Impact report 2024
Celebrating 70 Years of Changing Lives and Discovering Abilities
Letter from the CEO and Board Chair
The breadth and impact of services provided by Northeast Arc is often difficult to capture. We’re an agency with 17 different lines of businesses supporting more than 10,000 people across Massachusetts. Our dedicated team of more than 1,000 people has supported individuals and families from birth through the end of life –every day, over the past 70 years.
This impact report will hopefully help you – our supporters – understand that impact. You will learn about the scale of our services – such as nearly half a million hours of residential supports provided in FY 2024 – as well as the personal impact of our programs. You will read about families for whom Northeast Arc has provided life-changing supports. These supports are only possible thanks to our incredible staff. This past year has been an important one of growth and change internally for our agency. Like many organizations we are facing ongoing challenges in maintaining the levels of staffing
required to operate our programs. That’s why we have taken steps to improve retention at NeArc, from investing in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) to providing new engagement opportunities for team members inside and outside of the office.
At Northeast Arc, our mission is to help people of all abilities live as fully included members of their communities, choosing for themselves how to live, learn, work, and play. As you read this impact report, we hope it will become clear just what it looks like when we accomplish that mission.
We are so grateful for your interest in our work and your support.
Sincerely,
Jo Ann Simons, President and CEO
Heidi Ellard, Chair, Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Chair
Heidi Ellard
Directors
Nate Bryant
Julie Cummings
Patti Cusack
Stephen Darr
Nicole DeVita
Louis J. DiFronzo
Mariela Fermin
Mark O. Fischer
Michael Forasté
Tom Gould
Nate Gravel
David Henry
Jenny Holaday
Matthew LaLone
Dan Lobdell
Britte McBride
Shari Munro
Jackson Skane
Mike Trigilio
Carolina Trujillo
Carol Wedge
TJ Winick
David Woonton
Larry Zabar
President and CEO
Jo Ann Simons
Treasurer and CFO
Cyndi Park
Clerk
Mara Kaufman
Jackson Skane and Jenny Holaday
Heidi Ellard and Ethan Kearney
Northeast Arc’s Reach and Impact
Founded in 1954, 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 seven 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
Recreation and Special Olympics
Guided Personal Supports
Assistive Technology
Specialty Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
Provides a continuum of consistent evidence-based direct care and services for children, teens and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other related developmental disabilities throughout their lifetime.
Building Blocks (3 years old and younger)
The Learning Center (Ages 15 months to 6 years)
Building Bridges (Ages 3+)
Spotlight (Ages 6+)
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
A Year at Northeast Arc
of direct support provided to residents living in 24/7 residential homes, shared living, or independent living
474,734 hours 4,957 people 82 individuals
living independently at Personal Care Management supported in competitive community employment
Serving communities across Massachusetts
Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch short videos highlighting the stories of Northeast Arc families
Arc By the Numbers
home through the Management program of one-on-one ABA services supported through Cape Ann and North Shore Early Intervention in recreation events
1,763 families people 44,812 hours 2,003 families
6,844 participants of nursing care provided to clinical services patients supported through navigation support, resources, and referrals
246,212 hours
Helping Children Thrive
Northeast Arc supports for individuals and families often start right at birth. Through Early Intervention and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) programs, NeArc staff are there for families right at the moment when they receive what can be a stressful diagnosis. Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to families.
The impact of NeArc EI and ABA services is shown not just in the reach of these programs, but in the high quality of services delivered. In 2024, Early Intervention provided 41,106 hours of support to families, and 90% of families who responded to a survey said that EI helped their child developed and grow. Similarly, 90% of families said that staff helped them reach their goals.
Throughout 2024, Northeast Arc’s four ABA programs delivered a wide range of services, supporting 297 individuals and delivering:
• 12,296 hours of support via social skills group
• 1,463 hours of direct training to parents
• 44,812 hours of one-on-one direct services
Survey data from families reflects the high level of services delivered, with 100% of families reporting that staff assisted their children and family with meeting their goal, and 95% of families saying that Northeast Arc met the needs of their children and family.
How EI Provides a Path to Independence
Jen Moldaver’s journey with Northeast Arc’s Early Intervention began like many other families: with a diagnosis and uncertainty. Moldaver was 20 weeks pregnant with her second daughter, Allie, when doctors diagnosed the baby with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC), a rare brain birth defect that occurs when the corpus callosum, the bundle of nerve fibers that connects the brain’s two hemispheres, is missing or doesn’t develop typically during the embryo stage.
“The first time [the doctor] told us the diagnosis, we were like, ‘What are we going to do?’” Moldaver recalls. Luckily, Moldaver says that their family’s doctor at Boston Children’s Hospital was reassuring. He told Jen and her husband Ron that their daughter may have challenges with motor skills, balance, and muscle tone and could struggle in social situations, but otherwise would lead a healthy life.
Moldaver’s next step after diagnosis was connecting with Northeast Arc Early Intervention. She was already familiar with the program after her first daughter, Lucy, briefly received services, so she felt confident working with NeArc again. Shortly after she was born, Allie began regular visits with an occupational therapist (OT), Meaghan Flanagan, at home and at daycare.
Flanagan worked with her on motor skills, balance, and movement, but also focused on the child’s emotional needs. “EI really made a difference in helping Allie understand self-care,” said Moldaver
A pivotal moment for Allie occurred when Flanagan recommended hippotherapy at Ironstone Farm in Andover, Mass. During hippotherapy sessions, children work with an occupational or physical therapist on a variety of developmental skills, including motor skills, while riding a horse. Hippotherapy supported Allie in making gains in muscle strength and stamina as well as balance and coordination, which complemented the services that Allie was receiving with Meaghan. In addition to the physical gains, Moldaver saw Allie’s confidence blossom. “She’s clearly showing a path towards independence,” said Moldaver when thinking back on Allie’s journey.
In addition to OT support, Flanagan served as an advocate for the family as they navigated the transition into the public school system, ensuring that Allie received the services she needed. Now, at age 3 she has transitioned out of EI, and is an active child, participating in everything from swimming to dance.
For Moldaver, EI wasn’t just about helping Allie. The experience helped Moldaver learn more about her daughter. “This [diagnosis] is part of her personality. This is who she is,” Moldaver said. “Allie is an amazing child, and while she does have challenges, she functions at a very high level, and that’s thanks to Northeast Arc EI.”
Left to right: Rosemary Fournier, Allie Moldaver, Don Fournier, Jen Moldaver, Lucy Moldaver, Ron Moldaver
Arc in the Community
What does it mean when Northeast Arc says it wants people with diverse abilities to be fully included in their communities? A look at the agency’s community-based day programs reveals what that kind of inclusion looks like. Participants in Journeys and Steps to Independence, in NeArc’s Community Employment division, are regularly involved in the community through volunteerism and career exploration, while individuals supported through Day Habilitation in the Patton Center and Endeavor programs focus on enrichment through community activities.
Career Exploration
Participants in the Danvers and Saugus Steps to Independence programs are focused on building life and work skills that could lead to employment. Throughout 2024, they engaged in career exploration trips to various employers –from police departments to radio stations to hotels. During these visits, participants had the opportunity to learn about different jobs and see what may appeal to them. Some of these participants will eventually join Project Perk and Project parcels, Northeast Arc’s two employment training internship programs.
Working on the Farm
Each week in the spring, summer, and fall, participants in Journeys have traveled to Peabody to volunteer at Newhall Fields Community Farm. Activities vary by the week and growing season, but you can often find individuals pulling weeds, planting seeds, or completing maintenance projects on the property. These volunteer opportunities have helped Journeys participants learn about the farming industry and help them better understand where their food is grown.
Cultural and Educational Enrichment
Staff in the Patton Center and Endeavor programs work hard to curate unique community experiences for participants. Many of these individuals will not be employed or are medically complex, but they are interested in being engaged in their communities. Throughout 2024 staff planned a variety of activities such as museum visits, tours of public art installations, and outings to Boston and around the North Shore.
Patton Center and Journeys participants volunteer at Beverly Bootstraps
Journeys volunteering at Newhall Fields Community Farm
Making Residents Feel at Home
Northeast Arc expanded its Residential Services throughout 2024, including opening two new 24-hour residences in Peabody and Topsfield.
The Peabody home is newly renovated, and four longtime NeArc residents live there. They are supported by staff who enable them to live as independently as possible in the community.
The brand new Topsfield home represents an exciting new model to support residents with complex medical needs. Staffed with nurses, the home provides 24/7/365 care to residents, enabling them to live in a community setting instead of a medical facility.
Northeast Arc also continues to expand beyond its 24/7 homes through Independent Support Services (ISS) and Remote Supports.
ISS staff now support 30 individuals, helping them live independently with minimal support, as needed. Staff focus on meeting residents where they are, and helping them achieve their goals. This involves developing a teaching plan for independent living skills such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, laundry, and travel. The relationship between staff and individuals is collaborative with the end goal of helping the individual live on their own.
A half-dozen residents are now in the quickly growing Remote Supports program. This program fosters independence by leveraging technology that can provide assistance when staff are not present and allows for inperson support with NeArc staff when needed.
Community
Northeast Arc hosted several events at the Center for Linking Lives including an assistive technology fair and a spring market featuring artists and entrepreneurs with disabilities and autism
Celebrating the opening of the new home in Peabody
Celebrating the opening of the new home in Topsfield
Hub
Supporting Families
Northeast Arc doesn’t just support individuals with disabilities or autism – we support entire families, providing guidance, information, and advocacy.
NeArc’s Family Services division provides support through a diverse array of programs including the Autism and Adult Autism Support Center, Family Resource Center, Recreation, and Guided Personal Supports program. Family Services staff are part counselor, mediator, and navigator of services. They often act as liaisons between families facing problems and different government agencies who provide the funding or the direct services. Staff ensure 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.
Long-Term Support Services staff help medically complex individuals stay in their homes and be included in the community through Personal Care Management (PCM) and Adult Family Care (AFC).These programs allow people with disabilities to live at home by enabling them to directly hire caregivers (PCM) or by providing critical funding to family members serving as caregivers (AFC).
The impact of Family Services and LongTerm Support Services throughout the year was vast:
• 1,763 families supported through navigation support, resources, and referrals
• 302 events, trainings, and support groups with more than 3,000 participants
• 5,449 parents and professionals reached through monthly newsletters
• 5,100 individuals supported through PCM and AFC
PCM Provides Support for DeMasi Family
Peter DeMasi’s journey with Northeast Arc’s Personal Care Management (PCM) program began in a way that is familiar to many caregivers: with older relatives needing support to remain at home with their families. DeMasi joined PCM more than a year ago, looking for help caring for his mother-in-law, Maria, who is in her 80s with various medical needs. Shortly after that, the health of Maria’s husband, Antonio, who is also in his late 80s, began to decline. Peter was frustrated with the care his father-in-law was receiving at another agency, so Antonio also transferred into NeArc’s PCM program.
DeMasi and his wife, Nazzarena, both act as Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) and have hired an outside PCA to assist. Together, they support Maria and Antonio with activities of daily living including bathing, getting dressed, and cooking and eating. In addition to being paid for providing this care, DeMasi and his family also receive support from their Skills Trainer, Elizabeth Wood. “She has been very helpful,” said DeMasi. “She put us on the program, but she keeps calling in [and checking] and everything is working out fine.”
DeMasi says that the work of caregiving is challenging, particularly as the health of his motherand father-in-law decline but being involved in the PCM program has provided valuable support during a difficult time for his family. “Because it’s overwhelming; I thought it was easy at first,” said DeMasi, urging other families in similar circumstances to reach out to Northeast Arc. “They better join and try to get the help they can.”
Investing in our Team
Northeast Arc’s greatest asset is our team. We wouldn’t be able to carry out our mission of changing lives and discovering abilities without our dedicated workforce of more than 1,000 employees. NeArc is committed to creating an inclusive workforce that represents our communities, and that is reflected in the work of the agency’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) committee. Throughout 2024, NeArc has also made retention a key priority, focusing on keeping our employees engaged, while also offering opportunities for career development.
Creating an Inclusive Workplace
In 2024, Northeast Arc completed a project started in 2023 with YW Boston, aimed at improving diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the organization. Through workshops, focus groups, and surveys, NeArc learned about opportunities and challenges and developed a comprehensive action plan to improve DEIA across the organization.
Some initiatives that have been taken include:
• A new diversity statement outlining NeArc’s commitment to DEIA
• Creation of a DEIA committee with employees from across the agency
• Introduction of ASL classes to improve accessibility and create a more welcoming environment for deaf staff
• Development of a mentoring program to support the career development of early career NeArc employees
• Staff events to celebrate employee culture and heritage
Celebrating Shining Stars
During the summer of 2024, 11 Northeast Arc employees were honored as “Shining Stars” by the North Shore Area Office of the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services! They were honored for their phenomenal work in residential, individual support services, and employment.
Laura Stewart-Spiro and Rodel Treggiari, from Individual Support Services, with Jennifer Killeen 2. Jeanne Locicero and Laura Stewart-Spiro, from Individual Support Services 3.Intervale
Guaba, Carmen Beato, and Sharif Shahin
Alysha Russo, DDS service coordinator, Naomi Chicos, senior family resources specialist, Aymee Lucifora, director of the Family Resource Center, Rachel Moore, DDS service coordinator 5. Lisa Leo, Community Employment division director, Sal Palermo, job developer
(Photo courtesy Andrew Forti)
Promoting Staff Engagement
As an agency with 17 lines of business, dozens of locations, and more than 1,000 employees, employee collaboration is a major challenge. In recent staff satisfaction surveys, team members have expressed a desire for more events where they can engage with their colleagues.
Throughout 2024, the new Staff Engagement Committee focused on achieving that goal. New staff engagement initiatives included:
• The Northeast Arc ShArcs soccer team, which played weekly throughout the summer against other human service agencies
• Regular pop-up markets featuring products made by NeArc staff
• Ice cream socials and lunches where staff can mingle and enjoy social time
In addition, the Northeast Arc Executive Team has started holding regular office hours, giving employees the chance to speak directly with agency leaders.
1.
House team of Joamil
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Providing Pathways to Opportunities
Northeast Arc’s Pathways to Opportunities program for students exploring careers in human services expanded its scope, as well as its impact on students in its second year. The after-school mentoring program, based out of Lynn Classical High School, provides teens with the opportunity to create connectedness, empowering them to discover personal growth through collaborative experiences. The goal of this program is to build skills and confidence in historically underserved teens who may otherwise fall through the cracks while developing a pipeline of diverse, well-prepared, and caring staff for human service agencies, including Northeast Arc.
During the 2023-2024 school year, a dozen students participated, including many who returned for a second year. Throughout the year students demonstrated growth and success professionally, academically, and socially.
School Year Highlights
Internships and Work Experience
During school vacations, students worked in a variety of NeArc programs, earning a paycheck while learning about roles in the human services field. They attained American Red Cross CPR & First Aid certification and completed training on human rights, clinical services and the Disabled Persons Protection Commission.
A 2024 graduate is scheduled to become our first Pathways hire, working for NeArc part-time while studying to become a nurse.
Homework Help and Mentoring
Pathways students’ Grade Point Average (GPA) improved from 2.89 Q1 to 3.21 Q3 with four participants receiving honor roll certificates in April. Pathways leadership took multiple steps this school year to support the academic success of participants: expanding from three afternoons a week to five, allowing more class time for homework help, including individual assistance, and implementing a goody bag incentive for better grades.
Supporting Emotional Well-being
Pathways staff devoted considerable time this year supporting students’ emotional well-being. Students lost two classmates and friends to gun violence this winter. Pathways activities helped participants manage their feelings, including fear, and the grieving process. The Pathways classroom continues to be a safe space, physically and emotionally.
A module on emotional intelligence was offered through Pathways. Students practiced communication, empathy, and self-advocacy. One exercise highlighted that the people that students wish they could help were each other.
