About The Arc

Mission

Goal Plan

Sponsored Events and Programs

MIssion

The mission of the Arc Of Butler County is to support children and adults with developmental disabilities in Butler County to become all they can be. Our purpose is:

• To promote the general welfare of those with developmental disabilities (DD).
• To foster the development of programs and events on their behalf.
• To encourage research related to education for persons with developmental disabilities.
• To provide social, educational, and entertainment programs and events.
• To advise and aid parents in the solution of their problems and to coordinate their efforts and activities.
• To develop a better understanding of the problems of developmental disabilities by the public.
• To cooperate with all public, private, and religious agencies and professional groups in the futherance of these ends.
• To serve locally as a clearinghouse for gathering and disbursement of information regarding the developmental disabled.
• To solicit and receive funds for the accomplishments of the above goals.

   

   

  Goal Plan, 2005-2007

  
  In 2005 the Arc board as well as other interested families and individuals met to develop
  long term plans and provide direction for services for our members. A PATH was facilitated to
  begin this process. See below for the results of this work:

   

   

  Annual Goals By 2007	First Steps
  Active members will have grown—to about 200 members (means new GOALS and IDEAS) • More families of school-age children, more teachers and other school workers • More self advocates • More civilians (people just interested in our cause)	• Advertise and contact families • Send flyers to prospective members • Develop a group to plan these kinds of contacts • Write a document that explains the Arc’s history and purpose • Immediate meeting with the Middletown “baseball group” about membership in and cooperation with the Arc • Use the annual membership meeting (and other possible membership meetings) to discuss ideas/plans, and to recruit new members
  Working relationships will have been established with specific ”who’s”—people and/or organizations that the Arc will have to be partners with, to accomplish what we want	• Learn to use “conference calls”
  Specific supports to families with members who have developmental disabilities will have been started, especially: • Mentors available for working with new families • Answers for “veteran” families too (medication and advocacy) *How to keep things going okay *How to meet new needs *Choices—such as who shares the house with our family member, etc. • Educational resource center for families • Development of more/better in-home substitute care for families	• Plan ways to help families with formal planning (IEP’s,IFSP’s)—accompaniment and support at planning meetings • Contact other Arc chapters to learn about various kinds of “supports” to families
  Arc members and family members have started a process of “taking the temperature” of service s and reporting what they learn to MRDD or to the state • Stipend provided by government • Connected to a family member who is also a member of the MRDD Board • Arc fund-raising to support this monitoring activity (and other activities)	• Meeting of Arc members with Chris Hurr and others at MRDD about information sharing and cooperation. • Writing grants for funding specific activities • Hold the Art Auction to raise finds for specific activities
  Members of the Arc have been made aware of and active in political events regarding developmental disabilities services/supports (state, federal, local) • Regular information about political advocacy • Have the people affected by rules review the rules, in detail • Make connections with local legislators (city,county, state, federal)	• Members of the Arc monitor county MRDD board meetings • We need more Roberts!
  The Arc has worked on issues around guardianship (and other substitute decision-making) with the local courts
  The Arc has made progress toward more cost-effective and reliable transportation for people with developmental disabilities • Found other means of transport (providing,subsidizing) • Know lots more about transportation (U.C.study?)

   

  Sponsored Events and Programs:

  The Butler County Arc has three annual events:

  • A membership drive in May
  • A picnic in the fall
  • A holiday dinner and dance in December
    

  The Arc sponsors educational programs, softball leagues, and recreational trips. They also provide support to the Dental Care Program, the Bereavement Group and the Job Club.
  
  
  Butler County Ark also presents the Ark Angel and Seraphim awards. Since 1995 the Butler County Arc has made a presentation known as the Arc Angel Award that has been given to persons who have made a difference in the lives of the MRDD clientele by donating time, effort and themselves to make MRDD clients a bigger more accepted part of the community. The following is a list of persons who have received the Butler County Arc Angel Award.
  
  Also the Butler County Arc on a few occasions has presented the Seraphim Award to people either in the Arc or closely associated with Arc whose work has also made the lives of MRDD clients a richer experience, they are also listed below.
  
  ARC ANGELS
  
  2001 Betty Murphy
  2002 Betty Dostie
  2003 2003 George Mayberry
  2004 Cathy Howell
  2005 Don Broshear
  2006 Pat Thompson
  
  SERAPHIM AWARDS
  
  2001 Kathy Overbeck
  2002 Robert Neubert
  2003 Barbara Creedon
  2004 Clara Broshear
  2005 Fred Valerius

Return to: