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.

Raising a child with an intellectual or developmental disability is expensive. Often, families cannot afford to access the resources they need. Our programs lessen the financial barriers families face and create opportunities for people who would not otherwise have access to the critical services they need.

Family Fund: There are many effective resources, therapies, and services that make an incredible difference in the quality of life for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, many of these are not covered by insurance and are out of reach financially for the families who need access to them most. In 2017, The Arc founded the Family Fund to provide financial grants for families to access these critical therapies, equipment, and educational and life-enriching opportunities for their children with disabilities. Since its founding, the Family Fund has granted more than $200,000 to children throughout the community. Applications are open until February 21.

Holiday Giving: The holidays can present a time of financial stress for many families. The Arc’s Holiday Giving program supports the entire family by partnering with the community to provide gifts, wrapping supplies, and grocery gift cards to 300 children with disabilities and their siblings. Holiday Giving is unique from other holiday programs because it allows families to request items specific to each child’s interests and abilities. Applications open on October 1 and close by October 15 annually. Will you consider adopting a child this year? You can adopt a family by clicking here.

You don’t have to wait until your child with intellectual and developmental disabilities is an adult to receive additional support in your home. The Arc employs a team of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work one-on-one with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

With this service, families can receive regular drop-in and scheduled support for their children on their own schedule. This flexible support means that families can choose how many hours of support per week they receive. Direct services take place in the family’s home where our DSPs empower the children and youth they support to begin making their own choices about the life they want to live and help develop the skills and experiences they need to get there.

Whether learning life skills or gaining volunteer experience to support a future career, engaging in activities based on young people’s hobbies and interests fosters a greater sense of self and independence. The Arc’s teams always center the child’s choice, self-determination, and self-advocacy so they can be active in the community in the ways they want to be.

Together, we can create the foundation for a successful transition to adult services.

Living Options & Services

At The Arc, the people we serve are at the center of everything we do. We build our services around what each person wants and needs, and we recognize for many people, what they need to be successful starts with having the right support at home.

Supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be active and engaged in the community starts with ensuring they first receive the support they need at home. The Arc’s Living Options & Services program creates opportunities for people throughout the community to live the life they want.

Whether you’re looking to live independently from your family, together with a group of housemates or friends, or as a married couple, our team takes the time to get to know you—your likes and dislikes, future aspirations, and past experiences. We are committed to matching people with tailored living options that reflect their personalities and lifestyles. Together, we create the support system that works best for you.

In Living Options & Services, people live together in homes throughout the community. Each person enjoys a private bedroom with shared living spaces.

The Arc employs a team of highly trained Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work directly with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. DSPs provide anywhere from 18 to 24 hours of support every day. These services take place within group homes or your own home.

Our DSPs support people in every facet of their lives, such as accessing healthcare, attending medical appointments and follow-ups, building and maintaining relationships with housemates and friends throughout the community, facilitating daily living activities like cooking and laundry, and actively engaging in the community on weekends by attending religious services and participating in social clubs or events. In every interaction, The Arc’s team meets you where you are and provides the resources and support you need.

Community Supports

At The Arc, the person we serve is always at the center of everything we do. But we recognize that for many people, their families and communities are important parts of their identities and play an integral role in shaping the services each person wants and needs.

Fully supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities often means supporting their families, too. The Arc’s Community Supports program is part of our 2Gen approach where we partner with you to look at the important people and influences in your life and build services that support what is most important to you.

The Arc employs a team of highly trained Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work one-on-one with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Community Supports offers incredible flexibility with our DSPs providing anywhere from 5 to 80 hours per week of support around your schedule to meet your goals. You choose how much support you need and where it is provided such as in your own home or your family’s home.

With this service, you can receive regular drop-in and scheduled support around your schedule. Community Supports often take place in your family’s home or out in the community where our DSPs empower the people they support to make their own choices about the life they want to live and help develop the skills and experiences they need to get there.

There is no one way to provide Community Supports; it is a tailored experience for each person. It focuses on self-sufficiency and quality of life while supporting people to engage with and navigate their communities and responsibilities.

Community Supports often include skill building, learning how to budget, learning to navigate community transportation options, grocery shopping, and meal planning to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whatever your goal is for yourself—living independently or just having greater access to the community—our team supports you in fostering self-determination and self-advocacy skills so you can accomplish your goals at school, at home, and in your community.

What is The Arc’s 2Gen approach?

Our 2Gen approach includes both Children, Youth & Their Families services as well as Community Supports, acknowledging that the best support starts at home and includes the people who are most important to you.

With this approach, we provide a foundation of support for your child and family that grows with them into adulthood, making for an easier transition to adult services. The network of resources and flexibility of services can stay with you throughout your life.

Day Services

At The Arc, the people we serve are at the center of everything we do. We build our services around what each person wants and needs, and we recognize that each person has a unique vision for how they choose to engage with the community.

Empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be active in the community starts with understanding each person’s needs, desires, interests, and personal goals. The Arc’s Day Services create opportunities for people to engage with the community based on what interests them and the type of life they want to lead.

Whether you’re looking to volunteer, build life-long hobbies and skills, connect with friends, or work toward future employment, our team takes the time to get to know you. Together, we find opportunities for you to be active in the community in ways that fit your personality and lifestyle and match them with the support that works best for you.

The Arc employs a team of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work directly with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities individually or in small groups. DSPs provide 1-5 days of support each week, and these services take place in the community during the day. DSPs provide transportation to and from community activities, picking people up in the morning and returning them home in the afternoon.

Our DSPs support each person in finding what brings them joy and build a weekly schedule that empowers people to participate in activities that align with those interests. That might include volunteering at a shelter if you have a passion for animals, joining a Zumba class if you love dancing, learning a new recipe or meal prepping if you’re interested in health and fitness, or joining the book club at the local library if you love to read. Every day looks a little different but is centered around activities that fit your lifestyle and personal goals.

From the very beginning, The Arc has been a leader in providing exclusively community-based day services. Our services have always taken place in the community, and we understand how much people’s quality of life is enhanced by lifelong learning, hobbies, volunteering, and engaging with the community in ways that are meaningful and authentic to each person.

Workforce Development

At The Arc, the people we serve are at the center of everything we do. We build our services around what each person wants and needs, and we recognize that each person has unique motivations and interests that influence the type of work or career they want to pursue.

Working is a profound way for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to experience full inclusion in their communities. It comes with many of the rewards we all desire—financial, social, and professional independence. The Arc’s Workforce Development program supports people in identifying their talents, growing their skills, applying for jobs, and combining their interests and passions with the support they need to maintain long-term careers at workplaces that value them.

From a first job in food service to an entrepreneur launching their first online business, or an established small business owner employing their own teams to tenured government employees, The Arc’s Workforce Development team supports people in every type of employment role. We understand that your first job doesn’t have to be your last job, and we partner with each person on their unique employment journey.

Career Development

When you express interest in starting your career or finding a new job, our Workforce Development team meets with you to discuss your goals and vision for the type of work you want to pursue and how it aligns with the life you want to lead. Our team might ask questions like:

What are things that bring you joy?
Are you someone who thrives in a busy, bustling environment, or do you prefer quieter surroundings?
Do you enjoy interacting with the public, or are you more comfortable behind the scenes?
How long of a commute are you looking for?
Would full-time or part-time work be better?
What pay range fits your needs?

Together, we review job postings, update resumes, navigate the application process, and practice interview skills, which are all essential components of job and career development.

On-The-Job Support

The Arc employs a team of highly trained Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work directly with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities not just to get a job, but keep their job.

Once you begin working, you automatically receive two face-to-face check-ins each month to discuss how your job is going and whether it’s the right fit for you.

Our DSPs also provide ongoing on-the-job support whenever you need it. So if you are taking on new responsibilities at work, moving to a new position, or need a little extra confidence in your current role, your team is there with you every step of the way.

Transportation

Having reliable access to transportation is essential for meeting the demands of any job or career. If you don’t have access to a car or other transportation, our team will train you on how to travel safely so you can use rideshare services independently and with confidence. From downloading the apps to entering address information, navigating selecting a car and driver, and verifying your ride, your team will even ride with you for the first few rides to ensure your comfort with the process.

The Arc’s team also helps you access transportation funding through the Developmental Disability Administration (DDA), which can be up to $7,500 per person per year. This money is used to cover rideshare costs for people using services like Uber and Lyft to get to work.

Jacob at work providing economic impact in Maryland by being gainfully employed

Where people work:

Behavioral Health

At The Arc, the people we serve are at the center of everything we do. We recognize that people’s thoughts, emotions, goals, desires, and past experiences—both good and bad—drive how they interact with the world around them at any given moment.

People are complex. Our thoughts, emotions, and experiences influence how we show up in any given situation. The Arc’s Behavioral Health team supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health diagnoses to develop the tools and resources each person needs to navigate life’s many moments.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities often have co-occurring mental health and disability diagnoses. While they experience some of the highest levels of need, there is a nationwide lack of services specifically tailored to the mental health support that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities want and deserve.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have lives that are just as rich and complex as anyone else’s. People want to talk about how to come out to their parents, their desire for intimate relationships, how to deal with the death of a loved one, and how to take greater control over decisions in their everyday lives.

The Arc’s Behavioral Health team exclusively supports these overlapping disability and mental health diagnoses, meeting people where they are and creating environments where they feel supported and encouraged. This approach means our team considers a person’s whole life, not just a few limited behaviors or assessments.

Behavioral Supports

The Arc’s team seeks to truly understand each person, the behaviors that get in their ways, and the type of life they want to lead. Together with that person, our clinical team plans how to move forward with the support of the person’s community, providing them with lifelong tools and healthy coping skills they can rely on.

Mental Health Counseling

The Arc employs a team of highly trained, licensed clinicians with experience providing mental health support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our team delivers individual and group therapies through the lens of trauma-informed care.

What is Trauma-Informed Care?

When we talk about trauma-informed care, we’re talking about supporting people to understand their experiences from a place of deep compassion and understanding. Trauma is hurt. Trauma is pain.

Trauma-informed care is about understanding that no matter what kind of trauma a person has experienced or is going through, pain and hurt must be identified, acknowledged, and reframed so people can think of new thoughts and have new experiences.

Our clinicians understand that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities often experience more major, minor, and constant forms of trauma than people without disabilities and that the key to providing care is remaining aware of that reality.

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.

Who We Are

Learn about how The Arc is Reimagining Our Communities in our annual report.

Services

Learn about how we are innovating mental health care for people with disabilities.

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Advocacy

Learn about how The Arc Takes on Calendar Day.

Services

Children, Youth & Their Families

Living Options & Services

At The Arc, the people we serve are at the center of everything we do. We build our services around what each person wants and needs, and we recognize for many people, what they need to be successful starts with having the right support at home.

Community Supports

At The Arc, the person we serve is always at the center of everything we do. But we recognize that for many people, their families and communities are important parts of their identities and play an integral role in shaping the services each person wants and needs.

What is The Arc’s 2Gen approach?

Day Services

At The Arc, the people we serve are at the center of everything we do. We build our services around what each person wants and needs, and we recognize that each person has a unique vision for how they choose to engage with the community.

Workforce Development

At The Arc, the people we serve are at the center of everything we do. We build our services around what each person wants and needs, and we recognize that each person has unique motivations and interests that influence the type of work or career they want to pursue.

Career Development

On-The-Job Support

Transportation

Where people work:

Behavioral Health

At The Arc, the people we serve are at the center of everything we do. We recognize that people’s thoughts, emotions, goals, desires, and past experiences—both good and bad—drive how they interact with the world around them at any given moment.

Behavioral Supports

Mental Health Counseling

What is Trauma-Informed Care?

Ready to Apply for Services?

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