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Services

Children, Youth & Their Families

At The Arc, the people we serve are at the center of everything we do. While we build our services around what each person wants and needs, we recognize that many things influence what those services look like. For many people, their families and communities play an integral role in shaping their services. 

Fully supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities starts with supporting children and youth throughout the community. The Arc’s Children, Youth & Their Families program is part of our 2Gen approach where we don’t just tailor services to your child; we build a network of services that support your whole family and grow with your child throughout their life. 

Child-centered services are life-changing for the children and families who use them and lead to better outcomes as they grow. At The Arc, we prioritize supporting the children, youth, and families who experience the most need. 

Our programs cover three main areas: educational resources, financial resources, and direct services. These programs aim to remove the inequitable barriers parents face in supporting their children, so The Arc subsidizes these programs and offers them for free or at a minimal cost.

Our educational resources meet families where they’re at. Whether you need support accessing critical resources or more knowledge to empower you or your child to advocate for yourselves, our Children, Youth & Their Families team is here to support you. 

Family Navigation: Our Family Navigation services remove barriers for families needing access to resources throughout the community. We meet families where they’re at—sometimes literally. Whether you schedule a time to meet at one of our offices, your own home, or a community location, this service is more than just information and referrals—it’s a partnership between The Arc’s team and your family. We can help you successfully apply for DDA services, complete the Family Fund application, decide what services best meet your needs, and overcome real and perceived barriers to your family’s success. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make informed choices and take action. This service is always free and is accessible to you as often as you need it. Contact our Family Navigator today. 

Project Learn & Project Learn Leadership Academy: Does your child have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)? Project Learn and Project Learn Leadership Academy can support you and your student in understanding your rights, developing a strategy to build a stronger relationship with your school system, and helping you understand your IEP. Through this program, The Arc connects families with an experienced educational consultant and provides six sessions of one-on-one support. These services are traditionally costly, but a parent’s financial ability to pay for advocacy services shouldn’t determine their child’s success in school. Our goal is to supply you and your student with the tools and resources you need to become strong self-advocates. Find out if you’re eligible for this program and apply today

Sib Shops & Transition Series: Our team is well-connected, experienced, and knowledgeable. At The Arc, we partner with organizations throughout the community to provide families with free information and activities. The Life Transition Series is a partnership with Anne Arundel County Public Schools. It offers a series of workshops designed to give you the information you need to support your student in transitioning from school to adult services. Sib Shops is a nationally recognized program that offers siblings of children with disabilities the opportunity to build peer support networks in a fun and recreational setting. Both resources are free. Contact our Family Navigator for more information.

Ready to Apply for Services?

It all starts with a conversation.

We build our services around what each person tells us they want and need, tailoring experiences so each person has the right support to live the life they want. We want to get to know you—your likes, dislikes, interests, and goals—so we can better understand your vision and create the right support system for you. 

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