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The Arc of Opportunity

General Info

Program Name
Residential Community Homes
Agency Office
564 Main Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420
Phone
978-343-6662
Fax
978-857-0911
Program Type
Residentialprogram types definition
Business Filing Type
Corporation
Organizational Type
Non-Profit
Transportation options
Accessible vans available for individual transportation. All staff trained on safe and correct utilization of program vehicles.
Hours of Operation
24 hour per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
Accessibility Features
Wheelchair Ramps, Accessible Parking, Accessible Restrooms, Near Public Transportation, Able to serve clients in their wheelchair , Medical Needs
Contact
Colleen G Gibson
Services
Financial Assistance, Group Homes, Home Care Corporation (Home Care), Skills Training
Populations Served
Autism Spectrum, Birth Defects, Developmental Disability, Epilepsy/seizure Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, Muscular Dystrophy
Eligibility Requirements
DDS eligibility

Narrative

Our residential community homes offer models serving 4-5 individuals in a continuously supported and staffed environment, ensuring individuals are encouraged and offered opportunities to become valued community members.

 Staff support individuals to engage in activities within the community, including personalized leisure activities, memberships and personal relationships. Individuals are supported and encouraged to express themselves. 

The Arc of Opportunity prides itself on offering adaptive and innovative layouts to their community residential properties to maximize independence within the home.

 Our residential community homes span the communities of Fitchburg, Leominster, Pepperell, Auburn and Worcester. However, our outreach and connections into the neighboring communities are vast. Our individuals have diverse and rich connections into many neighboring communities, which they are supported in maintaining. 

 Our newest community homes in Auburn, Fitchburg and Leominster feature fully accessible grade-level homes for ease of access for non-ambulatory individuals and offer adaptive layout design modifications to support the specific residents residing in the homes.

Some of these are:

-Accessible kitchens with wheelchair-height appliances and countertops

-Custom wheelchair-height dining tables 

-Ceiling lift-tracking systems in common and bedroom areas allowing for seamless and safe transfers 

-Bedrooms with individual means of egress capable of evacuating hospital beds in event of evacuation

-“Safe Rooms” featuring separate concrete foundations and storm shutters to allow staff and individuals to “shelter” in place safely during weather emergencies. 

-Fully accessible bathrooms with ceiling tracking for ease of transfers as well as accessible showers and a therapeutic whirlpool tub.

-Separate den common area for privacy when individuals visit with family and friends

-Rear, accessible covered porches to enjoy the warmer weather

Staff in our residential community homes are the lifeblood of our mission in creating quality community residential supports for our individuals. 

Staff are fully trained in specific areas pertinent to the population of individuals supported to ensure quality of supports are delivered.

 

Among these:

-Unique Needs training specific to individuals diagnosis, medical needs and adaptive devices 

-Training on effective use and institution of Positive Behavior Supports techniques to assist staff in more efficiently addressing problem behaviors and recognizing behavior as a means of communication. (Include PBS resources).

-Training on effective management of escalating or aggressive problem behaviors via Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI).

-Training on administration of medications 

-Other training offerings including nutritional and food texture support, sensitivity, neutral writing, confidentiality , Positive Behavior Supports and sexuality.

 

Licensure

Client Information

Staff to Client Ratios
5 clients to every 2 staff person
Age Range of Clients
24 years to 82 years
Number of Current Clients
39

Towns Served

ASHBURNHAM, ASHBY, AYER, BARRE, BERLIN, BOLTON, CLINTON, FITCHBURG, GARDNER, GROTON, HARDWICK, HARVARD, HUBBARDSTON, LANCASTER, LEOMINSTER, LUNENBURG, NEW BRAINTREE, OAKHAM, PEPPERELL, PRINCETON, RUTLAND, SHIRLEY, STERLING, TEMPLETON, TOWNSEND, WESTMINSTER, WINCHENDON

Record last updated on 26/03/2024

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