Urgent! Coronavirus Alert–Closing Information from Executive Director, Cindy Parr
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SMRO-Governors Transitioning Youth Initiative
Transition is more than about services; it’s also about values. The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) has adopted an Employment First philosophy and seeks to align its service delivery system with that philosophy.
Transition planning is when a student with a disability, along with family members, the school system, and service providers, begin to officially plan for life after high school. To that end, the Department of Health will host the SMRO-Governors Transitioning Youth Initiative on February 5, 11, 12, and 19, 2020.
What: SMRO-Governors Transitioning Youth Initiative
When: February 5, 11, 12 & 19, 2020, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where:
SMRO-DDA
312 Marshall Ave, #700
Laurel, MD 20707
Laurel, MD 20707
To Register for one of the SMRO-Governors Transitioning Youth Initiative Sessions click below:
Transition planning should begin when your child is 14 (if not earlier!). This may sound very early, but if you plan to apply for services you may need to get applications in before graduation so supports are ready after leaving school.
Overview of Training
1. Importance of planning
2. Eligibility
3. Transition Programs & Services
4. Employment First
5. DDA Waivers
Who should attend?
- Self-advocates
- Family members
- Allies
If you wish to learn more information about this training, please feel free to contact Nicole LeBlanc at nicole.leblanc@maryland.gov
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Holiday Closing Information: December 25, 2019, and January 1, 2020
This is a reminder of The Arc of Howard County‘s office and program closings for the holidays.
The Arc of Howard County’s Employment, Day Program, and Supported Retirement and The Arc Transportation Services will be closed on:
- Wednesday, December 25th, 2019
- Wednesday, January 1st, 2020
If you are supported by The Arc of Howard County and work on December 25th, 2019, and/or January 1st, 2020, please contact your Employment Specialist. If you have any questions, please contact The Arc of Howard County at 410-730-0638. Have a safe and happy holiday!
[The image shows snow-covered pine trees and a “Happy Holidays” banner.]
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Inclement Weather Policy
As we approach the cold weather season, we would like to review The Arc of Howard County‘s cold weather policy. In the event of inclement weather, look for weather updates, delayed openings, and closing information on:
- This website–> https://www.archoward.org/
- The Arc of Howard County’s Facebook page.
- The Arc’s weather updates are also posted on WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore and https://www.wbaltv.com/.
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The Arc of Howard County Was a Changemaker Challenge Winner! #ChangemakerHC
The Arc of Howard County was a Changemaker Challenge Winner! At the Changemaker Challenge on November 11, 2019, the Horizon Foundation and United Way of Central Maryland chose four winners, including The Arc of Howard County. The Arc of Howard County won $15,000 to put their big idea for social change in to action — Community Accessibility with Dignity. Watch Liz Burrage and Bryan Sorrentino of The Arc of Howard County present their big idea for social change in Howard County at the Changemaker Challenge event by clicking below.
The Changemaker Challenge, an event focused on sparking innovation and fresh thinking to address some of Howard County’s most pressing issues, chose eight finalists from a field of 56 applicants. The other Changemaker Challenge winners were:
- Orlando Goncalves and Alfred Striano of Upcycled — $25,000 for their idea, Upcycled Structures from Recycled Goods.
- Pamela Woolford — $10,000 for her idea, Spreading the Word about Columbia’s Black Freedom Visionaries.
- Dr. Leah Katherine Saal and Dr. Lisa Schoenbrodt — $10,000 for their idea, STEER – Strategic Training for Empathic Emergency Response. Drs. Saal and Schoenbrodt also were named winners of the Maureen Hayes Award for serving people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The award was created in honor of the Foundation’s former chief administrative officer.
You can also The Arc of Howard County’s Changemaker Challenge presentation on the Horizon Foundation’s YouTube.
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Holiday Closing Information: Thanksgiving
Friendly Reminder: This a reminder of The Arc of Howard County office and program closings during Thanksgiving Week 2019:
- The Arc of Howard County Community Integration Services-Employment, Day Program, and Supported Retirement, and The Arc Transportation Services will be closed on Thursday, November 28th, and Friday, November 29th, 2019.
- The Arc of Howard County Administrative Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28th, 2019.
- If you are supported by The Arc of Howard County and work on either of the above dates, please contact your Employment Specialist as The Arc of Howard County does not provide transportation to individual job sites on November 28th and November 29th, 2019. If you have any questions please contact The Arc of Howard County at 410-730-0638.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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Heart for It #MoreThanTheHeartForIt #DSPRW19 #MoreThanTheHeartForIt
During the week of September 8th to 14th, 2019, The Arc of Howard County celebrated Direct Support Professional Recognition Week #DSPRW19. The Arc of Howard County joined in thanking Direct Support Professionals for the work they do to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
As part of the celebration of #DSPRW19, The Arc Maryland released of the heart for it; a video developed in collaboration with partner organizations of The Arc in Maryland. The video, the heart for it, helps viewers better understand the work of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and their importance to the community. Showcasing stories from DSPs, and people they support, the heart for it shows what it means to be a Direct Support Professional or to receive support from one. Watch the video on The Arc Maryland’s Youtube or click on the video below. You might see a few very familiar faces!
Want to know what a Director Support Professional means to the individuals they support and their families? Read what The Arc Maryland had to say:
We often hear that DSPs are “true angels on earth,” and “have amazing hearts” to do the work they do. The work is complex, the hours are long and sometimes unpredictable, and sometimes, their presence and actions are the difference between life and death for a person. What we know, is that DSPs must not only “have the heart” for the work that they do, but also possess incredible patience, a trove of knowledge and a variety of skills; requirements unmatched in most other professions.
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Sherri Collins-Witzke Named Honorary Chair for 2020 Chocolate Ball
The Arc of Howard County is pleased to announce that Sherri Collins-Witzke will be this year’s Honorary Chair for the 23rd Annual Chocolate Ball benefiting The Arc of Howard County. The 23rd Annual Chocolate Ball – A Benefit for The Arc of Howard County will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Turf Valley Resort, from 7 p.m. – Midnight.
Sherri has a long history of supporting The Arc of Howard County, through her generous sponsorships, as well as serving on The Arc’s Leadership Development Committee. Sherri also received the Excellence in Professional Services Award for providing outstanding professional services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Howard County. Sherri is active in the Maryland State Funeral Directors Association (MSFDA), serving four terms on their Board of Directors, currently serving as President, and is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and the MSFDA Disaster Response Team.
Sherri Collins-Witzke resides in Howard County with her husband, Gus. Sherri moved to the area in 1969. After graduating from Catonsville Community College, Cum Laude, in 1995, she has been managing the Harry H. Witzke’s Family Funeral Home as a third generation licensed mortician. She is a licensed Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, Certified Cremation Services Provider, and a Certified Preplanning Consultant, completing extensive training in the funeral industry. Sherri has served on the steering committee for Gilchrist Cares Taste of Howard County to benefit the Gilchrist Center Howard County for hospice care for over 15 years. As a volunteer Sherri not only supports The Arc of Howard County but is also a board member for Blossoms of Hope… the Howard County Cherry Tree Project and serves on committees for the Business Women’s Network of Howard County, Leadership Howard County, The Howard County, Heart Ball and The Lutheran Village at MILLER’S GRANT. She is a graduate of Leadership Howard County class of 2007.
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Labor Day Closing Information
Friendly Reminder: The Arc of Howard County’s Administrative offices, Community Integration Services-Day Support & Supportive Retirement, and The Arc Transportation Services will be closed
Monday, September 2nd for Labor Day!
If you are scheduled to work on September 2nd, please contact your employment specialist.
Have a safe and wonderful holiday!
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Applications for Partners in Policymaking Now Open
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