THE ARC OF HARRISONBURG & ROCKINGHAM INC

THE ARC WORKS TOWARDS COMMUNITY LIFE INCLUSION AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH I/DD. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE ARC PIVOTED TO PROVIDE 5,200 HOURS OF VIRTUAL SERVICES IN ORDER TO REDUCE ISOLATION AND INCREASE SOCIALIZATION AND INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION. THE ARC PROVIDED 14,079 RIDES AND COVERED 81,703 MILES TRANSPORTING 63 ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES TO/FROM HOME AND TO EXPERIENCE A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR WERE DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED BY A DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL (DSP) WORKFORCE SHORTAGE. ADVOCACY EFFORTS FACILITATED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MEDICADE WAIVER RATES AND WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE WAGES FROM $12/HOUR TO $15/HOUR THEREBY ATTRACTING AND RETAINING QUALIFIED STAFF. THIS ENABLED US TO RESUME AND THEN EXCEED PRE-PANDEMIC IN-PERSON SERVICES. CONSUMERS ENGAGED IN 4,570 HOURS OF SPARC, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SUPPORTS AND FOSTERS INDIVIDUALS' ABILITIES TO ACQUIRE, RETAIN, OR IMPROVE SKILLS NECESSARY TO BUILD POSITIVE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, INTERPERSONAL COMPETENCE, GREATER INDEPENDENCE, AND EMPLOYABILITY. SPARC PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITITES TO FACILIATE AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND NATURAL SUPPORTS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHILE UTILIZING IT AS A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TAKES PLACE WHEN EVENTS AND ACTIVIITES OCCUR NATURALLY: DAYS AND EVENINGS, WEEKDAYS AND WEEKENDS. SPARC'S "ARC ANGELS" VOLUNTEER FOR BRIDGEWATER RETIEREMENT COMMUNITY, ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, AND ELKTON AREA COMMUNITY CENTER TO NAME ONLY A FEW. IN TOTAL, OUR INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTEERED FOR A TOTAL OF 4,680 HOURS FOR NON-PROFITS IN OUR COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, OUR PRIMARY SUPPORTED IN-HOME AND RESPITE CARE ARE ONE-ON-ONE DAY, EVENING, AND WEEKEND PROGRAMS WHICH WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS OR INDEPENDENCE GOALS AND OUTCOMES IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND IN THE COMMUNITY. FAMILIES HAVE THE OPORTUNITY TO TAKE A MUCH-NEEDED MOMENT FOR THEMSELVES WHILE THIER LOVED ONE IS IN THE CARE OF A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL.