The Arc Gloucester

1. The Arc Gloucester will protect the health and safety of the individuals we serve, employees and other stakeholders.
2. The Arc Gloucester will provide focused services in the most effective and efficient manner.
3. The Arc Gloucester will ensure quality services and satisfaction by meeting and/or exceeding expectations.

The Arc Gloucester supports self-advocacy activities and works toward developing leadership opportunities for self-advocates to express the issues of most importance to them. The Arc members participate in letter/e-mailing writing, call-in days, governmental affairs seminars, legislative visits, and other advocacy activities coordinated by policy partners. We communicate with policy partners to encourage their advocacy on issues of importance in our county. The Arc Gloucester collaborates with other community organizations to expand the reach of The Arc's influence on quality and availability of services and inclusive community involvement, and provides information for families and caregivers in a variety of ways, including articles in newsletters and/or The Arc Gloucester's website, through e mail lists, and by offering parent educational workshops for families.

The Arc Gloucester is led by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors including family members of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as representatives of the local business community with education and experience that are valuable in the leadership of the organization. The management team is comprised of knowledgeable, experienced employees who are committed to the mission of the organization. Many are long-term employees. The agency is affiliated with The Arc of the United States and The Arc of New Jersey and works cooperatively with those organizations on advocacy for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The Arc Gloucester also partners with many local community organizations and continually seeks ways to increase the services and supports available for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and to improve the quality of services and supports.

Collaborative advocacy efforts have helped to preserve Medicaid and other entitlements that are very important for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, and have encouraged the state of New Jersey to fund the efforts to move more persons from large institutions to the community, and to serve persons on the community waiting list for services.l Ongoing advocacy is vital to protecting the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to ensure adequate funding of the services they need. The Arc Gloucester has expanded services and supports to include a medical group home. We have also expanded Family Supports Services to include an After School Program and Life Long Learning that includes classes to improve everyday life such as cooking, painting, and woodworking.