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The Arc of Washington County
Strategic Plan
Introduction
Once there was a circle that was missing a piece. A large triangular wedge had been cut
out of it. The Circle wanted to be whole, with nothing missing, so it searched the world,
looking for its missing piece. Because it was incomplete, it could only roll very slowly
as it rolled through the world. And as it rolled slowly, it admired the flowers along the
way. It chatted with the butterflies. It enjoyed the sunshine.
It found lots of pieces, but none fit. Some were too big and some were too small. Some
were too square and some too pointy. So it left them all by the side of the road and kept
on searching.
Then one day it found a piece that fit perfectly. It was so happy. Now it could be
whole, with nothing missing. It incorporated the missing piece into itself and began to
roll. Now that it was a perfect circle, it could roll very fast, too fast to notice the
flowers, too fast to talk to the butterflies. When it realized how different the world
seemed when it rolled through it so quickly, it stopped, left its missing piece by the
side of the road, and rolled slowly away, looking for its missing piece.
This strategic plan is the result of discussions, meetings, and experiences of many
people who help to create and believe in the values, vision, and mission of this
organization.
It is not whole. It is a work in progress. It is a work that will continue to be under
construction by the many people and partners who share the dream.
Arc members share a dream that one-day we will live in a world where the welcome sign
of human fellowship and membership is lovingly extended to children and adults with
disabilities.
This strategic plan is dedicated to all who yearn, dream, and desire to share the path
of helping communities become places where people join hands and support each other’s
needs to grow, participate, and experience the joy of human fellowship.
Let us join hands and search for our missing piece.
Our Vision
We vision a world where people with disabilities have the
opportunity and needed support to contribute the fullness of their
being to the wealth of human community.
Our Mission
To create partnerships that foster nurturing communities where
people with disabilities can live their vision of a valued life.
Our Goals
- The People We Serve. We will strive to empower the people we serve to discover their
aspirations and dreams, lead valued and rewarding lives of connection and contribution to
their fellow citizens, and live true to the highest and best within them.
- Community
. We will strive to create partnerships where welcome signs for persons
with mental retardation and developmental disabilities are visible in the hearts, minds,
and actions of our fellow citizens. We will support the many communities of which we are a
part. In return, we expect the support of community organizations and leaders for the life
needs of the people we serve.
- Our Membership
. We will inform our membership concerning the issues confronting the
lives of persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities and solicit their
assistance in meeting the vision and mission of this organization.
- Our Staff.
We will build a learning culture where staff are mentored, nurtured, and
challenged to grow, given an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause, and recognized
for their worthy contributions. Our commitment to create and sustain a learning culture
will be accomplished through:
 | The payment of wages that value each employee’s contribution to the vision and
mission of this organization and the human service profession. |
| The creation of a employee development program that encourages, facilitates, and
recognizes staff for completing training, course work, and seminars. |
- Our Organization
. We will strive to create an environment within our organization
where the values of persons served, parents, staff, board members, members, partners, and
stakeholders play a prominent role in the development and maintenance of our vision and
mission. We will strive to find and use our human and financial resources in a manner that
achieves the vision and mission of this organization. We will create rituals of
unification that promote our ability to achieve our vision and mission.
Our Values
Credo
We believe every individual has sacred potential. We pledge we will
encourage, value, and celebrate every individual’s unique efforts in seeking their
potential throughout their lives.
Respect "We will seek, discover, & value the gifts each person brings to the
world."
| We respect each person’s personal identity passport that includes their family
heritage, customs, rituals, the right to choose personal life goals, where and with whom
they live, where they work, and with whom they share their most intimate moments. |
| We believe each person has a sacred right to belong as a valued member of his or her
community, perform valued social roles, have friends, and participate in the life of the
community. |
| We believe people should seek, discover and value the gifts each person brings to the
world. |
Diversity "We celebrate diversity."
| We will listen, observe, and discover the spark of greatness that exists in the people
we serve, our colleagues, and our partners. |
| We will seek to discover the unique capacities and capabilities that exist in every
person. |
| We shall view the differences between and within people as diversity and not as
deficiency. |
| Our greatest natural resources are our hearts and minds, together with those of our
partners. |
| We celebrate diversity. |
Supportiveness "We’ll be there."
| We are unconditionally loyal to the persons we serve. |
| We will support their needs to work, love, play, and worship in fellowship with others. |
| We will support and value our colleagues in their efforts to seek their sacred
potential. |
| We will comfort and aid family members in their roles of parent, sister, and brother. |
| We will respect and seek collaboration with our partners in meeting our vision and
mission. |
| We will acknowledge and celebrate our accomplishments. |
| We will live a true partnership orientation to life in this organization. |
| When needed by the people we serve, their loved ones, and our partners; we’ll be
there. |
Excellence "We’ll do our damnedest!"
| We will nurture our ability to grow and to discover new possibilities in ourselves, our
world, and those in whose lives we share. |
| We will encourage others to reach for their dreams and seek their potential. |
| We will strive for excellence but not perfection in our personal and collective journey
to improve the wealth of human community. |
| Our destiny is to grow, to evolve, to learn, always becoming more of who we are. |
| Like Jack Williams, as quoted by President Harry S. Truman, We’ll do our damnedest. |
Perspective "We willingly give ourselves to the people we serve."
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