The Arc Greater Twin Cities

Advocacy and support:total 2017 contacts: over 10,000. The Arc advocates provided, at no cost, one-to-one assistance to 1,560 individuals, either through phone consultation, email support or intensive one-to-one in person support. Over 3,650 people participated in networking and family access groups for parents and siblings of people with disabilities, arcshops and educational workshops, forums and trainings on topics of transportation, housing, employment, transition to adulthood, access to medicaid and healthcare.

Community engagement:over 1,100 people participated in public policy forums and civic engagement training through policy events to shape disability policy. An additional 1,600 individuals participate in Arc's action alert network to stay abreast of issues and influence policy makers. There were over 36,000 targeted eblasts and policy previews to keep people informed.

Planning services:the future life options program (formerly known as lifetime assistance program) helps families prepare for The future of their family member with an intellectual or developmental disability. The program educates and informs them of The importance of future planning, and supports them in creating a comprehensive quality of life, financial and legal plan to guide The framework for economic and personal well-being for their family member with a disability. Not only do they determine a future plan, but The Arc Greater Twin Cities leads them in developing The important action steps needed to achieve The goals for their family member, and identify who will support their loved one now and in The future. 120 families are engaged in The future life options program.

Program four - public awareness, membership and volunteer engagement. Public awareness outreach about intellectual and developmental disabilities include Arc e-newsletter (40,000 email subscribers), website (50,000 annual visitors) The Arc facebook page (2,200 fans), twitter (1,000 followers). In addition, messages about The Arc are included in all Arc's value thrift store and donation center communications, reaching more than 1 million shoppers donors and volunteers. Volunteering is another way individuals connect with The Arc. Volunteers provided 113,500 hours in support of The Arc gtc's programs and services, and in The operations of The Arc's value village thrift stores. The Arc gtc is a grassroots organization of individuals with disabilities, their families, and other individual and professional groups interested in issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Membership connects people to networks of support and strengthens members voices on public policy issues.