The arc of weld county promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through advocacy and support services

Human Service Organizations , Human Services

Individual advocacy: currently we have two advocates who provide individual advocacy to all of weld county. Our advocates, have provided advocacy services for over 166 individuals/families. 40% of the cases involve iep issues; 40% -system navigation; 5% - assistance with criminal justice issues; & 15% assistance with resource information. Eastern county outreach: the arc of weld county with financial assistance from the arc of colorado has expanded its advocacy services to the counties east of weld county e. G. Logan, morgan, phillips, washington, sedgwick & yuma county. Our part time advocate who works out of a satellite office in sterling, co. South county outreach: our south county office has been open since january 2014. That office location is 330 park avenue, fort lupton, co 80621. We currently have staff at that office by appointment only. In addition to providing individual advocacy services in south county other outreach efforts are available e. G. Parent education trainings, social skills classes etc. Project illumination (healthy relationships classes): project illumination is a program that was developed approximately eight years ago with the goal being to educate self-advocates, families and the community about the overwhelming problem of sexual abuse of people with intellectual & developmental disabilities (i/dd). In 2014 we received a collaboration grant from the community foundation serving greeley & weld county where we partnered with sava and envision to conduct a train the trainer program. In 2016 we provided one training that served 9 students with intellectual & developmental disabilities. We will be promoting this valued program in 2017 as well. Families in action: we had our third annual retreat on august 5-7 at the ymca camp in estes park. In attendance were 10 families from weld county. This has become an annual event where we partner with the arc of colorado, arc of larimer county, the association of community living of boulder county and the arc thrift store to provide a weekend of education and networking for the parents and a camp like experience for the children with disabilities and their siblings. In 2017, the arc of weld county will be hosting the retreat at buckhorn camp west of fort collins on june 9-11. If you have a child with intellectual/developmental disabilities between the ages of birth 12 years please contact our staff for the 2017 retreat. Educational trainings: as our individual advocacy program continues to develop we are looking for ways to assist our self advocates and family members to be able to continue their knowledge of advocacy related issues. We have developed an extensive iep training that is being offered upon request. In november we offered a training on wills, trusts and guardianship and the response was encouraging. In 2017 we will be offering quarterly educational trainings on topics that are of importance to our members.