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Arc of NM

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Projects & Goals

The Arc Thriftown was formed by a small group of parents and other concerned individuals to help with the understanding and education of themselves and other families who had family members with mental retardation. At that time, there were virtually no programs and activities in the community to assist in the development and care of children and adults with mental retardation or to support their families.

We are a nonprofit tax-exempt company, incorporated in 1983, that derives support from membership, grants and donations, and profits from the Thriftown store. Thriftown is our major fundraiser, and it currently brings in about $50,000 per year over expenses, for us to spend on mission-related activities.

Mission
The Arc Thriftown supports quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities and their families.
This is accomplished through partnerships, advocacy, information and referral, technical support, and community education.

Our Goals

• Advocate in partnership with people with developmental disabilities for equal opportunity and choice in where people with disabilities and their families live, work, play and socialize.
  Increase community awareness and knowledge of developmental disabilities.
• Support service providers and individuals for projects and special needs.
• Sponsor and support expansion of opportunities in the areas of housing, personal spirituality, employment, transportation, recreation, education, self-advocacy and self-determination, person centered planning, and resource facilitation
• Build coalitions around issues, and community around individuals
• Obtain the information and tools necessary to succeed. Generate new ideas, innovation and inspired leadership. Constantly improve our focus, knowledge and effectiveness.
• Seek and support diverse leadership and membership. Our concept of diversity includes but is not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, age, socio-economic status, geographic location, sexual orientation, gender, family status, and type and level of disability.
• Continue to network and build alliances with other local organizations with overlapping missions.
• Expand Membership

Current Projects & Services
Advocacy – We present a positive view of persons with disabilities, and provide individualized advocacy. We speaking on behalf of those with developmental disabilities and their families, work with people with disabilities to teach them how to advocate for themselves, provide community education and publicity. Community action and systems advocacy includes work with business, schools, community programs, rehabilitation, and nursing homes. Most advocacy involves strategizing, planning, and teaching people about their choices, and then assisting as little as possible to ensure follow-through.

Community Education – This includes informational booths at conferences, newsletters (which were quarterly, but have been abandoned in favor of timely and easier e-mail notices), a lending library (books, videos, magazines, etc.), presentations (on The Arc Thriftown, supported employment, self-advocacy, and other disability issues), publicity of disability (television, radio, and newspaper), an e-mail list serve of 400 for disability issues (legislative and training announcements, social events, specialized “help wanted,” resources, etc.), classes for people with disabilities and families on self-advocacy, and poster contests (FAS, STS topical). Download the Community Education Brochure

Empowerment Game – A self-advocate can facilitate a fun and informational Monopoly-style board game that teaches players how the service system works.

Guardianship Project – Contract with DDPC to provide free and reduced cost guardianship. The State pays attorney’s fees, The Arc Thriftown provides free assessments to the courts, and the family pays the court costs. We also educate about alternatives to guardianship.

Information and referral – We help people maneuver through Medicaid Waiver Programs (Link to Getting Services under Need Help), State General Funds, EPSDT & Adult Targeted services, Schools, and the Crisis System, assisting people with accessing funding for services. This also includes group assistance with DD Waiver applications and understanding the Mi Via Waiver.

Steps to Success – A partnership with Bureau of Indian Affairs, New Mexico DD Planning Council, Aztec, Bloomfield, Central Consolidated, and Farmington School Districts, Family members and people with disabilities, San Juan Family Connections support group, Parents Reaching Out, Native American Protection & Advocacy Program, SouthWest Autism Network, Self-Directed Family Support Program, Navajo Nation Office of Special Education & Rehabilitation Services, and Presbyterian Medical Services. We offer conferences every six months at San Juan College, with 200-350 average attendance, educating the community about disability issues. Once a year we get a big-name speaker – Kathie Snow on natural supports, Carry Griffin on customized employment, Rich Villa on inclusive education, and a Participatory Assistive Technology workshop to date.

Supported Employment – Thriftown employs several staff with developmental disabilities. We use the store itself to carving out pieces of jobs for people with severe disabilities, as a job try-out site for people with disabilities who have no basis for knowing what kind of employment they are interested in, and as a job site for employment education for high school transition students. We also provide financial support to programs, publicity for entrepreneurs with disabilities, volunteer and barter for merchandise, and training for service providers on the provision of supported employment services. We have just started offering consignment sales of merchandise created by people with developmental disabilities.

Coffee Hour – Come join us for coffee, networking and conversation about how we can make our community a better place

People First – Self-Advocacy group for people with intellectual and other disabilities to learn how to speak for themselves, get involved in giving back to the community, and create fun social activities. People First of New Mexico

Mi Via Network – Are you interested in finding out about the new Self Directed Mi Via Waver? Are you or a family member already a Mi Via participant and have questions? Do you need help applying for the Waiver? Come to this meeting and we will work together to answer your questions!

Waiver Assistance – Learn about the different Waivers and funding sources for people with disabilities, get help applying

Person Centered Plan Facilitation – We will provide PATH, MAP, ELP, SRV, and Solution Circles, through the DD Waiver (The Arc of NM), Mi Via, and private pay. Downloado the Arc of NM Dream Makers program brochure.

Resource Coordination – Services will be beyond advocacy and referral over the phone, or short time-limited episodes, but in-depth facilitation, referral and advocacy. We will facilitate supports and arrangements to make things easier, help bring things about, seek/help people hook up with services/ supports that can help them meet their goals - customized facilitation for any outcome. Examples: Circle of Support or long term facilitator/broker/coordinator, housing arrangements/supports, transportation arrangements/supports, relationships & community connections. Services will be paid through Mi Via, private pay, trusts, and provider agency sub-contracts.