Congratulations to The Arc Central Chesapeake Region on their accreditation renewal
The Standards for Excellence Institute would like to congratulate The Arc Central Chesapeake Region for renewing their accreditation under the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.
Being accredited by the Standards for Excellence Institute demonstrates that the nonprofit has met the rigorous requirements that are included in the standards. Being an accredited nonprofit sets the organization apart as a top performer in the nonprofit field and lets all its stakeholders (funders, community members, board, staff, volunteers) know that they can have confidence in the quality of its programs, its accountability and openness, and its commitment to best practices.
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region’s mission is to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live the lives they choose by creating opportunities, promoting respect and equity, and providing access to services. They serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Anne Arundel County & Maryland’s Eastern Shore through their programs, which include:
• Children, Youth, & Their Families – Serves youth under 21 with free Family Navigation, educational resources, and grant programs.
• Living Options & Services – Supports people with IDD to live independently or in a residential group home in the community.
• Workforce Development – Supports people with IDD to realize their career goals and obtain and maintain their chosen employment.
• Day Services – Creates opportunities for people to determine how they spend their day, supporting them to be active in the community.
• Behavioral Health – Provides tailored mental health counseling and therapy for people with IDD as a foundation for each person’s well-being.
• Self-Directed Services – The Arc is one of two providers in Maryland authorized to provide fiscal management & counseling services to people with IDD who self-direct their services.
Their Executive Director, Jonathon Rondeau, says:
The Arc has been accredited through the Standards for Excellence since 2008, and each accreditation cycle includes more requirements around assessing organizational capacity, leadership, compliance, ethics, finance, resource development, and advocacy. This year was no different and the process for completing the accreditation took several months with the coordination and gathering of all data and narratives needed from across the organization. This recognition is not just about the amazing work we do, but how we do our work. And none of this would be possible without our forward-thinking Board of Directors and the excellence each employee brings to the community and behind the scenes.
Congratulations again to The Arc Central Chesapeake Region for this noteworthy achievement. They have earned the right to proudly use the Seal of Excellence, the symbol for excellence and transparency in nonprofit management.
The Standards for Excellence Institute encourages all nonprofits to check out the Standards for Excellence code and to consider applying for accreditation or recognition. A good starting point is the free online self-assessment, which provides a detailed, actionable report, along with links to resources.