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New Initiatives

New Initiatives

We strive to understand, anticipate and respond to the needs of the individuals we serve and our community through wide-ranging initiatives, innovative partnerships, and strategic planning for the future. Recent plans and initiatives include:

  • The San Francisco Human Services Administration’s Department of Disability and Aging Services (HSA DAS) supports programs that have a deep impact throughout San Francisco. Three of The Arc SF’s impactful programs are funded through HSA DAS.

  • COVID-19 highlighted the disparities in hardware and internet accessibility, preventing Arc participants from fully participating in the digital age. To access online Arc classes, socialize with friends, or return to the workforce, or purchase, schedule, or access information online, you need equipment and Wifi.COVID-19 highlighted the disparities in hardware and internet accessibility, preventing Arc participants from fully participating in the digital age. To access online Arc classes, socialize with friends, or return to the workforce, or purchase, schedule, or access information online, you need equipment and Wifi.

    Enter the SF Connected grant! This HSA DAS three-year grant enables Arc participants to expand their computer literacy, sign up for COVID-19 vaccinations, receive laptops and tablets, and weather the pandemic in the virtual company of their colleagues and Arc SF support staff. The Arc SF has leveraged this grant to raise additional funds to give Arc participants real equity in a digital future.

    Please click the link below for more information about how SF Connected impacts participants' lives.

  • Education, Advocacy & Peer Mentoring
    Education, Advocacy & Peer Mentoring

    In response to increasing participant demand, The Arc SF has expanded its social justice offerings in our curriculum and advocacy work. These past events have highlighted the intersection of race and disability and its impact on Arc participants and staff. We were looking for ways to enhance our anti-racist and disability justice work while supporting participants to develop skills in connection with community members.

    HSA DAS three-year grant funds this program so that adults with disabilities can live a fully realized and integrated community life. In addition to providing positive avenues to create new social networks, the programming aims to increase access to the cultural, educational, social, and political well-being of people with disabilities.

    The program has two pieces:
    (1) Education and Advocacy: The Arc's anti-racist, equity, and advocacy classes will help participants access resources and build their resiliency skills, digital literacy, and the confidence to become community leaders in the years to come.

    (2) The Peer Mentoring program will include recruitment, training, and matching of volunteer mentors to adults living with a disability. These relationships will increase participants' educational, social, and recreational opportunities.

    After a very successful first year, we look forward to building both components into a permanent part of our offerings. Click here to see the closing celebration video of our first Peer Mentoring cohort. Anyone interested in becoming a Peer Mentor can contact Volunteer Manager Barbara Streett at bstreett@thearcsf.org.

Our impact this year has changed our community!

Thank you to our community and business partners!

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