilities from conversations about equality. Dr. King set the stage for them to be included in discussions, policies, and laws.

So, what direct contributions did Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement play to the Disability Rights Movement?Continue reading