Individual Programs and Types of Support

Medical Day Care Program

Currently two centers are in operation, one at our Homeland location and the other in Dundalk. The Arc of Baltimore Medical Day provides a medically supervised program of leisure and community activities specifically designed to enhance the lifestyles of persons with chronic medical conditions. Focusing on medically fragile individuals—including those with dementia, developmental disabilities, or physical impairments—The Arc of Baltimore Medical Day Care offers a warm, caring, and supportive environment which promotes independence, daily living skills, and involvement in community activities. Services are offered at two locations and operate five days a week (Monday through Friday) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program provides a wide range of services which help consumers maintain and improve daily living skills. These include:

• Medical monitoring and referral services: offers medication assessment and management and evaluation of the special needs of each consumer by a nurse, social worker, and recreational therapist working under the supervision of a physician.
• Nutritional management: provides evaluation and education to ensure that individual dietary needs are addressed and monitored.
• Physical therapy: improves flexibility, strength and coordination.
• Occupational therapy: provides fine motor evaluation and maintenance programs in self-care areas.
• Speech therapy: helps restore or improve speech, or assesses alternate means of communication.
• Counseling: provided by The Arc of Baltimore’s social work staff as needed.
  • Social Activities: discussion groups, games, crafts, music therapy, exercise classes and field trips are offered.
  • Transportation: Door to Door Transportation is offered subject to availability.
  • Lunch: A hot lunch is provided daily along with nutritional snacks.

Return to Top

Day Services

Centers are located in the Dundalk, Loch Raven, Rutherford, Seton, and Waverly areas.

The Arc of Baltimore's Day Centers provide programs that encourage personal choice and help people enrich their lives. Each person we support has an individual program plan that reflects the full spectrum of his or her unique needs and interests. The program operates year round, five days a week. An important goal of Day Center programming is to use paid work experiences to develop work and social skills.

However, the program also allows for the development of people’s interests and needs in other areas such as survival and communication, travel training, and social relationships. To further enhance individuals' independence, Employment Support Associates help secure recreational, medical or financial assistance services that support their participation at work and in the community. These include:

• Community enhancement skills are taught and community trips are held to practice these skills.
• Enclaves and Mobile Work Crews
• Paid contract Work
• Janitorial Work
• Warehouse work is available at the Rutherford site.
• Food Services work is available at the Dundalk site.
• Transportation is available as needed, however those individuals able to utilize MTA, or Mobility Services will be encouraged to do so. Training on how to utilize buses, light rail and the subway is available.
• Medication administration during operating hours
• Employment Support Associates will assist families in utilizing community resources for medical management; nurses are available for assessment and recommendations. Yearly planning meetings are held by Associates to assist life planning for the individuals supported in the program.

(Please refer to the Handbook for exact locations and phone numbers of the day sites)

Return to Top

Janitorial and Landscape Services

Janitorial and Landscape Services are operated out of the Seton Business Park location, but in many cases the individual is transported from his home by his immediate supervisor to his place of employment. This is especially true of individuals who are working on an evening janitorial crew. There are also individuals who travel independently to their place of employment. Most individuals will meet their supervisor each day at the Seton location. They will then help load trucks as needed and leave to work at several different work sites each day.

The focus of this program is to develop the work habits and skills necessary to achieve a job working in the community with limited support from the Arc and making a higher pay check. A person will only earn minimum wage while working on these contracts and will not receive any sick or vacation time, unless they are working on a federal site. This is designed to motivate individuals toward an individual job working elsewhere. The hours each person works will vary with the job site; landscapers always work 37.5 hours a week and janitorial workers between 20 and 30 hrs a week. To further enhance consumers’ independence, Employment Support Associates help individuals secure recreational, medical or financial assistance services that support their participation at work and in the community. They are also available to assist individuals with maintaining Social Security benefits while working. Services include:

• Mobile Work Crews performing Janitorial, Landscape or Policing work.
• Supervisor is on site with crews at all times.
• Transportation is available based on availability. We encourage individuals to use community resources for transportation. We have mobility training to teach individuals to use the bus, subway or light rail. Referrals to mobility training will be made for all individuals who qualify.
• Medication is administratered during operating hours.
• Employment Support Associates will assist families in utilizing community resources for medical management; nurses are available for assessment and recommendations. Yearly planning meeting are held by Associates to assist life planning for the individuals supported in the program.

Return to Top

Supported Employment (Enclaves/Work Crews)

The Supported Employment program offers two types of employment opportunities. A person may need or choose to work with a group of individuals at a company. Their job coach usually picks everyone up from their homes and together they drive to the work site. In some cases the person may be picked up by an Arc operated van and meet the crew at an agreed upon location. They perform their job duties and return home at the end of the day. Again the person may only earn up to minimum wage and may earn less based on their productivity with no benefits. Hours and days worked vary for each individual job site. Services include:

• Job Coach on site with crews at all times.
• Arc-provided transportation is available based on availability. All individuals are encouraged to use community resources for transportation. Mobility training is utilized to teach individuals to use bus, subways or light rail. Referrals to mobility will be made for all individuals who quality.
• Medication administration during operating hours.
• Employment Associates help families use community resources for medical management; nurses are available for assessment and recommendations. Yearly planning meeting are held by Associates to help life planning for the individuals supported in the program.

Return to Top

Supported Employment (Individuals)

These individuals work directly for the company that employs them. They are on the company's payroll and are eligible for company benefits. They must travel to work without any assistance. A job coach drops in or calls them once a week or more as needed. The person must be independent in self care skills and community safety skills. The Employment Support Associate offers all of the same supports and assistance.

Return to Top