Stronger Together: Professional associations work toward common goals

Professional associations offer an important opportunity for organizations and individuals in the same field of work to collaborate, educate, and problem-solve to better themselves and their professions. They often maintain professional standards and ethics, and represent the profession in discussion with other bodies, such as the legislature. Some professional associations operate on a national level, others on a state or local level.

Arcare is dedicated to providing individualized plans and services to individuals and families whose lives are affected by disability. With ever-evolving regulations for Trustees, Representatives Payees, and even Guardians, Arcare utilizes its membership in professional associations to stay informed of potential changes and find innovative solutions to new obstacles that may arise for a family. Arcare is a member of several valuable associations:

The National PLAN Alliance (NPA)
NPA provides invaluable resources, guidebooks and conferences, and it promotes efficiency in PLAN programs that strive to meet the planning needs of families whose lives are affected by disability. NPA hosts an annual conference attended by affiliate PLAN programs from all over the United States. In addition, NPA provides vital support services to new and existing programs, such as program and board development, fundraising, marketing and strategic planning assistance.

The National Guardianship Association (NGA)
NGA leads the way to excellence in guardianship by establishing and promoting nationally recognized standards for guardians, encouraging the highest levels of integrity and competence through guardianship education and protecting the interests of both guardians and people in their care. NGA encourages all guardians to be certified through the Center for Guardianship Certification and provides study support in the form of review course webinars and study guide publications.

Interhab
Interhab is a Kansas association that provides Arcare the opportunity to help shape the form and direction of developmental disability policy in Kansas, as well as collaborate and learn with other disability support professionals across the state. Interhab has worked for more than 50 years to improve the lives of Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and it espouses that community services, employment and hosing should be available to all Kansans, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age or disability. Interhab provides valuable membership resources and tools, including numerous committees, workgroups and task forces for issues specific to the disability community in Kansas.

As an active member of these professional associations, Arcare leverages additional resources of national and statewide organizations, identifies additional resources that may still be needed in our communities and helps create new resources to meet the ever-changing needs of families and clients. By working together toward our commonly shared goals of advocacy, professional development and education, and striving for excellence in service, we can continue making a positive difference in the lives of the individuals and families we serve. 

Arcare announces Topeka location

With great anticipation and excitement, Arcare Inc. announces the opening of a second location in Topeka, Kan., as we strive to meet the ever-evolving needs of families in planning for loved ones with a disability.

The expansion will allow us to serve additional clients and families in areas such as Topeka, Emporia, Ottawa, Manhattan and Junction City, as well as many rural communities in Kansas and Nebraska. While this decision was made before the global coronavirus pandemic began impacting the Midwest, the effects of the virus confirmed that additional communities need and will benefit from our services.

As a certified 501(c)(3), Arcare has proudly served families and individuals with special needs in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska for nearly 40 years. While much has changed throughout the last four decades, the mission of our organization has stayed the same: to provide caring and professional advocacy and support services to individuals with developmental, physical, or emotional disabilities while assisting the individuals in achieving their highest level of well-being consistent with the circumstances and resources available, and with appropriate consideration of family desires.

 Core services offered by Arcare at both the Overland Park and Topeka locations include:

  • The Life Care Plan Program providing comprehensive and individualized planning services for families whose lives are affected by disability, including acting as court appointed guardian or conservator.
  • Special Needs Trustee Services, including a third-party pooled trust and a self-settled pooled trust. Our trust services help ensure individuals with disability have the financial resources required to meet their needs without jeopardizing eligibility for government-provided supplemental benefits. Arcare’s trust services provide an affordable solution to a family’s trust needs, whether an individual is receiving a personal injury settlement, backpay from Social Security, or funds set aside by a family member for the individual with special needs.
  • Representative Payee Services providing a solution for many individuals with disabilities who experience difficulty in paying bills and managing a budget, as well as alleviating the fiduciary burden for family members.

These services allow Arcare to develop a plan of action for each client that responds to real-life situations today and anticipates the needs of the future. Arcare offers professionalism, ease of administration, expertise with disabilities, continuity and peace of mind for clients and families of loved ones with disabilities.

We understand that planning for a loved one with a disability can be an overwhelming responsibility. Contact us today by calling 913.648.0233 or emailing info@arcare.org for answers to any questions you may have, and let us support you step-by-step throughout the process.