Educational Partnerships

The Arc Carroll County has partnered with Carroll County Public Schools for 15 years to provide educational support services to high school students and students in the Post Secondary Program.  The Arc's Educational Instructors practice a holistic approach to vocational and educational success:  Focusing on education, job placement, vocational goals and objectives, lesson planning and curriculum implementation.  The Educational Partnerships Manager and/or Educational Instructors attend students' Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings and transition meetings, as well.  Currently The Arc works in five distinct programs:

MSTC

The Maryland Seamless Transition Collaborative utilizes The Arc Carroll County’s vocational resources and community connections to facilitate employment opportunities for students who receive special education services and plan to graduate high school with a diploma.  Students in this program employ self-determination to gain the necessary skills to leave the school system with a career rather than a job.

VOICE

The Arc provides vocational readiness instruction through the Vocational Opportunities for Independent Change and Empowerment program.  This program is for students ages 19-21 who have graduated from their high school with a certificate and are eligible for funding through the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).  Curriculum consists of professional introductions, how to work with others, understanding the role of a job coach and employer expectations.

TCP

Instructors from The Arc educate students on career management through the Transition Connection Program.  This program is for students ages 19-21 who have graduated from their high school with a certificate and are eligible to receive funding through the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) or the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).  This school-to-work curriculum consists of locating job leads, identifying community resources, filling out job applications and mastering the job interview and to help students be independent on the job.

CITY

Instructors from The Arc co-teach one hour/mod per week at each of Carroll County's public high schools on self-determination and pre-employment.  Students also participate in three work-based experiences including job sampling, job shadowing and a tour of the various post-secondary programs offered by Carroll County Public Schools.  Students in CITY are ages 14-18 and are in the Learning for Independence classes and will graduate with a certificate from their high school.

ST@CC

Educational Instructors from The Arc instruct students on career and employment resource planning on the Carroll Community College campus.  Students learn about job skills and how to access services.  Students are typically DORS eligible and have graduated from their home high school with a certificate.  This program promotes independence on the job and students must be able to access private or public transportation. 

Other Educational Partnerships:

SYE

The Summer Youth Employment program allows eligible high school and post secondary MSTC and TCP participants, the opportunity to work in community businesses over the summer with job coach support.  This is paid employment and students are funded through DORs. 

CCWTA

The Carroll County Workforce Training Academy was created by The Arc Carroll County and the New Windsor Conference Center for participants who are funded through the DORS.  The program provides customized training at the conference center in the specific job focus areas of culinary services, maintenance, landscaping, hospitality and clerical support.  CCWTA is a work adjustment training program; participants job sample in this program. 

For more information on any of these programs contact Danette Kelmartin at 410-848-4124 ext. 139 or dkelmartin@arccarroll.com.