We are Real Life Choices Provider

Arc's residential services range from a Supportive Living Program for individuals capable of being unsupervised while receiving regular supportive services, to Supervised Apartments where individuals can be left unsupervised for up to twelve hours a day, to fully staffed group homes.

Many of our residents are working in the community. Others may participate in day programs, but all take part in the life of the home, sharing the chores and sharing the fun.

Contact: Dawn Delaney
Director of Residential Services
(732)493-1919 ext. 300
residential@arcofmonmouth.org

Social Services

The Social Services Department of The Arc of Monmouth serves many different functions within the agency. Intake evaluators provide comprehensive intake and assessment to individuals applying for the Arc's vocational programs. In addition to working with individuals to explore vocational options and providing social work services, the unit handles all incoming queries about services, programs, information regarding mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

The Independent Living Program provides services for people with developmental disabilities who are living in the community independently, but who may need additional support services to sustain themselves in their current housing situation.

Contact: Sherry Blackman
Director of Social Services
(732)493-1919 ext. 600
sblackman@arcofmonmouth.org

Real Life Choices

Real Life Choices is the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities' (DDD) name for a program of self-directed services. Real Life Choices provides a family-centered, individualized approach to gaining needed supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. Self-directed services are being offered to some families of persons on the residential priority (urgent) waiting list. Recent surveys have shown that as many as 70% of the families of persons on the waiting list desire to keep their family member with a disability at home rather than accept placement in a group home or other out-of-home alternative.

Real Life Choices provides a budget for the individual based on needs. The person, together with his or her guardian, family and/or other close supporters, selects the supports required and wanted. A support Coordinator from a private agency funded by DDD helps develop the plan for supports. Often the supports enable the person to continue to reside in the family home.

Young adults with developmental disabilities transitioning from high school to adult life are eligible for the Real Life Choices transition program. This enables the individual to select work or day activity supports for their after-high school life.

For more information on Real Life Choices, please see the fact sheets, available through a link on our home page.

The Arc of Monmouth is a Real Life Choices provider and ready to work with you and your family member with developmental disabilities in finding the supports you want to improve the quality of your lives. For more information on our flexible services, please contact:

Sherry Blackman
Director of Social Services
732-493-1919, ext. 600
sblackman@arcofmonmouth.org

Bridge The Gap

Transition services for students seeking employment after graduation.

Prior to graduation, The Arc of Monmouth can meet with the Child Study Team to discuss the strengths of and supports needed by the student going into supported employment after graduation. We can assist in the referral process of the student to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services. We can start intake into supported employment, minimizing interruptions in the transition. We can prepare the student for supported employment services and evaluate transportation needs. We can visit the student on the job or assist the student working toward gainful employment. We can assist the student in becoming familiar with work tasks, routine and activities specific to employment success. Job coaching and/or services start mid-year in the graduation year to maximize likelihood of success through a seamless transition.

The Arc of Monmouth can assist the student with explaining job sampling, job development, follow along services with time averages and possible outcomes. We can help the student with career awareness, providing knowledge about the workplace in the chosen field of interest. The Arc of Monmouth can assist the student in learning how to write resumes, interviewing skills, work ethics and problem solving on the job. We can also provide basic computer skills training to assist finding employment in the future. For more information contact:

Sarah Logan
Assistant Director, Social Services
732-493-1919 ext. 665
slogan@arcofmonmouth.org

Special Education Advocacy Services

The Arc of Monmouth provides individual special education advocacy services as a benefit to its members on a fee for service basis*. Services provided include telephone consultation, Individual Education Plan (IEP) review and assistance formulating an advocacy strategy, attendance at IEP and other educational meetings. The service is entirely voluntary and advocacy assistance is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Fee for Service:

wInitial review and recommendations (not to exceed one hour)	Included with membership
wIEP consultation and/or review and recommendations (not to exceed one hour)	$30.00 per meeting*
wAttendance at IEP or other meetings (not to exceed two hours)	$75.00 per meeting*
wTelephone consultation (not to exceed 10 minutes)	No charge at this time
wMileage	$.40 per mile based on round trip from The Arc of Monmouth Administrative Office to meeting site

You may be eligible for a reduced rate. Call for details.

For more information regarding The Arc of Monmouth's special education advocacy service contact:

Sarah Logan
Assistant Director, Social Services
732-493-1919, ext. 665
slogan@arcofmonmouth.org

Health Services

The Arc’s Ambulatory Care Center has achieved a superb reputation for providing high quality, cost-effective services for people with developmental disabilities who have complex medical and mental health needs.

The center is staffed by consultants, including a physicians assistant, a primary care physician, a psychiatrist,
psychologists and mental health therapists. In addition, a psychiatric nurse, a registered nurse, LPN, and an
administrative assistant also staff the clinic. In the past fiscal year, the center recorded more than 3000 patient visits.

Dental services are also coordinated through a mobile dental service.

Contact: Kristen Creed
Director of Health Services
(732)493-1919 ext. 888
healthservices@arcofmonmouth.org

Adult Services

The Western Monmouth, Meridian and Tinton Falls Adult Training Centers put strong emphasis on vocational and social skills development.

Atlantic Services is a custodial training program in which crews of workers clean businesses in the community. The Shore Adult Training Center provides one-to-one and group training for individuals with severe disabilities, while the Green Grove Center focus on behavioral skills training.

Contact: Barbi Pigman
Director of Adult Services
(732)938-2525
adultservices@arcofmonmouth.org