2023 Impact Report

Impact report

Letter from the CEO and Board Chair

It is appropriate that this publication be called an “Impact Report,” as it provides a perspective on the breadth and depth of the services we provide and those who are positively impacted.

You will find in this document some eye-opening statistics – 5,000 people supported through our Personal Care Management program, 265,000 hours of nursing care delivered by Clinical Services, 468,000 hours of direct support care in Residential Services – and those numbers indeed tell a great story.

Like virtually all businesses and nonprofits, Northeast Arc is facing ongoing challenges in maintaining the level of staffing required to operate our programs. We are being proactive in those efforts, through our new Pathways to Opportunities program in which we are cultivating the next generation of employees, as well as using the latest technology to help our staff support our participants.

Putting a human face on the stats is how we best tell the Northeast Arc story, from long-time employees to someone benefitting from cuttingedge technology to an Arc participant becoming a valuable employee in a law office. At Northeast Arc we are committed to changing lives and discovering abilities. We are proud to share a glimpse of how we do that.

As you read this report and hopefully gain a greater understanding for all that we do, we invite you to support Northeast Arc so that we may continue to provide the unmatched level of care and compassion for which we have become known.

We appreciate your interest and support.

Sincerely,

Jo Ann Simons, CEO Michael Forasté, 2022-23 Board Chair

Northeast Arc’s Reach and Impact

Northeast Arc positively impacts the lives of more than 10,000 individuals with disabilities and their families in nearly 200 cities and towns across eastern Massachusetts. The agency reaches these people and communities through six different service divisions, supporting people from birth through end of life.

Northeast Arc Service Divisions and Programs

Long-Term Support Services

Enables individuals with medical, physical, or developmental disabilities to remain at home where they can live independently and with a high quality of life.

Personal Care Management

Adult Family Care Day Habilitation

Long-Term Support Services Coordination (LTSC)

Clinical Services

Provides continuous skilled nursing services to medically fragile patients at home, enabling patients to be with their families rather than in hospitals or long-term care facilities.

Family Services

Ensures that families with disabilities are getting the benefits they are entitled to, as well as helping them access various community resources to make their lives better.

Information and Referral Centers

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Recreation and Special Olympics

Guided Personal Supports

Community Employment

Provides community-based day supports, work training, and employment services that prepare individuals with disabilities to live more independently in their communities.

Community-Based Day Supports

Employment and Skills Training Supported Businesses/Group and Community Employment

Early Intervention

Works with family members and caregivers to enhance the development and learning of infants and toddlers through individualized strategies embedded in daily activities.

Early Intervention Cape Ann Early Intervention North Shore

Residential Services

Provides a variety of services that allow people with disabilities to live as inclusive members of their communities across Northeastern Massachusetts.

Group Homes

Shared Living Independent Living

5,000 5,000

people supported by Personal Care Management, Northeast Arc’s largest program

265,000

265,000

Hours of nursing care delivered each year by Clinical Services

500 500

Trainings and workshops for families and individuals by the Family Services division each quarter delivered each year by Clinical Services

1,500 1,500

Number of families supported in 2022 through Early Intervention

468,000 468,000

Number of hours of direct support care provided each year by Residential Services

40

40

Different employers across the North Shore who have hired an individual through Community Employment

Northeast

We are Northeast Arc

Innovations in workforce development

Pathways to Opportunities, a collaborative educational initiative with Lynn Classical High School, benefits two underserved populations – youth uncertain of what will come next after high school graduation and people with disabilities waiting for services due to staff shortages.

“Many high school students do not feel connected and are experiencing greater social and economic insecurities,” said Maria Terris, Pathways director. “This program provides increased affirmation, positive relationships, and structured support that also allows them to earn money.”

Three days a week after school, Northeast Arc staff teach Pathway students skills needed for jobs in advocacy, clinical services and nursing,

employment, finance, long-term support services, marketing and residential services. A local bank is providing literacy classes and assisting participants in opening their first account.

Upon graduation, students who take part in Pathways will be given priority application status for open positions at Northeast Arc and can take advantage of tuition reimbursement and remission programs available to Northeast Arc employees.

The 12 participants in the first cohort have gained a friend group and a better understanding of their abilities and paths for a rewarding future. Participants have earned Red Cross CPR and first aid certification. They have also gained direct experience working

Preparing future leaders

Northeast Arc’s Development Team kicked off 2023 with the launch of a young adult leadership training program made possible by a grant from the Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation.

Eight participants with diverse abilities, ranging in age from 17 to 26, are developing the skills they need to both meet their personal goals and to carry The Arc Movement forward.

“Your sharing Northeast Arc’s story has the greatest impact for the community,” NeArc Chief Development Officer Craig Welton told participants as they prepared to serve as tour guides at this spring’s Linking Lives Celebration at the Liberty Tree Mall.

The program integrates a series of five monthly trainings with opportunities to practice the public speaking and advocacy

Members of the young adult leadership training program at the Center for Linking Lives. Left to right: Chiannne Deegan, Jackson Skane, Skye Healy, James Brietzke, Walker Smith, Cathryn Lally, Pranaav Suresh and Craig Welton, Chief Development Officer. Not pictured: Brett Gray

with NeArc day program participants. Students will participate in paid internships and social activities over the summer.

Pathways will continue in the 2023-24 school year at Lynn Classical, with plans to expand to a second site in 2024.

To learn more and see a list of private and public funders for the project, visit: ne-arc.org/pathways

skills participants are developing. Training topics have included human rights, testimony writing & public speaking, site visit training, networking, and advocating for employment. In addition to the Linking Lives event, individual participants have spoken at a Northeast Arc Board of Directors meeting and participated in a regional Legislative Breakfast.

Chianne Deegan introduced guests at the event to NeArc’s Assistive Technology Lending Library. What did having her leadership potential recognized mean for Deegan?

“It means a lot to me because it’s a steppingstone for me. Next, I’ll be doing the Tower Foundation and this can help build to that,” said Deegan.

Deegan and her colleague Jackson Skane have been selected to serve on the Tower Foundation’s new Community Experts Team

cohort as a result of the leadership they have shown during the trainings. The Team will design a grant opportunity from beginning to end, deciding what issues to focus on, how to structure the funding, and which applications to fund.

“Participatory grantmaking is a trend in philanthropy that we are particularly excited about. We truly feel that our grantmaking improves when it genuinely engages the young people that we are seeking to serve,” said Nick Randell, Program Officer, Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation.

Cathryn Lally shares testimony she prepared in support of Rep. Sean Garballey’s workforce development bill with him at a March training at the Center for Linking Lives.

Emmi Alvarado and Ziv Perez participate in a CPR class at Northeast Arc.

Placements strengthen local businesses

For nearly nine years, Northeast Arc participant Cheryl Hall has been a staple at the Law Office of Julie Low.

Hall, who was hired by Low in September 2014, works every Thursday and is responsible for a variety of tasks, including scanning, redacting, filing, copying and cleaning.

“She’s a master scanner at this point,” said Low. “She loves doing that.”

Low, who started her own firm in Beverly in 2010, primarily focuses on elder law, special needs and estate planning. She and her team provide in-depth, customized plans to meet each

client’s unique needs.

Low also serves on Northeast Arc’s Human Rights Committee. Soon after joining the committee, she attended an awards event and was impressed to learn about the organization’s various community-based day supports, work training and employment services.

“Within a week of that, I was having discussions about wanting to hire someone,” Low said.

Lauren Tobey, supported employment program director at Northeast Arc, was instrumental in matching Hall with Low.

“Lauren found me the job,

helped me get ready to work there and taught me how to prepare myself for the job,” said Hall.

She enjoys all aspects of the job — but especially the people.

“I love Julie,” she said. “She makes me laugh all the time.”

And the feelings are mutual.

“I love having Cheryl here,” said Low. “It’s been such a positive experience. She absolutely adds to the culture and productivity of the firm in meaningful ways. And I think the rest of my employees are more empathetic and passionate about what we do and who we serve, as a result.”

Supporting independence through assistive technology

individuals to improve self-management and provides compassionate 24/7 psychosocial support.

Deegan has been using the device for 6 months after getting it from the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Several other NeArc residents are also using the devices as DDS explores the potential impact on encouraging independence as well as adherence to Individual Service Plan goals.

Care.coach can also send emails to Northeast Arc staff alerting them to any issues a resident may be experiencing. This is a huge benefit to staff like Lauren Bloomer, an independent living director who supports Deegan. The care.coach allows Bloomer to support residents without needing to physically be in their homes.

Chianne Deegan has someone to greet her in the morning and say good night every evening before bed. It’s not a Northeast Arc staff member though; it’s an artificial intelligencepowered digital assistant, care coach.

“It’s my virtual buddy,” says Deegan, a resident in Northeast Arc’s Independent Living program. Deegan lives with a roommate in Salem and receives limited support from staff.

With care.coach, individuals talk with a captivating avatar that serves as the face for care.coach’s team of specially trained health advocates. The platform engages and coaches

Care.coach is designed to work easily right out of the box with no training required. Today, it’s a regular part of Deegan’s routine, whether it’s checking the weather, asking it for a joke, or playing a game. The device also has key features to ensure the safety of residents.

“There was one time where I was having some minor pain, and [the care.coach] did a great job of helping me figure out if I needed to call a doctor, or if it could wait until the next day,” says Deegan.

“What I love it for is the medication reminders,” says Bloomer. “I have many residents who self-medicate, and they’re usually very reliable, but sometimes they forget. Having that companion [in the home] who can do reminders is really nice.”

Deegan is an example of how the care.coach can decrease reliance on direct care staff. When Deegan first joined the Independent Living program, she was receiving 10 hours of support per week, but with the care.coach she is now receiving 8.5 hours each week. For Deegan, the most important thing about the care.coach is that it’s a reliable presence in her life, even when she’s alone. “It’s extremely helpful. It’s like a friend.”

Attorney Julie Low, left, has employed Cheryl Hall since 2014.

Four decades of improving lives

at Northeast Arc in 1983, while she was a student at Boston University, where she earned her degree in psychology.

“Thanks to a neighbor’s suggestion, I started out doing relief in the residential program and I was able to work around my school schedule,” said Truesdale, a Peabody native. “It just fit, so I stayed. What I fell into turned out to be what I loved.”

From residential, Truesdale transitioned to day services and then personal care management.

compliance,” she said. “It just fit what I was looking for my next step. Plus, I like analyzing data and figuring out where things are at.”

Truesdale earned her master’s degree in health, law and policy from Hofstra University in 2020, and Northeast Arc created a new position for her.

“In 40 years, they’ve worked with me, making sure my needs are being met, as well as their needs,” said Truesdale. “It’s really allowed me to grow.”

For four decades, Susan Truesdale has progressed from one department to another at Northeast Arc, leaving her mark on countless participants and staff members.

Though she spent most of her career in personal care management, Truesdale now serves as quality assurance and compliance specialist. She started working part-time

“I always had a love for independent living and that philosophy, so that’s what drew me over to personal care management,” she said. “It was wonderful to go into people’s homes and help them.”

It was Truesdale’s wish to eventually move into compliance.

“I was already dealing with MassHealth regulations and training staff, and I was already invested that we were meeting

And just as she has grown, so has the organization.

“The agency keeps trying to improve, and that’s really important to me,” said Truesdale. “I stayed and the company kept changing.”

She laughs, thinking about some of the technological advances. “We used to have to carry huge map books to go from house to house, and stop to make calls at a phone booth,” she said. “Things have certainly progressed.”

Helping people navigate Journeys

With more than 40 years’ experience at Northeast Arc, Donna Marden is showing no signs of slowing down.

In fact, she’s not even hanging up her running shoes, having run the Boston Marathon to raise money for the organization in 2019. “I enjoy the individuals we serve,” she said. “That’s what keeps me here.”

Marden is program director of Journeys, a community-based day support program designed to help adult participants develop the skills necessary to access the community safely, become productive members of the community and enhance employment skills. These supports are provided through volunteering, work tours and employment classes.

Journeys participants are volunteering at organizations such as Haven from Hunger in Peabody, the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers and the Great Rock Thrift Store in

Danvers. There have also been internship opportunities at Breaking Grounds Café, which offers extensive employment training and education to those with disabilities. Some have gone on to work at restaurants such as Yard House and Sea Level Oyster Bar.

“It gives them experience and teaches them social skills and work skills,” said Marden.

Marden, a Danvers native, earned her degree in special education from Westfield State University. She started working for the organization part-time in the family support division. She was hired full-time in 1984 and worked in direct care for six years. She then transitioned to become program coordinator and later program director in the day services division.

Marden says she enjoys the direct interaction with the individuals, but also the staff training as well. She is also in awe of how Northeast Arc has changed and progressed.

“It’s been amazing watching it grow over the years, especially with community involvement, and seeing the services evolve,” she said.

Mom-powered partnership with NeArc

Seven years ago, three moms found themselves in the same parent support group, facing similar challenges.

And now they’re paying it forward. In the past four years, they have raised more than $150,000 for Northeast Arc and its Autism Support Center.

Candace Perreault, Katie Billingsley and Keri McGloin met when their children, who were two years old at the time, were newly diagnosed with autism.

“Back then, I didn’t know anyone else with a child on the spectrum,” said Billingsley. “I felt very lost, so I called the center and they helped direct me to services and weekly support group meetings. When I first started going to the meetings, it was just me and my husband. Then Keri and Candace started coming, and we instantly became fast friends. That was invaluable.”

“I felt so fortunate that we found Northeast Arc and each other,” said McGloin.

“It’s been amazing,” said Perreault. “We have the best support system. No one’s judging or questioning things. You can laugh together, cry together. They just get it. Going to that support group saved me.”

Northeast Arc’s Autism Support Center was created to empower families who have a member with autism or a related disorder by providing current, accurate and unbiased information about autism, services, referrals, resources and research trends. In addition to connecting families with needed services

From left, Keri McGloin, Candace Perrault and Katie Billingsley have raised more than $150,000 for Northeast Arc and its Autism Support Center. Their most recent fundraiser was a Great Gatsbythemed gala, held in November at Danversport.

and supports, the center provides training, parent support groups and networking, family activities and social and recreational programs. Through grants and donations, it also gives families access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology and training.

Billingsley said she and her husband, Ryan, had been raising money for Autism Speaks when she, Perreault and McGloin began thinking about a fundraiser of their own.

“We wanted to start our own thing and raise money for those who are local,” said Billingsley. “We always knew we wanted to give back to the community we’re in and the programs that helped us so much.”

They created Rock the Spectrum as a fundraising tool to help the center’s families cover the cost of insurance co-pays for speech, occupational and physical therapies; purchase technology such as Chromebooks and headphones; and cover essentials such as clothing, utility bills and necessary safety equipment.

“The expense of having a child with special needs is quite high, and we know the impact the center has in terms of providing advocacy, YMCA memberships, speech devices, and so much more,” said Perreault. “We know the

money we’re raising is going directly to those who need it.”

“And we wanted to empower other parents who didn’t know what was out there,” said McGloin, whose daughter still participates in Northeast Arc’s Building Bridges and Spotlight programs.

The first Rock the Spectrum fundraiser, held in 2019 at the Northeast Arc’s Black Box Theater, raised more than $10,000. The next one, held in November 2021 at Danversport, raised more than $50,000. The most recent event, held last November at Danversport, raised more than $80,000. They have also organized smaller-scale events, such as summer fundraisers at Essex County Brewing Co.

“We have such a strong group of family and friends supporting us, and we’re very grateful for that,” said Billingsley.

In April, Rock the Spectrum was approved as a charitable foundation, with Perreault, Billingsley and McGloin sitting on the board, along with Melanie Skane and Lindsey Kitchens.

Charles Perrault, Rose McGloin and Natalie Billingsley have benefited from the services of Northeast Arc and are the children of the Rock the Spectrum founders.

Drums Alive is one of more than a dozen Northeast Arc Recreation activities offered in the community and at the Center for Linking Lives in Danvers. ne-arc.org