Family and Caregiver Support
The Arc of the Capital Area’s Family & Caregiver Support Services make sure that individuals are able to keep their spirits alive in spite of any personal sacrifices they must make while caring for their loved ones. We do this by providing services that ensure that parents of children with developmental disabilities have access to essential information and support to develop and strengthen their care-giving skills, reduce their isolation, decrease their stress levels and support their efforts to keep their children at home, in school and functioning within the community they live.
The following services are offered at minimal or no cost: There are limited scholarships available - please speak to your case manager concerning scholarships.
- Specialized respite care
- Peer mentoring and advocacy
- Educational opportunities
- Academic Coaching
- Basic needs and crisis assistance
- Guardianship
Parent Match
Many of the parents who are served through the Family & Caregiver Support Services program have just discovered that their child has a disability, and they are in need of emotional support, resources and assistance understanding the special education process.
Our award-winning parent-to-parent matching service brings families together to share real-world experiences and situations that are common to parents who are facing the future of raising a child with a disability.
Educational Opportunities/Support Groups
The Arc in collaboration with MHMR and local school districts conducts weekly support groups, educational opportunities and bilingual special education trainings to help parents gain valuable parenting knowledge and skills. Snacks and childcare are included.
Academic Coaching
The Arc provides community volunteers who assist special sducation students and their caregivers with achieving goals specific to the student’s educational plan for the future.
Academic Coaching volunteers are screened, trained and selected for assignments based on their experience relative to the client’s needs and their compatibility with the individual. Our goal is to create friendships in addition to assisting students with achieving academic success. The coach and student meet once a week in the students home or local library and commit to six months.
Basic Needs and Crisis Assistance
The Arc is a member of the Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas, which provides a service called the Best Single Source Program. This program provides up to $1,200 a year that must be used for rent, mortgage or utilities. The client must be in a crisis situation, (for many of our clients it involves missing work due to dealing with their child's illness or disability), live in Travis County, have participated in other Arc related services in the past three months and complete three months of case management with The Arc.
The Arc also manages a Crisis Assistance fund for additional needs. This program is supported by grants and funders and is allotted to clients who have an immediate need, such as a wheel chair ramp, food, modified toys or mobility devices. This funding is open to all of our clients who have participated in Arc related services in the past three months. Arc Crisis Assistance funds are limited to funding availability.
