Information and Referral
- Many families simply need information on a given topic or service, and then
can accomplish their goal without further assistance. For these families, our
commitment to information and referral is helpful. We provide information by
mail or over the telephone at no cost. We also maintain a library of articles,
books and videos available to members at no cost. In addition, a quarterly
newsletter is produced and distributed to members and stakeholders.
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Advocacy
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Often times, people with developmental disabilities and their
families must work with a variety of confusing bureaucracies to
obtain the supports they need. They may have difficulty finding or
accessing services for special education, community mental health
services, housing, Social Security, Medicaid and other areas. The
staff and members of The Arc of Central Michigan can help families
to find what they need by assisting with phone calls, letters,
attending meetings and even community organizing, if need be. This
service is available to families at no cost.
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- Arc Financial Choices Program
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Trainings and Workshops
- The Arc coordinates speakers annually to address a variety of
financial topics.
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Representative Payee Services
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Our representative payee program helps to make sure that
individuals are not taken advantage of financially. Staff can
receive and deposit monthly SSI and SSDI payments and pay
consumer's bills.
This program is offered at a fee.
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Independent Facilitation for
Person Centered Planning
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The Arc
provides facilitators upon the request of an individual to assist
with coordinating their Person Centered Plans. This service is
provided to consumers utilizing mental health services within a four
county region. Occasionally, The Arc will facilitate plans for
those individuals not receiving mental health services and are
interested in using facilitation to plan for the future.
Facilitators minimally do the following:
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- Assist
individuals in inviting the people that they want.
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- Focus
on topics of the individual's choice.
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- Share
information about resources and options available to the person.
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- Encourage
group participation.
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- Assure there
is a recording of the meeting.
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- Help to
establish links to the community.
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- Connect
individuals to needed supports from service agencies.
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Arc Sponsored
Events:
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Fall Harvest
Dance -
Annual dance sponsored for individuals and members to have fun and enjoy
themselves.
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Annual Picnic
- An event for members to attend to meet other members, network and
support one another.
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Annual
Membership Meeting
- Dinner for members to get together to hear what The Arc of Central
Michigan has done in the last year, review the annual report, conduct general membership
business, and get a feel for where we are headed for the next year.
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