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Daniel Murphy
President
Frank X. Caragher
Executive Director
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INDEX
Early Childhood
Services
Educational Services
Family Support Services
Recreation and Leisure Opportunities
Residential Services
Vocational Services/School-to-Career Transition
Specialized Day Programs
Community Relations and Resource Development
Quality Assurance
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EARLY
CHILDHOOD SERVICES
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Supporting families to help their
children reach their potential
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Approximately 125 infants and
young children up to the age of three are nurtured and supported
through early intervention services, day care and support programs, and
therapeutic interventions provided by interdisciplinary teams of
professionals including early childhood/special education teachers,
speech, physical and occupational therapists and social workers.
Flexible and family-focused, early intervention services are designed
to meet the physical, sensory, communication, cognitive, social and
emotional needs of young children and to maximize the strengths and
talents of families to help their children develop to their fullest
potential. Early intervention services are provided to infants and
young children in a variety of settings including the family home, and
The Arc's Bright Beginnings Child
Development Centers in Cranford and
Mountainside.
The child's family is an integral part of the team, which works
together to develop positive outcomes for the child and family.
The Arc of Union County was a pioneer in developing interventions and
supports for young children with disabilities and their families and
established one of the first early intervention programs in New
Jersey,
which was in Murray Hill. Known as the Murray
Hill Child
Development Center, this program was located within the Faith Lutheran Church
on South Street
in Murray Hill. The Arc's Murray Hill program was honored in 1997 with
the prestigious Exceptional Parent Magazine Education Award for
excellence in services to children and families. Early intervention
services are now offered to infants and young children primarily in the
family home, or in inclusive settings, which serve children without
special needs, like The Arc of Union County's Bright Beginnings Center
Located at 135 Dermody Street in Cranford and 1137 Globe Avenue in
Mountainside,
The Arc Bright
Beginnings Centers serve children from infancy through
age six. Services are designed to support families, provide needed
respite for the primary caregivers, and promote each child's
individuality and growth. Day care is offered five days a week, with a
family friendly schedule, and an exciting and stimulating summer
program. The Center is unique in that it brings together children with
disabilities and children without disabilities in order to foster a
natural, enriched early childhood experience for all children. The Bright Beginnings Center
was honored by The Arc of New Jersey with the 2001 Mr. and Mrs. Alex
Ziring Award for Distinguished Service for its innovative approach to
furthering an inclusive life for children with disabilities and their
families. The Center has
also earned national accreditation from the National Association for
the Education of Young Children.
For further information about The Arc's early childhood services,
please contact Meredith Emery, LMSW, Children's Services Administrator, at 908-276-6660 or memery@arcunion.org.
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EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES
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Encouraging each child to do his or her
personal best
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 The Arc of Union maintains a state approved private
school for children with disabilities from age 3 up to age 9. This
state-of-the-art educational facility is located at The Arc Kohler
School at 1137 Globe
Avenue in Mountainside. Quality
educational services are provided to approximately 70 children at
Kohler each year. Staffing includes a principal, social worker, nurse,
teachers, aides, and therapists.
Kohler provides a unique learning environment, combining structure,
stimulation, love and care to facilitate the optimum development of
each child. Families play a critical role in their child's educational
program and are always welcomed at the school. Educational advocacy
services and transitional services for students are also provided.
Contact James Carovillano, Principal of Kohler at (908)
518-0021 or jcarovillano@arckohlerschool.org
for additional information.
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FAMILY
SUPPORT SERVICES
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Promoting the rights of people with
disabilities to make their own choices in life and follow their dreams
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 The Arc of Union County is dedicated to enriching the
lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and to empowering
individuals and families to deal with day-to-day issues, as well as to
plan for the future and realize their dreams.
The Arc assists families to obtain resources needed to support their
loved one with a disability throughout their lives. These services
include case management, outreach and education, information and
referral, advocacy, transitional services, futures planning and help in
coordinating services from the state and other agencies.
 The Arc provides in-home,
Saturday, weekend, after school/work and specialized respite programs
to over 150 families. Advocacy services span the educational system,
government agencies and the legal system.
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RECREATION AND LEISURE
OPPORTUNITIES
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The need to develop
friendships, pursue interests and master new skills is common to all
people. Recreation
and leisure opportunities promote physical and psychological well being
as well as a sense of self-confidence. For these reasons, The Arc of
Union County sponsors a variety of recreation and leisure activities
for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
 The Arc of Union believes in and supports inclusive
recreational opportunities in the community where people with
disabilities can enjoy the same programs along with people without
disabilities. The Arc supports over 80 individuals through year round
recreational programs.
The Arc's day camp program, Camp Star offers
supervised fun for school-aged children during the summer months. Over
40 children with developmental disabilities participate in the camp
each summer.
For further information about The Arc's Family Support Services and
Recreational opportunities, please contact Shannon Bolivar, Director of
Family Support, at (908) 232-0199 or sbolivar@arcunion.org.
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RESIDENTIAL
SERVICES
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Promoting the rights of individuals
with developmental disabilities to live, work, recreate and worship in
their communities
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The Arc of Union provides
community based housing and support services for 100 adults with
developmental disabilities. The agency maintains 22 group homes, ten of
which are barrier free, including a supervised apartment program for
ten individuals, and an accessible respite program. Each residential
program design is founded on person focused values and provides for the
necessary structure, trainings and support to ensure the safety and
well-being of residents and to promote self-determination, community
inclusion and quality of life. Each program has 24 hour supervision by
trained staff. Residents and staff work together to maintain a
comfortable, safe, and healthy home environment. Staff provide
individualized training in areas of self-help, independence, and
community living.
 The Arc provides a
comprehensive, quality professional support system for all persons
served. Professional services include nutritional and dietary
consultation and training, medical management and liaison functions
with medical professionals, behavior management programming, goal
planning, case coordination/quality assurance, and speech, physical and
occupational therapies.
Services provided for each resident are assessed by The Arc of Union
County's Case Coordinators at least twice a year as part of our
continuous quality improvement efforts. These assessments include
opportunities for feedback from persons served and their families or
advocates. Choice, independence, empowerment, self regulation, and self
advocacy are encouraged and supported.
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VOCATIONAL
SERVICES
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Real work, real wages, meaningful
opportunities to contribute to the community
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The need to participate in meaningful
and productive work is important for all people. The Arc of Union County offers individuals
the opportunity to learn work responsibilities and perform a wide variety
of jobs.
Trained staff and an array of
specialized support services are tailored to the needs of each person.
Employment options range from closely supervised, factory-like assembly
tasks to job placements in retail stores, restaurants and corporations.
The Arc of Union County maintains seven training centers employing more than 200 workers with
disabilities. Individuals perform a variety of contract jobs at
The Arc's vocational centers including packaging, collating and
assembly for businesses such as Local Yellow Pages and Cablevision.
 The work centers are located at 140 Bryant Avenue in Cranford, 847-849
Jerusalem Road
in Scotch Plains, and 60 Diamond
Road in Springfield. Services include: vocational evaluation and assessment, counseling,
skills training, job coaching, job placement, and school-to-career transition. Among the companies
that partner with The Arc of Union County to provide jobs for individuals
with developmental disabilities are Shop-Rite Supermarkets in Clark and Woodbridge,
Marshall's
in Watchung, and the Goodwill Thrift Store
in Springfield. Arc workers also provide cleaning services in private homes
and retail establishments under Arc supervision.
SCHOOL-TO-CAREER TRANSITION
SERVICES
The Arc’s School-to-Career Transition
Services help prepare high school age students with disabilities for
the world of work. Services
are highly individualized to meet the unique needs of each student.
Components of
Transition Services:
- Intake interview
- Orientation
- Background information
- Psychometric testing
- Interest testing
- Individual and Group Vocational Counseling
- Career exploration
- Work samples
- Job development
- On-Site training, support, and supervision
- Facility and community-based vocational evaluations
- Job sampling
- Internships
- Portfolio and resume preparation
Community-Based
Work Experiences Include:
- Physical Therapy Aides
- Clerical Support
- Teacher’s Assistants
- Maintenance Workers
- Recreational Assistants
- Stock Persons
- Hostesses
For additional information about The Arc of
Union's vocational opportunities or school-to-career transition
services, please contact Laurie Salka, Director of Vocational Services
at (973) 315-0080 or lsalka@arcunion.org
For your business
service needs contact Linda DiMarco 973-315-0079 or email
ldimarco@arcunion.org.
Please visit our Business Services page to see
what The Arc can do for you.
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SPECIALIZED
DAY PROGRAMS
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Recognizing each person, no matter how severe
his or her disability, as a unique individual with gifts, hopes, and
dreams.
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Many individuals with
developmental disabilities also present significant medical needs or
behavioral challenges which preclude their participation in typical day
program services. The Arc of Union County, in conjunction with
concerned and active families, established specialized day programs
which currently serve over 50 individuals.
The Community Support Program is located in a state-of-the-art facility
at 215 East
First Avenue
in Roselle.
This program serves 28 adults with multiple special needs including
significant developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, sensory
deficits and/or medical challenges. One-to-one assistance with daily
activities is provided to participants in a caring environment where
functional skills and quality of life are emphasized.
The Adult Day Health Care Program is also located at the 215 East
First Avenue
site in Roselle.
This Medicaid funded program serves 24 individuals with one or more
significant medical diagnoses which require nursing supervision.
Medical management, therapy, good nutrition, recreational and
vocational opportunities are offered to participants. Services are
designed to enhance the dignity, self-esteem, and functional
capabilities of each individual.
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COMMUNITY
RELATIONS AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
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Volunteers bring the agency to life
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The
strength of The Arc of Union County has always been found in our
membership and volunteer base. Support from individuals, corporations,
foundations, and other organizations in the community is vital for The
Arc to continue to provide quality programs and supports to individuals
of all ages with developmental disabilities.
Corporations that
support The Arc of Union County include: Autoland, Capital Access
Corporation, C.R. Bard, Inc., Elizabethtown Gas Company, Kraft Food,
Meeker Sharkey, Merck & Company, Schering-Plough, Summit Bank, The
BOC Group, Rahway Savings Institution, Wrangler, Pathmark, Kraft Foods,
Statistical Research, Inc. and NJTransit.
Foundation support
includes The Westfield Foundation, The Tyler Foundation, Turrell Fund, E.J.
Grassmann Trust, Eddie Gray Camp Fund, The Enrico Tamburri Memorial
Foundation, Van Houten Memorial Fund, Dombal-Vogel Foundation, The
Ambrose and Ida Fredrickson Foundation, The Hyde and Watson Foundation,
the Schering-Plough Foundation, the Q104.3 Kids Foundation, and UNICO.
Community support
has been provided by The Newark Bait And Flycasting Club, the Westfield
Service League, Fanwood-Scotch Plains Service League, The Fanwood
Prebyterian Church, Knights of Columbus, UCRA Bowling League, and
W&H Systems, Inc., Carlstadt, NJ.
The Arc plans a
number of special events each year including our Candlelight Ball,
Spring Awakening, Children's Day, Golf Outing, Walk-A-Thon, and Garage
Sale.
If you would like
more information about our special events or volunteer opportunities or
would like to make a donation to The Arc of Union County, please
contact the Office of Resource Development — (973) 315-0022 — email resdev@arcunion.org.
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Beverly Helen and Nanci
Chong volunteers from Kemper Insurance Co., plant flowers at a
group home.
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Guests visit a game table
at An Evening of Good Taste.
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QUALITY ASSURANCE
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The
Department of Quality Assurance was created in March 2003. The department
includes staff development and training, Habilitation Plan Specialists,
Case Coordinators, Program Services (Substitute Staff) and Self
Advocacy. The QA Director also serves as the HIPAA Compliance Officer
and Unusual Incident Report Coordinator for the agency. With a
commitment to providing quality services, the Quality Assurance
Department:
- Serves as the lead training agency for providers of
services throughout the Upper Central Region of the state.
- Provides a comprehensive staff development program
throughout the year for all employees of The Arc.
- Writes and
implements the Individual Habilitation Plans for & with
consumers of services.
- Completes holistic individualized Quality Assurance
Assessments for each individual served addressing quality of life
and program needs.
- Ensures that there are appropriate supports to programs
with the use of substitute staff.
- Disseminates the monthly reports to individuals served,
families, guardians and the Division of Developmental
Disabilities.
- Facilitates the monthly self-advocacy group meetings and an
annual conference promoting consumer choice and development.
SELF ADVOCACY
The Arc recognizes the importance of
self-advocacy as a right and a significant part of an
individual’s growth toward independence. As advocates, The Arc
encourages decision- making, free choice and individuality with all the
individuals served by the agency regardless of their perceived
abilities and challenges.
Individuals supported by The Arc have
opportunities to participate in self-advocacy forums within their
homes, day programs, in monthly group forums and the annual
self-advocacy conference. Self-advocacy meetings provide an opportunity
for the individuals served to learn and speak about their rights,
choices and personal growth.
As a group, self-advocates have elections for
officers to represent the entire group at internal and external
trainings, committees and meetings. The advisors of the self-advocacy
group work closely with the New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project for
guidance and updates on statewide advocacy functions.
For more information regarding the
self-advocacy group and annual conference, please contact Margaret Thuku,
Quality Assurance Director at (973)
315-0070 or mthuku@arcunion.org.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
The Arc of Union County is a Lead Agency Training organization. In
partnership with the Division of Developmental Disabilities, The Arc
provides pre-service trainings for agencies serving people with
developmental disabilities throughout the upper central region of New
Jersey. Our
mission is to provide superior quality services through enriched
educational opportunities that advance the development, empowerment and
expertise of direct support professionals. Pre-service trainings
include:
·
Overview of Developmental Disabilities
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Medication
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First Aid and CPR
·
Preventing Abuse and Neglect
In
addition to pre-service trainings, employees of The Arc of Union County
participate in a variety of professional development sessions
including:
·
Crisis Management Training
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Life Skills and Human Sexuality
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Wheelchair Securement
·
Agency and Program Specific Orientation
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Behavior Supports
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Team Building
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Time Management
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Communication
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Conflict Resolution
·
Supervisory Training
The
Arc partners with the community as well to facilitate learning and
development opportunities for our staff. We also provide tuition support
for our employees to encourage their educational goals. For additional
information, please contact our main number at
(973) 315-0000.
 
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Deb
Pomianek, Associate Executive Director, shares a laugh with a
self-advocate at the Annual Self Advocacy Picnic.
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Self
advocates enjoy a picnic dinner on a beautiful summer evening.
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