Families: Updated COVID Guidelines

File name : Updated-COVID-Policies-December-2022-1.docx.pdf


Important Updated COVID Policy for The Arc of Howard County’s Residential Program – Feb 7, 2022

Please see the attached letter from Executive Director, Cindy Parr concerning our updated policies and procedures for The Arc of Howard County’s Residential Program. 

Please contact your direct supervisor if you have any questions or concerns.

Download the PDF here.

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Download the PDF here.


2021 Combined Federal Campaign: Richard’s Story

Donate to the 2021 Combined Federal Campaign!
Directory Code: 65144

Sixty years ago, in 1961, The Arc of Howard County was founded, established as a grassroots effort by families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who believed there must be a better way. Sixty years ago, people with IDD were either “hidden away”, marginalized or institutionalized. For people with disabilities, their rights were nonexistent with little thought given to what their personal choice would be.

This is what it was like for one young man born with disabilities, over 60 years ago…Richard Lowry was born June 3, 1951. Feeling that she couldn’t care for her young son with disabilities, shortly after his birth Richard’s mother placed him in the care of Catholic Charities.

At the age of 2, Richard was placed in his first foster care family, but returned to Catholic Charities due to his foster parent’s inability to cope with the responsibility of caring for Richard’s medical “problems.” At the age of 6, Richard was again placed into a foster family, with a loving mother and father and two more children, giving Richard brothers to live and play with. Richard had a rich and full life, until tragedy struck. Richard’s foster Mom became ill and soon passed away. As Richard tells it, his father worked shift work and now felt that he could not “adequately care” for his foster son. It was the year 1960 and Richard was sent away to live at Benedictine School in Ridgely, MD. Being very bright with a love of learning, Richard enjoyed his time at school. Even though living at Benedictine meant being away from his foster family and sleeping in an open area with over 30 other young men, Richard states that he, “was very happy there and wanted to stay”. Unfortunately, after living at school for several years, Richard began having seizures and some behavioral issues and the school felt they could no longer keep him there. It was in the spring of 1966 that Richard saw his birth mother for the first time, in court, the day she signed the papers to commit him to Rosewood Asylum; he was only 14 years old.

Rosewood was established in 1888 as the Asylum and Training School for the Feeble-Minded. The original idea for Rosewood is that it would be a training center to “care for and educate all idiotic, imbecile and feeble-minded persons,” who would attend to learn a skill and leave the program at age 17. By 1961, the facility was renamed the Rosewood State Hospital and the people who were sent to Rosewood were sent without their consent and were placed there for life. Also by this time any training was
little or non-existent and the facility served as little more than a “warehouse” for people with disabilities. There were many rumors of abuse and neglect. Richard did not want to talk much about his time at Rosewood. He did say that he witnessed abuse and did not
like it there. Richard was one of the first people released in the year 1984, and the facility was permanently closed in June of 2009.

Richard began receiving services from The Arc of Howard County at the age of 32. Richard loved the freedom of making his own choices. Richard went from “eating a hamburger everyday” at Rosewood, to learning to choose and cook his own meals. He found a full-time job, he attended events in the community with friends and was one of the first people with a disability in Howard County to co-purchase his own home with
his roommate. Richard has received many awards for his advocacy to advance the rights of people with disabilities and currently serves on the Board of The Arc of Howard County.

Today at age 69, Richard receives residential supports from The Arc of Howard County and lives in the community with roommates and Arc staff, enjoying all that life has to offer. He has achieved a full and meaningful life – this is our mission!
Thank you for your continued support of The Arc of Howard County!

To donate to help Richard and many people like him, visit the Combined Federal Campaign CFC https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome and enter Directory Code: 65144

Donate to the 2021 Combined Federal Campaign!
Directory Code: 65144


Virtual Learning Campus: Partnership Between Humanim and The Arc of Howard County

Virtual Learning Campus-Partnership Between Humanim and The Arc of Howard County

Today we spotlight the Virtual Learning Campus – a program partnership between

Humanim and The Arc of Howard County focused on providing meaningful learning opportunities, engaging experiences, and social supports on a virtual platform for I/DD community members who are isolated at home.
Participants are given a safe outlet for self expression, as well as a variety of learning opportunities including classes, creative workshops, social events, and more. Past classes have included virtual cooking classes with City Seeds, Music Therapy, Movies, Games, Yoga, Dance Parties, DIY crafts with AR Workshop Annapolis, and virtual animal encounters with the Maryland Zoo.
Through this partnership, Humanim and The Arc have been able to increase the scope of services to meet the diverse interests and needs of individuals isolated at home, while creating greater access to virtual learning opportunities for the I/DD community.
The Virtual Learning Campus is available to all Humanim and Arc of Howard County clients.
Through this partnership, Humanim and The Arc have been able to increase the scope of services to meet the diverse interests and needs of individuals isolated at home, while creating greater access to virtual learning opportunities for the I/DD community. The Virtual Learning Campus is available to all Humanim and Arc of Howard County clients. View Virtual Learning Campus class calendar on the Humanim website.

Residential Guidelines COVID-19 Residential Visitation Guidelines 3/2021


Letter to Arc Families from Executive Director, Cindy Parr: COVID-19 Vaccine 1/21/2021


Feed Howard County Donates Delicious Meals from Area Restaurants!

Nothing says Love quite like mashed potatoes…Thank you to Feed Howard County and The Periodic Table – Columbia for bringing wonderful food and love to The Arc of Howard County! Yesterday, this wonderful organization and this amazing new restaurant partnered to deliver 150 hot meals to The Arc of Howard County. Everyone loved the meatloaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli dinner. We continue to be blessed by our “community family”. Thank you for your kindness and support of our mission!

Throughout this Covid-19 pandemic The Arc of Howard County has been blessed by the generosity of Feed Howard County! Yesterday Feed Howard County partnered with the wonderful Tino’s Italian Bistro to bring 150 hot and delicious meals to our staff and the people we serve. Thank you SANTA, Pat Curran, Kevin Powell and all of the amazing people at FHC and First Presbyterian Church of Howard County for showing our staff how they are loved and supported by the Howard County Community! Counting all of our Blessings this Season…and Always!

Thank You once again to Feed Howard County for remembering the wonderful people we support and our amazing staff! Yesterday, Feed Howard County partnered with new restaurant Fiero Mexican Street Food to deliver 150 hot and delicious meals to The Arc of Howard County! Special shout out to Janet Sivo and Jackie Crispell and everyone at Feed Howard County for continuing to support our essential workers and the people we serve ❤️
On Christmas Eve, we are thankful for the wonderful people at Anegada Delights Caribbean Cuisine who are providing several families (who may need a little extra love this year) with full Holiday meals for their Christmas Dinner! They will be out delivering in the rain today while we continue to count our blessings…Anegada Delights, located at 9861 Broken land pkwy St 151, Columbia, MD, also hires and trains people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for careers in the food and beverage industry! We are so thankful for their love, kindness and support!
If you would like to support Feed Howard County, please visit their website.

Local Kids Donate Adorable Handmade Cards!

Nothing makes you smile more than something created by a child. Several people supported by The Arc of Howard County received the most adorable handmade cards drawn by from local kids. Michele “read her card front and back, even noting the hearts and stars on it.” Robert loved his card! So did Aly! Thank you Nirit Katzur Roddy of Fit With Nirit, LLC. (and of the Business Women’s Network of Howard County) for organizing the “card shower” and thank you to all the young artists!

Sometimes it is the little things that matter the most…a big shout out to the Elkridge Mom’s Group! Their daughters made these beautiful cards to bring happiness and joy to the people we support and to our staff who continue to work so hard during this pandemic! Thank you to Julianna, Eliza and Oliva for your love and support of The Arc of Howard County!

Feed Howard County Donates 150 Meals Each from La Palapa Grill & Cantina and Kelsey’s Restaurant, Irish Pub, & Banquet Room!

Feed Howard County is an amazing organization! This week, they partnered with the wonderful
La Palapa Grill & Cantina to deliver 150 hot meals to The Arc of Howard County. Thank you for remembering our incredible staff and the people we support. This is not over people and we have a long way to go…Feed Howard County makes sure people have meals and helps businesses in our community.
Another Big Shout Out to Feed Howard County who partnered with Kelsey’s Restaurant, Irish Pub, & Banquet Room to deliver 150 hot and delicious meals, this week to The Arc of Howard County! Feed Howard County continues to support our essential workers and the people we serve ♥️We have a long way to go and the support of our Howard County community means the world to us!

Residential Guidelines for COVID-19 Residential Visitation Guidelines 11/2020

At The Arc of Howard County we are continuing to update information to families and staff concerning COVID-19. We continue to follow CDC guidelines and best practices. As always our priority is keeping the people we support and our staff safe.