Arc Email: Please be checking your ne-arc email regularly. We recommend that you download the Outlook app on your smartphone
Zoom Phone: Please make sure you are utilizing your Zoom phone associated with your Northeast Arc account. If you do not have a Zoom phone, please reach out to the Staffing Coordinator.
Progress Notes: All Progress Notes are due in Netsmart by Monday at 9:00 am Remember to e-sign your progress notes. If you are unable to submit your progress notes on time, please notify the Staffing Coordinator immediately
GPS Updates
If you have not done so already, please complete your Relias trainings. These trainings are mandatory for all Northeast Arc employees.
Also, please sign your annual background check and agency policies agreement. Any employee that was hired before 2024 should have received an email with a link. If you have not received the email, please let me know.
IHS staff, mileage is due before November 10. Please fill out your mileage forms and email them to me as soon as possible.
For all GPS staff, please make sure you are filling out the Positive Behavioral Supports section in Netsmart on your progress notes. Please note that if none of the key indicators occur, that is okay. However, these can happen naturally and you may not notice. These key indicators include opportunities for choice, community participation/social opportunities, and opportunities for independence.
That is all for now. Have a great weekend!
Important Links
The Importance of Knowing
Human Rights
Understanding these human rights is crucial for the individuals we support, their families, and our staff. These rights ensure dignity, respect, and equal opportunities for all. By being aware of these rights, we can create and environment that encourages independence, personal growth, and full participation in community life. It also helps prevent potential rights violations and promotes advocacy for the individuals we serve.
These Rights Include:
Dignity: To be treated with respect, including respect for ethnic and cultural diversity.
Have Questions or Concerns?
Please contact our Human Rights Officer:
Andrew Hartigan Program Coordinator Guided Personal Supports (GPS) (978) 924 - 5872 ahartigan@ne-arc.org
Self-determination: To make meaningful choices and informed decisions about your life, including taking reasonable risks.
Communication: To communicate with others and fully express yourself, with access to necessary assistance and devices.
Relationships: To visit others, receive visitors, and have friendships and intimate relationships.
Privacy: In personal care, communication, visits, your home, and personal information.
Personal Safety: To feel safe and be free from harm or abuse.
Personal Property: To obtain, keep, use, and dispose of personal possessions.
Education, Employment, and Compensation: To have equal access to education and employment opportunities, and fair compensation for work.
Community Membership: To receive services that promote living in the least restrictive and most typical settings, encouraging meaningful community membership.
Northeast Arc’s Community Resource Center connects individuals and families with valuable resources and events in their local communities. By providing access to these resources, the Community Resource Center empowers families and individuals to actively participate in community life, creating a sense of belonging and inclusion.
Merrie Rothstein mrothstein@ne-arc.org
Christopher Marchese cmarchese@ne-arc.org
Eva Mostoufi emostoufi@ne-arc.org Holly Keane hkeane@ne-arc.org
Session Two: October 21 to December 14
NortheastArc’sRecreationprogramgivesourclientstheopportunitytoengagewith peers and find events they will enjoy. Although you cannot attend recreation with your clients, this is a great resource to show them and to work on signing up for eventsduringyoursessions.
Session Two
October 21 to December 14
Please Note: Prior to attending any recreation activities, registration and an intake is required.
October 21 to December 14
Please Note: Prior to attending any recreation activities, registration and an intake is required.
A Weekend To Remember: Respite Program
Join Northeast Arc for an opportunity to unwind, recharge, and discover your potential! We are excited to announce a first-of-its-kind respite program for young adults with disabilities looking to gain independent living skills. Each weekend retreat will provide a wide range of hands-on learning activities as well as unique outings in the community. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet other peers in the community during this shared living experience.
INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS
The retreat offers a relaxing respite opportunity for attendees while giving caregivers time to themselves.
Complete with activities such as cooking classes, budgeting workshops, safety seminars, and everything in between!
Young adults will learn valuable social skills while making new friends in a supportive and inclusive environment.
BOSTON RESPITE
Our Boston respite began on Wednesday evening with everyone arriving at the Airbnb overlooking the State House The next day started with a delightful breakfast at a local café, followed by a refreshing walk through Boston Commons. The morning’s leisurely stroll was succeeded by a visit to the WNDR Museum, where we immersed ourselves in interactive exhibits that sparked creativity and wonder The highlight of the trip was an exciting evening at TD Garden, watching the Boston Bruins play. On the final morning, everyone was picked up, concluding our memorable trip to Boston.
Healthy Eating Tips & Recipes
For Nutrition information about this recipe, visit https://www myplate gov/recipes/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/spanish-omelet
For Nutrition information about this recipe, visit
At Employment First Massachusetts, we hold a set of core beliefs that guide our mission and vision. We firmly believe that everyone has the capacity to work, regardless of their abilities or challenges. We advocate for the fundamental right of all individuals to earn a living wage in a job that aligns with their unique talents, gifts, skills, and interests.
We recognize that employment is not just about financial stability, but also a pathway for people to achieve their personal dreams of success, respect, control, and choice in their lives. In today's society, we understand that having a job can play a crucial role in shaping one's self-identity and perceived value.
Employment First Massachusetts provides online trainings and resources not only for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, but for the staff that support them.
Send Cards & Donations to Veterans at the Bedford VA
Registration is require. Scan theQRcode toget startedtoday!
Connecting YOU(th) is a monthly get-together for teens and young adults with disabilities. Every second Tuesday of the month, we have a topic for discussion, and we’re always changing and growing in response to what participants want to happen next.
Peer support
You are not alone! Come join us for a peer led support group.
Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 pm to 3 pm
Scan the QR code or Click here to join
GRATEFUL ASPECTS
young adults peer support group Mondays 3pm-4pm on Zoom Scan the QR code
LGBTQ+ Community Gatherings
A space to build a support system, and a sense of chosen family, with your community.
Our community gatherings are peer-led support groups that are non-clinical and led by a collective of individuals with lived experience in the group's topic or community. Each community gathering is unique to the population it serves and is created in a peer-led collaborative group process There is no pressure to share to attend We welcome anyone, anywhere that is 18+.
One of the best ways to explore careers is to understand more about yourself.
What is MassHire?
MassHire is a statewide network of career centers in Massachusetts that provide employment and training services to job seekers, including individuals with developmental disabilities.
Career Cluster Inventory Learning Styles Survey
The Career Cluster Inventory helps you think about activities that you like and matches them to the 16 national career clusters. Learning more about your interests and how they fit with clusters is one way to find a career you will enjoy!
Answer a variety of questions that will generate results based on your interests.
Take a short survey to help identify the ways you learn best Knowing more about your learning style will make you a more effective learner. You will also get study tips for your learning style.
Job Search Assistance
MassHire career centers offer personalized job search assistance, including help with creating resumes, practicing interview skills, and identifying job opportunities that match the individual's skills and abilities.
Employer Connections
MassHire works closely with local employers and can help individuals with developmental disabilities connect with companies that are committed to hiring and supporting employees with disabilities.
Training Opportunities
MassHire offers various training programs and workshops that can help individuals with developmental disabilities acquire new skills or enhance existing ones, improving their employability.
BLUE ENVELOPE PROGRAM
THE BLUE ENVELOPE PROGRAM IS AN EFFORT TO EASE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DURING MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR INTERACTIONS.
Streamlining Communication Encouraging Preparedness
The Blue Envelope is more than just an envelope; it's a symbol of our commitment to inclusivity and understanding. It represents a step forward in ensuring that every driver, regardless of their neurological differences, can experience a sense of safety and respect on the road.
Through this program, we aim to build bridges between law enforcement and the autism community, fostering a culture of awareness and compassion that benefits everyone involved.
For more information, visit: www.mass.gov/info-details/blue-envelope-program
So what is treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and how do you determine when a patient is a candidate for therapeutic approaches such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)? If TMS isn’t the best next step, what other options are out there?
Join us as Joshua C. Brown, MD, PhD, shares what makes some forms of depression especially difficult to treat, explores proven, cutting-edge treatment, and answers questions about lifestyle changes for helping manage TRD.
So what should college students know about the mental health challenges they might face? Are there proactive strategies that can help them navigate stress? And how can educators, mental health care providers, and loved ones best serve young adults attending college?
In this previously recorded session, Sarah Ketchen Lipson, PhD, EdM, provides an overview of common mental health concerns for college students, shares tips for recognizing and addressing these challenges and the conditions they can lead to, and answers audience questions about typical campus resources for students who are struggling.
LATIN FILM FESTIVAL ON IDENTITY AND LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCES -
LOWELL, MA
November 7
7:30 pm-10:00 pm
UMass Lowell’s Department of World Languages and Cultures presents: the Latin Film Festival on Identity and LGBTQ+ Experiences. Hosted at the Luna Theater during the Fall of 2024, this festival will showcase five films that explore diverse narratives within the Latin LGBTQ+ community
Once the Zoom app is opened, click the Phone button, then click the keypad button.
CALLING KRONOS
In order to punch in, you need to call the time and attendance line. The number is 978-226-4865.
You will be asked to enter your employee ID, then press #.
This will punch you in.
To punch out, repeat this process.
REMEMBER YOUR PUNCH IN/OUT TIME
It is important to remember what time you punched in and out.
The start and end time on your progress note should match your punch in and out time.
When you arrive for your scheduled shift, you need to punch in. To punch in, open the Zoom app on your mobile device.
GPSSupervisors
YourPoint ofContact
As a valued member of our team, we want to make sure you have the best support in your role.
It’s important to know who your supervisor is. Your supervisor will be your main point of contact.
Kailey Taggart is the Project Manager for the GPS program. She oversees our Social Group and A Weekend to Remember Respite program. If you work in either of these programs, Kailey will be your supervisor.
Matthew Ataya is the Staffing Coordinator for the GPS program. He is the supervisor for our Community Support Coaches, Autism Coaches, and College Navigators.
Andrew Hartigan is the Program Coordinator for the GPS program. He communicates with the clients and families that we support. If you are unable to reach Matthew, Andrew will be your second point of contact.
Kristy Aparo is the Program Director for the GPS program. She oversees the general operations of all of our programs. You can reach out to Kristy if you have any questions about filing a DPPC or Mandated Reporting.
