Quality Assurance : The Arc ’ s Ongoing Commitment to Innovation and Improvement
The Arc of Essex County was founded in 1948 by a group of dedicated parents and community leaders seeking greater opportunities and cultural acceptance for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities ( I / DD ). While The Arc has made great strides since its inception , the agency continues to create new opportunities and increase community acceptance enabling individuals with I / DD to live fuller , more independent lives as engaged citizens in their communities .
Woven into the core of every program and service provided by The Arc are checks and balances to ensure day program attendees and residents have the highest quality of life . These Quality Assurance practices , implemented by members of The Arc of Essex County ’ s Board of Directors and staff , enable the agency to continue evolving to meet the community ’ s needs and innovating in the face of change .
In Fiscal Year 2015-2016 , The Arc of Essex County ’ s Quality Assurance department expanded its approach to include greater involvement from individuals ’ guardians and families resulting in more balanced oversight . Throughout the year , members of The Arc ’ s management team and Board of Directors toured and evaluated each program and community residence developing a plan of action to enact positive change for program attendees and residents .
During these annual reviews , the human resources , information technology , transportation , maintenance , residential , and adult day departments report on the status of staff training , vehicle maintenance , facility upkeep , and more . Concurrently , residents and day program attendees and their families are asked about their quality of life , participation in activity planning , and satisfaction levels . The feedback is analyzed and an action plan developed for each of the nearly 40 community residences and day programs .
The Quality Assurance program not only benefits day program attendees and residents , but also helps The Arc prioritize capital improvements and gathers valuable data needed when reporting to the Division of Developmental Disabilities ( DDD ). The Arc of Essex County has received glowing feedback from DDD ’ s residential licensing team on the quality of life , policies , procedures , and availability of records .
By involving every stakeholder in the Quality Assurance process , The Arc of Essex County is able to better identify strengths and areas of improvement and fulfill its responsibility to provide the highest quality programming that enables individuals to explore and experience new opportunities .
An attendee of the Arcompany day program earns a paycheck working twice a week at the Goodwill in Rockaway . The Arc ’ s vocational day programs enable individuals with I / DD to achieve social and economic inclusion through sustainable employment .
“ The Arc of Essex County ’ s Quality Assurance program upholds our commitment and responsibility to continue innovating on behalf of individuals with I / DD and their families . This program not only helps us improve the day program and residential experience , but also helps the agency prioritize strategic improvements so we can elevate our best practices and evolve for the future .”
- Erin Koropsak , Senior Director , Quality Assurance , The Arc of Essex County