The Arc of King County is the oldest nonprofit organization of its kind serving children and adults with developmental disabilities, and their families in the Puget Sound Region. The Arc is also one of the oldest of its kind in the United States.
Accessibility and Cultural Competency
The Family Support 360 Center focuses on families identified as underserved or unserved, including immigrants, communities of color, and culturally diverse families living in rural communities. This program employs culturally and linguistically members of the Vietnamese, East African, and Latino communities to provide accessible services and reduce the barriers that keep many families with a developmentally disabled child isolated.
Best Practices
Examples of Arc of King County best practices include: convening the King County Parent Coalition; providing training for social workers and community professionals on working with clients with traumatic brain injuries; and viewing clients holistically by understanding the interconnectedness of issues that families face. Flexible, person-centered plans are created for each client and their family, and services are available throughout the person’s entire lifetime.
Collaboration
The Arc of King County partners with numerous organizations to ensure a high level of service delivery. East African Community Services in the New Holly Community, project SOAR, and the University Center of Excellence of Developmental Disabilities are examples of strong partnerships Arc maintains in the community. These partnerships, among many others, not only better serves families already involved with Arc, but also creates opportunities to educate partner organizations on how to best work with developmentally disabled populations.