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ARC Eastern Connecticut Will Bring Strength In Numbers

Hartford Courant - 1/14/2019

Jan. 14--The Arc Quinebaug Valley and the Arc New London County have merged into the Arc Eastern Connecticut.

The Boards of Directors of both the Arc QV and Arc NLC made the announcement on Jan. 3. The merger will augment and strengthen service provisions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Eastern Connecticut.

The Arc QV and the Arc NLC were independent, affiliated chapters of The Arc of the United States and The Arc Connecticut. The organizations actively champion full community inclusion for those with IDD. Both agencies are licensed, contracted service providers of the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and provide residential, daytime, employment, and social supports to people with IDD and their families.

Arc NLC's CEO Kathleen Stauffer was tapped by both boards to lead The Arc ECT as chief executive officer. Arc QV Executive Director Susan Desrosiers will be retiring. The merger made sense for several reasons, according to both women.

"The Arc Quinebaug Valley and The Arc New London County share a common heritage, mission, and passion to advocate for families and people with IDD," Stauffer said

The organization will serve more than 900 people with IDD and their families in 40 cities and towns, from the Massachusetts border to the Long Island Sound. The Arc ECT's 2019 budget will be approximately $20 million. The agency will employ more than 440 people.

Desrosiers said the merger would help with staffing solutions for the agency.

"It's hard to get direct support staff everywhere, even across the country," she said. "This will allow us to share staff."

There will be no changes in program locations. Some services will be more readily available, according to Desrosiers.

"We'll be pushing for access to jobs, housing, and their communities," she said. "We're now a formidable advocacy group."

Stauffer said one of her big goals is to educate Hartford legislators about the needs of people with IDD in eastern Connecticut.

"Eastern Connecticut has a different geography," she said.

The rural nature of the area translates into higher service delivery costs. And because Arc relies on small businesses to help employ folks with IDD, its challenging for mom and pop stores.

"There aren't a lot of resources," Stauffer said.

Getting people to understand what the Arc does and why the work is critical is one of the first steps.

"People with IDD are very capable," said Stauffer. "Their abilities are different, but everyone has talent. Unfortunately, the public doesn't understand that someone with IDD might have a low IQ but that doesn't mean they can't have jobs and a full life."

Stauffer wants to make it easier for employers to hire people with IDD. Increased efficiencies are expected through the expanded implementation of dedicated technologies, joint employee training and quality oversight, expanded staff recruiting, and targeted, more effective regional fundraising.

"The Arc QV and Arc NLC were born from the dreams of parents who fought to see their loved ones with IDD fully included in their communities," Stauffer said. "In creating The Arc Eastern Connecticut, combined talents, personalities, and gifts can only strengthen the supports that our families have come to expect"

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(c)2019 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.)

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