The Arc of Natrona County is a non-profit organization in Casper Wyoming that is committed to securing for all people with developmental disabilities, the opportunity to choose and realize the goals of where and how they learn, live, work and play.
For more than 40 years, the Arc of Natrona County has provided numerous programs and services. These services include Advocacy, Case Management, Inclusive Recreational Child Care, Public Awareness, Family Support, Referrals, and a weeklong day camp on Casper Mountain.
Nearly everything that the Arc of Natrona County does in the community is free of charge to the families due to the ongoing generosity and support of United Way, Private Donors and Grant Givers. For further information about The Arc of Natrona County, call 307-577-4913.
Assessment Services ~ The Arc of Natrona County facilitates assessment of need for: Speech; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; Psychological; Vision Therapy and Evaluation; Specialized Equipment; Home Modifications
Inclusive Recreational Child Care ~ The Arc of Natrona County provides an after school and summer program for children ages birth to 21 years of age. The facility is based out of the Arc offices, and then reaches into the community for inclusive activities with other organizations in the community.
Arc Summer Camp ~ The Arc of Natrona County offers a weeklong day camp on Casper Mountain in early August of each year. The camp provides outdoor activities, games, crafts, horseback riding, petting zoo and numerous other activities. The camp is all-inclusive with many opportunities for social interaction, learning experiences and more. Last year there were nearly 150 participants and volunteers!
Public Education ~ The Arc of Natrona County informs and educates the community about developmental disabilities by speaking at local businesses, as well as public awareness through media outlets.
Family Support, Information, Referrals and Advocacy ~ The Arc of Natrona County assists families on an individual basis through direct support, or referrals to agencies that can better meet their needs. The Arc of Natrona County also promotes independence through training and support
The ARC of Natrona County Mission Statement
The Arc of Natrona County is committed to securing for all people with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live, work, and play.
The Arc of Natrona County is further committed to reducing the incidence and limiting the consequence of cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities through education, research, advocacy and the support of families, friends and community.
Through the successful pursuit of quality and justice, The Arc of Natrona County will provide leadership in the field of cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities and develop necessary human and financial resources to attain its goals.
Organizational Information
Arc of Natrona County (The Arc) Mission/Goals/Purpose
The Arc is committed to securing for all people with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live, work and play. The Arc is further committed to reducing the incidence and limiting the consequence of developmental disabilities through education, research, advocacy and the support of families, friends and community.
The Arc is a primary agency in Casper serving children with developmental disabilities between infancy and twenty-one years of age, outside of school hours. To allow for inclusion whenever possible and appropriate, direct care services are provided in existing after school and summer recreational programs, while at the same time providing the necessary care and accommodations to meet the individual needs of each person served.
History
The Arc of Natrona County is a local organization, which provides a variety of direct and indirect services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. The Arc initially began as an informal parent organization in 1963 and was formally incorporated in May of 1977. The Arc of Natrona County is an affiliate organization of the Arc of Wyoming and The Arc of the United States.
For twenty-eight years, The Arc of Natrona County has provided respite services, inclusion programs, residential habilitation, advocacy, information and referral, and a variety of family supports for Natrona County and the surrounding areas. At the request of parents, The Arc began offering respite services in 1990, through informal arrangements with parents and volunteers. In 1992, the Arc recognized a dramatic rise in the demand for respite services and began offering respite services under the State Medicaid Waiver, which is administered through the Wyoming Department of Health, Developmental Disabilities Division. Through the use of respite services, incidents of physical and emotional abuse toward family members with disabilities began to decrease and many single parent families re-entered the workforce. Due to funding limitations and concerns surrounding segregating children with disabilities, The Arc does not provide daytime, in-home respite care, unless required as a result of emergencies, medical issues or other circumstances. Since June of 1992, the Arc has successfully placed children with developmental disabilities in programs at the Casper YMCA, the Casper Recreation Center, the Wyoming Athletic Club, Special Olympics, and Lifetime Health and Fitness.
