Our Mission
The Arc of Monmouth promotes and protects the human rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes; and is committed to enhancing the quality of life of those individuals and their families through advocacy, empowerment, education, and prevention.
These core principles guide us in all we do:
Respect
Kindness
Positive Attitude
Trustworthiness
Conscientiousness
Our History
Little was known about intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the first half of the 20th century, and very few programs and services were available. Families were left to care for loved ones with IDD with little or no support. Public schools at this time did not even accept people with IDD in any capacity. There were only two futures for people with IDD at the time, either being taken care of by loved ones or institutionalization. Then in 1949, a group of parents came together to figure out a different path forward for their children with IDD. They sought out inclusion and achievement instead of exclusion and institutionalization. At a meeting in Red Bank Boro Hall, they formed The Arc of Monmouth.
In the 1950s, they established a classroom at the Little Silver Women's Club to provide children with IDD an education. They also ran a summer camp to help have a place for their children to go in the summer. The Turning Point Newsletter was published for the first time in 1959, serving as a tool to rally Monmouth County around IDD advocacy and keep the community up to date.
In the 1960s, Countess Anatole Buxhoeveden led fundraising campaigns to expand the organization’s services. She founded the annual masked Winter Glow Ball in 1966, raising $7,000. Since then, the event has raised millions for The Arc. In 1967, the Work Opportunity Center opened, providing those with IDD with work experience. Another big step in fundraising efforts happened in 1973 with opening the organization’s thrift shop (now closed) in Red Bank.
As the federal government began addressing the needs of people with disabilities, it passed Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, banning discrimination based on disability. The next major federal legislative milestone wouldn’t happen until 1990 with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Responding to the need for supported housing, new group homes Marc Manor, Virginia Manor, and Columbia Manor opened in the 1980s, providing clients with habilitation, support, and monitoring services. The East Main and Alexandria group homes opened in 1985. The Farmingdale Group Home opened in 1998, and the Newman Springs Group Home opened in 2003.
The year 1990 was a productive one, with the opening of The Arc Center and the Dorothy B. Hersh High School. The Independent Living Program was also launched that year. Later in the decade, the one-to-one housing and counseling program was created.
In 2010, the Keep Achieving (KACH) program was established, collaborating with Brookdale Community College, to offer a three-year college experience.
Then in 2011, The Arc modernized its brand with a new logo.
In 2023, The Arc of Monmouth opened Campus Parkway in Wall Township. This facility was created to house The Arc's expanding Supported Employment and Adult Services Department and Day Programs.
The Arc of Monmouth now works with community partners serving over 1,600 individuals with IDD in Monmouth County through advocacy, services, and education.
The Timeline
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1940
1949 - A group of parents who had children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) met at Red Bank Boro and formed an organization to help their children. This was the Arc of Monmouth’s founding.
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1950
1953 - A classroom dedicated to providing children with IDD an education is established at The Little Silver Women’s Club
1959 - The Turning Point Newsletter is published for the first time. The Newsletter serves as a key method to keep Monmouth County informed about what is happening at The Arc and with the IDD community.
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1960
1963 - After running into trouble with another property, The Arc of Monmouth acquires Anderson Funeral Home on Hudson Avenue in Red Bank. Here they open the first Head Office for the organization
1966 - Countess Anatole Buxhoevedan gathered a group of friends and they held a large scale charity ball that raised a lot of funds for The Arc. This was the first Winter Glow Gala.
1967 - The Work Opportunity Center (WOC) opens in Long Branch. The program allows people with IDD to do real work for pay contracted by local businesses.
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1970
1973 - The first MONARC Thrift Shop opens in Red Bank. The idea was born from rummage sales the agency had done in the 60s. Stores were staffed by people with IDD, providing yet another opportunity for them.
1973 - Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act banned discrimination on the basis of disability
1976 - The Aborn Family donates property in Shrewsbury to The Arc. This property would serve as the head office for The Arc of Monmouth for 14 years.
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1980
1980 - MARC Manor opens and becomes The Arc of Monmouth’s first group home. A major milestone within the organization as many of the children The Arc had been helping were now adults and living arrangements were a concern.
1985 - The Arc of Monmouth is selected by the Social Security Administration to participate in a pilot program in which people with IDD are placed into jobs in the community. This began the Arc of Monmouth’s Supported Employment program.
1987 - Shore Day Program is established which sought to help those with more challenging disabilities
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1990
1990 - After a successful Capital Campaign, The Arc Center in Tinton Falls opens. The facility has served as the Head Office for The Arc of Monmouth ever since. Also within the building opened Dorothy B Hersh High School, a high school for people with IDD
1990 - The American with Disablities Act is signed into law. A landmark moment for people with IDD, the act furthers discrimination protections and requires accessibility for those with disabilities.
1994 - The New Jersey Bond Act of 1994 passes as a ballot measure. The Arc of Monmouth participated in numerous rallies and phone banking to get people to vote yes. The act provided $180 million in funding for the development of group homes in New Jersey.
1995 - The Independent Living Program is established at The Arc of Monmouth. The program provides partcipants with support on certain tasks while the individual lives on their own.
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2000
2010 - The Arc of Monmouth partners with Brookdale Community College to create the Keep Achieving Program (KACH). KACH is a multi year program that gives people with IDD a college experience. Partcipants recieve a certificate upon completion and are fully integrated in the Brookdale Student Body.
2013 - The Achievement Zone (TAZ) is started at The Arc Center. TAZ serves as an educational day program for people with IDD
2023 - Campus Parkway opens. This state-of-the-art facility in Wall Township serves as the new base of operations for The Arc's expanding day programs and supported employment program.
A Longstanding Commitment to Improving the Lives of Those With IDD!
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Years of Advocacy
75
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Individuals Served
1600+
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Lauren * Mother of Arc of Monmouth participant
I can’t imagine what our lives would be like without The Arc. They provide everything we could need or hope for, for our daughter. They know where we need to go and how we need to get there so that we can help Dani have the best life!
Thank You to our Community Partners
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Our Top Community Partners -
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McOmber -
Shore Point
