| The Arc Jefferson - St. Lawrence

Call to Action: Stop Budget Cuts!

We need your help to contact legislators and tell them you are against proposed New York state budget cuts and other actions affecting people with I/DD, families, and the providers who support them. It takes less than two minutes to send your message to legislators using this link: https://p2a.co/GaOtqpi

The Arc New York is advocating for:

Rejection of a $60M 1% targeted cut by OPWDD
Restoration of the deferred $89.7M cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
Support for enhanced pandemic pay for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)
Statutory guarantees that all proposed cuts will be eliminated should New York receive the requested $15B in federal aid

It is vital for legislators know where we stand and it is our duty to inform them. We must hold our legislators accountable for what happens within state government. Please take a few minutes to share your story and convey the impact of these cuts.

Buy a Brick to Honor a Loved One and Support the Capital Campaign

As you know, the Capital Campaign to renovate the building on Gaffney Drive is ongoing and we are still working to reach the fund raising goal. One part of the transformation is the creation of a sensory garden with plants, a water fountain, and an area with bricks to memorialize or honor loved-ones. The 4”x8” bricks may be engraved with up to three lines of text with 18 characters on each line. Bricks cost $100 each and may also be purchased online at www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/jrcfoundation.

Message from our CEO Howie Ganter

Words cannot express the appreciation of all our staff members’ efforts to keep the people we support safe, keep families informed and maintain operations at the organization despite not only the pressures of COVID-19 but the challenges we face each day. I am especially proud of the success we have had in limiting the number of cases in the agency. Although we have had an increase based on community spread in both counties our numbers are still low for the size of the organization. This is due to our use of PPE, adhering to disinfection and sanitation practices, and social distancing by our staff. Those who provide direct support have been working extra shifts and long hours to ensure we meet our staffing ratios to provide quality services and supports. They often put those we support and their needs ahead of their other responsibilities.

The impact of COVID will be with us for years based on the fiscal challenges it has caused, but we are a resilient organization and will come out of this stronger than before. We do not know exactly what the future will bring but we do know it will be different than how we operated Pre-COVID. We will probably have fewer site-based services and more community based, we will see increased use of technology for services, communication and training, and an increase in self-direction. We will also be moving into managed care in the next several years.

We have come a long way in the last two years and are stronger as a result of our merger. We will continue to advocate for increased funding to support staff salaries and benefits, will look for opportunities for collaboration, different revenue streams, increased efficiencies, improvements to our IT and communication systems, and improve our infrastructure. We will also continue to advocate for those we support in regards to the services and supports they want and need.

We are hopeful that 2021 will bring an end to the pandemic and let us get back to some form of normalcy. All our staff no matter what role they have, contribute to the provision of quality services and supports. Although we have been short-staffed for quite some time, everyone steps up to the plate to accomplish great things. Thanks for all you do and the care you provide those we support.

Saturday Club - Movies

Saturday, February 15, 2020

United States

Please call Christina @ 315-276-8383 if you would like to go each time.

Saturday Club - 21st Annual Chili Cook Off & Super Science

Saturday, February 1, 2020

United States

Please call Christina @ 315-276-8383 if you would like to go each time.

Saturday Club - SLU Hockey vs. Clarkson

Saturday, January 18, 2020

United States

Please call Christina @ 315-276-8383 if you would like to go each time.

Saturday Club - Bowling

Saturday, January 4, 2020

United States

Please call Christina @ 315-276-8383 if you would like to go each time.