UMAR Services, Inc

In order to fulfill its mission and continue meeting the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, UMAR has to be sustainable and relevant as an organization. Several components of that include having sufficient funding, including donations, to ensure services for individuals we support; employing well-trained, competent staff who can deliver services to meet individual needs; providing an array of services that are needed; serving individuals in the least restrictive environment possible; and positioning UMAR as a high quality service provider.

As a quality, licensed provider, everything at UMAR begins with the person being served. All programs and services stem from person-centeredness – a core UMAR value along with supported environment and community involvement. All participants have a person-centered plan, updated annually or more often as need and tied to the services that they receive, which outlines their goals, hopes, and dreams.

To help ensure funding for services, UMAR has implemented an electronic health records management system to maximize the billing and receipt of governmental funds and has invested in a department of professional fundraisers to solicit donations. To ensure a workforce of competent, quality staff, the director of training also oversees quality management for the entire agency and has a team of regional trainers who develop and implement trainings throughout the organization. UMAR is involved with State and National organizations to keep up with industry trends, current legislation and clinical best practices so that we provide services that are needed and a missional fit. UMAR is nationally accredited by CARF and utilizes their quality framework to ensure that all programs and services are effective, efficient, accessible and meet the satisfaction of the person served while maintaining compliance with federal, state and local entities. We collect and analyze data, using metrics and benchmarks to measure key indicators with the ultimate objective to improve service delivery and enhance outcomes.

Our partnerships with the community – individuals, businesses and faith groups – afford us the connectivity, additional resources and ability for the people we support to succeed and to thrive.

This growth through the years has been powered by UMAR’s team approach to holistic and person-centered care which treats the mind, body and spirit of the individual. Unlike similar providers, UMAR has a faith-community component with natural partnerships and support systems that arise out of that affiliation. UMAR has a history of providing opportunities for community integration, inclusion, socialization, employment and cultural enrichment which have led to greater independence for people with disabilities. UMAR’s management is composed of highly experienced professionals dedicated to the mission and vision of the organization, leading a team of extremely dedicated, attentive, caring staff members who ensure that the unique and challenging needs of each person are met in a safe, therapeutic and enriching environment. Of the more than 200 UMAR employees, 30% have worked for the agency for 7 years or more. Because organizational success in the health and human services field is highly dependent on effective training, UMAR has invested in an adept training department which also oversees quality assurance, another critical factor in our operating environment.

UMAR is fiscally sound and has overcome various governmental funding cuts through the years without reducing services or sacrificing quality. Employing a development professional to lead a strategic fundraising team has resulted in a robust fundraising program enabling UMAR to have additional resources for existing and new services.

Based on third-party surveys, UMAR has an excellent reputation in the communities we serve and are known for our integrity and person-driven approach. Referral sources, community partners and people receiving services report a high level of satisfaction with UMAR, noting that we do an excellent job of advocating for rights and tailoring services to meet a person’s needs, wants and desires.

UMAR has grown from providing residential services to three young men in a single home in one city in 1983 to annually serving over 200 individuals in 11 cities across western North Carolina through residential, vocational, and day program services. What started as a single three-bed home has proliferated into: residential services which include 19 six-bed homes, 9 supported apartments and independent living sites; vocational services; 3 day programs which are arts centers all situated in downtown locations; and other home and community-based services. Since its inception, UMAR has added services and programs which fit with its mission and primary purpose of enabling persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to maximize their potential; to live in the community as independently as possible; to have affordable, appropriate and accessible housing; to have access to transportation; to have employment such that their training and skills may be properly compensated; and to experience as full a lifestyle as possible in the community with grace and dignity. UMAR will continue to add needed services and programs which fit its mission and primary purpose.