FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS
Patti Thomas
For the passed decade the Arc of Butte County has focused on strengthening families with special needs members. Day to day life, with its frequent demands can be stressful for each of us. These every day stresses greatly increase when a family is faced with the extraordinary challenges of parenting an individual with special needs. The Arc offers: Support Groups, Parent Education, Resource Library, Computer Lab, Disability Awareness, Saturday Respite & more.
If you have questions, please, contact Arc’s Associate Director, Patti Thomas.
FOCUS – FAMILIES OF CHILDREN UNDER STRESS
FOCUS is a support-based program for families and/or caregivers of children with special needs, where caregivers share their triumphs, frustrations and fears with other parents who have been there. FOCUS is held at various locations around Butte County (every Wednesday night in Chico or Paradise) and acts as an outlet to families on a variety of levels. During the group’s session, children participate in an integrated recreational program at a variety of levels.
RAINBOW OF KIDS CLUB
Every Saturday, the Family Support staff plan educational and fun activities for special needs children and their siblings. Offering varied recreational and social experiences. If you would like to sign your child up for ROCK events, please, contact Patti Thomas. See pictures of this program on the Arc of Butte County’s Facebook page.
ADVOCACY
Because we believe informed parents make the best advocates, the Arc of Butte County provides workshops and individualized assistance to help increase the parents’ understanding of their child’s rights and the responsibilities of the special education and service delivery systems. An Advocacy Information Program meets once a month in Chico. During these meetings, guest speakers talk about a variety of advocacy-related issues.
ADULT DAY PROGRAM
Nelson Corwin
A day program that includes both center based and community based experiences as well as a vocational readiness and work experience program. Participants are engaged in a variety of constructive activities that aid in acquiring self help skills. Our work program combines both paid work at minimum wage and skills training. If you have questions about the ADP or work training, please, contact Nelson Corwin. See pictures of this program on the Arc of Butte County’s Facebook page.
ARC CLIENT SERVICES
The ARC offers a variety of services to our families and to individuals through the Far Northern Regional Center. These provide time off for parents, training for individuals and recreational activities.
RESPITE CARE
Tom Leonardi
Respite Care Service offers personalized support to children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. A respite care provider is available to provide temporary care and companionship for the individual with a developmental disability or neurological impairment in the home or community. Sensitive to the needs of families living with someone who has a disability, respite care providers furnish one of the supports which maintain disabled individuals in their homes, enhance personal growth and development, and foster independence of all family members. If you have questions regarding Respite, please, Tom Leonardi.
INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS
Ray Fennell
The Independent Living Skills program provides a diverse range of skill training and services that focus on the individual’s personal and social needs. The training enables individuals to acquire, maintain and improve their existing abilities to live independently in the community. Our staff is able to assist each client, based on individual needs, in areas of independent living and behavioral intervention. If you have questions regarding ILS, please, contact Ray Fennell.
PARENT EDUCATON
Bonnie Bethel
The Parent Education Program consists of an ongoing series of classes related to parenting the special-needs child. Parenting a child with special needs can be very challenging at times. The courses are set up workshop-style and repeated a few times throughout the year. Our overall course objective is to provide parents with a better understanding of their child’s needs, as well as providing an outlet for personal and family growth. As a specialized component of the ILS program, Arc’s Parenting is able to provide the following services on a one-to-one basis: individual parent support, positive parenting techniques, parent support groups, assistance with understanding and accessing community services. If you have questions regarding Parent education or “Baby Thyme”, please, contact Bonnie Bethel.
