Child Programs
& Resources
Family Support and Advocacy Program- Birth to 22 years of age
Transitional Youth Program • Respite
Care • Connecting to Resources
The Arc of Southern Maryland believes that children,
regardless of their disabilities, belong with their families and
should be provided opportunities afforded other children within their community.
We also understand that the stress of raising a child with disabilities
can be financially and emotionally stressful. Our Family Support
Services are nationally recognized for helping families be successful.
We offer four essential features:
- Staff and families work together building relationships of equality
and respect
- Creativity in providing services accountable to families
- Flexibility and responsive to emerging family and community needs
- Immediacy in responding to crisis to mobilize formal and informal resources
All services are family centered and customized to meet your family’s
needs.
Families living in Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles Counties
who have a child or children from the ages of birth to 22 years with
an intellectual and developmental disability are eligible.
Here's how we can help...
- Refer you to the appropriate agency for services. Connect you
with available resources in Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles Counties.
- Give you current information on legislation, regulations and decisions
that affect persons with developmental disabilities and their families.
Introduce you to a support group of concerned citizens.
- Provide you with services and supports to help you with the ongoing
needs of raising a child with developmental disabilities, including:
- Medical supplies
- Food/clothing/dietary supplements
- Home modifications (such as installation of ramps, rails or other
architectural modifications)
- Disposable diapers
- Specialized and adaptive equipment
- Transportation
- Formal or informal counseling
- Educational assistance
- Respite care
- Crisis intervention
- Behavioral support
services
- Camp Scholarships
- Sensory learning
toys & games
Our goal is to help families keep their children with developmental disabilities
at home for as long as is possible or practical.
We have Family
Service Coordinators in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties
who will provide informal counseling, respite care information and
referrals. We visit your home and will empower and support families
outside the home such as during the IEP process.
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Transitional Youth Program
The Transitional Youth Program is a collaborative effort between
The Arc of Southern Maryland and the local public school systems,
to provide students with intellectual and developmental disabilities,
with a smooth transition from school into adulthood. Students are identified during
their final years in high school and receive job coaching to develop skills
in application and resume writing and interviewing techniques. Job
coaches act as a liaison between the employer and student employee to ensure
a successful working relationship.
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Respite Care
The Arc of Southern Maryland’s Respite Care Program provides families,
caring for an adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities,
with a short term, temporary care option.
How does the Respite Care Program work?
The first step
will be the completion of an application (available from The Arc
office) that consists of the following:
- a registration form
- service plan
- income worksheet
- release form
- A Statement of Disability Form must be completed by a physician, school
official or a Health Department official.
NOTE: *If a statement of medical or psychological evaluation is supplied
you may bypass the disability form.
Second Step: A Family Services Coordinator (FSC) meets with
the family to review their situation and determine eligibility
for services. The link to these services is provided below. You
will discuss options and then the FSC will develop a plan tailored
to your family's needs. It will include information necessary to
provide care to that individual. This would include emergency contact
information, a statement of fees and payment methods.
Third Step: The final step will be making your decisions
about location and staff. Respite can be provided either in your
family's home or in another setting of the family's designation.
A family may choose to use The Arc of Southern Maryland employees
or to hire an individual already known to them. A family member
(who is not a parent or spouse) can provide respite services and
be reimbursed based on a fee scale.
Family Eligibility
A family is eligible for Respite Services if they have a child with
a disability meeting the following definition: "Developmental Disability" means
a severe chronic disability of an individual that (1) is attributable to
a physical or mental impairment, other than the sole diagnosis of mental
illness or a combination of mental and physical impairments; (2) is manifested
before the person becomes 22 years old; (3) is likely to continue indefinitely;
(4) results in the inability to live independently without external support
or continuing and regular assistance; and (5) reflects the need for a combination
and sequence of special interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment or
other services which are individually planned and coordinated.
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Prioritization of Services
Priority in the provision of services is given to those families
in the most urgent need to prevent the out-of-home placement of their
child or to return a child from an out-of-home placement to their
family's home. Naturally, services are provided funds permitting.
Connecting to Resources
The Southern Maryland Support Services Database is
a free service of The Arc of Maryland! Let us help you find the
services you need in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties.
We can help navigate the intricacies of the law, regulations and
systems by searching our database of organizations and services.
Check Eligibility & Rights or
search the The Arc Resource Library and FAQ’s for answers to commonly-asked questions. Click
here to search the Support Services Database.
For more information about
Family Support Services contact our Director of Community Support Services
in your county or
.
Calvert County: Ron Mould, Calvert, 410-535-2413, Ext. 10
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