Community and Family Information
HARC
was founded by families and continues its commitment to them.
Consistent with its grassroots history, the board of directors is comprised
of a majority of parents, adult siblings and self advocates. Other community
leaders serve on the board to provide expertise and guidance.
When a family learns that their child has
intellectual disability, HARC is
ready to assist with information and support. We define family support as
whatever it takes to keep a family together.
Social Work
Service Coordination and Advocacy:
There are many public and private agencies
that
are available to assist families. HARC works closely with the Department of
Developmental Services, the Department of Social Services, Department of Children
And Families, local schools and private agencies. HARC helps families negotiate the complex systems that are available to help their children.
Advocacy:
Family Support Coordinators attend meetings with the
Department of Developmental Services or local schools to assist with person-centered
planning. It is our goal to assist parents in becoming effective advocates for
their children. Services are available in English and Spanish. In addition
to providing advocacy for individuals and their families, HARC also advocates
for system wide changes through governmental action. Click
here for the
Governmental Affairs page.
Information and Referral:
HARC
maintains an extensive resource library. We also help families locate additional
resources and make referrals when appropriate. Our follow-along services prevent
families from "falling through the cracks". We work with Section 8 housing, food
banks, the Salvation Army as well as other local agencies to help families meet
basic needs.
Family Supports
Respite Care: In-home and out-of-home respite
for short or extended periods of time can be arranged for people of all ages.
Parent Support Groups: HARC conducts a variety of parent support
groups. Groups offer opportunities to meet other families and learn from their
experiences. Educational programs include: special education law, sexuality,
challenging behaviors, estate planning, and transition services. Problem
focused groups are conducted which target particular issues such as: Coping with
Siblings, Dealing with Adolescence and issues surrounding "letting
go."
Recreation: HARC offers a wide variety of inclusive recreational
opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. For adults we publish a
monthly calendar of activities including Unified Special Olympics. There are a
variety of summer and winter programs for school age children. Click
here for more information on
Recreation.
Public Education
Best Buddies: Best Buddies is a
peer-to-peer program that matches college students with our young adults.
Kids on the Block:
Volunteers visit schools in the Greater Hartford
area and present puppet shows for school children using life-size puppets that
illustrate a broad range of disabilities and respond to typically asked
questions. Click
here if you would be interested in volunteering to become a
puppeteer.
Membership is required to participate in respite, adult
recreation and to receive family support and advocacy services. To add your name
to our mailing list and to obtain membership information, please contact:
Dawn Allen
HARC
900 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 218-6031
dallen@harc-ct.org
