Children and teens attending the Saturday Children’s Respite program marked Halloween with a special celebration on October 28. Attendees wore their Halloween costumes, painted pumpkins during arts and crafts time, participated in Zumba exercises, and danced to spooky music together to prepare for the holiday. The Children’s Saturday Respite Program is a community-based program for children ages 5 to 21. The program participates in both community-based and in-center activities including visits to parks, festivals, cooking, arts and crafts, and more. The in-center location is based out of Maplewood. To learn more, visit our Children’s Respite page or contact Assistant Director of [...]

After a rainy-day postponement, The Arc of Essex County’s rescheduled Craft Beer Open on October 23 took place under beautiful sunny skies with an autumn-foliage backdrop for participants on the course. The 3rd annual event at the Crestmont Country Club featured a shamble-formant golf competition with on-course tastings from tasting partners Autodidact Brewing, Brooklyn Brewery, Dogfish Head, Four City Brewing, Links Drinks, and Owl’s Brew. After the golf was complete, participants enjoyed a cocktail reception that featured delicious food from the Crestmont Country Club, plus tastings from Chef Jesse Concepts, Q’Enko, Crumbl Cookies, and Organic Vintages wines. Guests also bid in [...]

The Arc of Essex County is pleased to announce three generous grants from foundations that will support Arc residents and campers. The Bolger Foundation donated $32,010 to The Arc of Essex County to replace HVAC systems in three group homes. The McCutchen Foundation donated $14,000 to install a new 24kw generator at the Wedgewood Drive group home in West Orange. The Provident Bank Foundation donated $2,500 to Camp Hope’s general operating budget. The Arc of Essex County extends its sincere appreciation to all three organizations for their kind support, which will make a difference in the lives of the individuals with intellectual and developmental [...]

Participants in The Arc of Essex County’s adult Saturday Respite program were invited to Calvary Evangelical Free Church in Essex Fells on October 14 for a Fall Festival. Despite the rainy weather, the group enjoyed the autumn celebration, participating in tabletop games, crafts, and indoor pumpkin picking. The Arc thanks the Calvary congregation for putting together such a special event and including our Arc community. The Arc of Essex County’s Saturday respite program is a community integration program for adults that allows caregivers to take the time they need to relieve stress, restore energy, and manage family life. Our Saturday respite [...]

A message from The Arc of the United States: Exciting news! Congress introduced a new bill that would increase desperately needed funding for people with disabilities to live in their communities. The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act of 2023 was introduced in Congress by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). The bill would provide two years of additional Medicaid funds to: •              Improve access to HCBS by increasing direct care worker pay and benefits; •              Decrease the number of people on waiting lists for HCBS (currently over 650,000!); and •              Pay for assistive technologies, staffing, and other costs that facilitate community integration. Take action now to [...]

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Jeffrey Smith.  Jeffrey moved into The Arc of Essex County’s West Orange Group Home in 1998, and attended our Livingston/Reach CRC, which became the West Caldwell Hub day program. Jeffrey enjoyed watching General Hospital and the Channel 7 news with his best friend, William. Jeffrey and William talked every day in Jeffrey’s bedroom about sports and William’s extensive record collection. Their bond was unbreakable. His favorite teams were the Giants and the Yankees. He loved attending Camp Hope each summer, Man Cave Mondays at Studio Arc, and participating in community [...]

For individuals seeking a community living placement, The Arc of Essex County has the following November 2023 openings: NEW! West Orange Community Residence (1 Male or Female Vacancy) 24/7 supervision Single-family style group home, with ample back yard and patio Co-ed living arrangement with active group of residents who share diverse interests and hobbies Residents enjoy helping to take care of the home with meal preparation and home maintenance Located near shopping center and movie theater Meadowbrook Condo (1 Male Vacancy) Unlicensed two-bedroom condo in Maplewood Candidates would be on the Supports Program Close to public transportation Care based on individual needs Orange Community Residence (1 Male or Female Vacancy) 24/7 supervision Single-family style [...]