Monmouth County is the first in New Jersey to launch a unique training opportunity through a collaboration between The Arc of NJ, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, and local police departments. Five recruits will complete a four month internship in municipalities throughout the county to build employment skills.

Special congratulations to Nick V., a former Kach grad from The Arc of Monmouth who has been interested in pursuing a career in the criminal justice field.

PILLARS
The Arc of Monmouth strives to provide supports and services to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to maximize their independence and engagement with the community. To continue providing the highest quality care and resources, The Arc has reorganized to develop the Pillars Department, which broadly encompasses those services that focus on promoting independence and community inclusion.

Learn more about some of the Pillars Programs:

Kach (Keep Achieving) at Brookdale Community College provides a three-year inclusive college experience to young adults with disabilities. Each year, six new students are accepted through a competitive application process, complete with an admission interview. Kach students attend classes taught by Arc instructors, and audit regular Brookdale courses alongside a peer mentor. Kach students are encouraged to get involved with all aspects of campus life including student clubs and activities.

The Achievement Zone (TAZ) provides prevocational training and community inclusion opportunities to young adults. TAZ offers greater flexibility for participants compared to a traditional day program. Participants can choose which offerings meet their interests and needs and may attend one day each week up to all five days. Daily offerings cover an array of activities, such as drama and creative arts, community service opportunities, day trips, gardening, technology and job clubs.

The Arc’s Independent Living Program provides individualized services for individuals with I/DD who are living in the community, but may need additional support services to sustain themselves in their current housing situation. Staff meet one-on-one to help teach specific life skills like grocery shopping, laundry, money management, setting up appointments, etc. The Arc also has Supervised Apartments where residents live in their own apartment independently, but Arc staff are nearby 24/7 and can make regular check-ins.

The Recreation program offers a variety of social and recreational programs for individuals with I/DD at various ability levels. All programs are supervised by staff and/or dedicated volunteers. Each season, a new “Recreation Banner” is published listing all the upcoming fun activities and community outings. There’s something for everyone ranging from low-key movie nights to Special Olympics sports to full weekend getaways.

If you have any questions or would like additional information on any of the aforementioned programs, please contact Matt Brady, Director of Pillars at mbrady@arcofmonmouth.org.