The Arc of Oakland County MI

Recreational Opportunities Open House

AMurowany — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:40:39 +0000

Save the Date: February 29, 2012, 7 – 9 pm

Local Fun For Everyone!

Where: Rochester Community Schools- Harrison Room, Administration Building, 501 W. University, Rochester, MI

This Open House will highlight the recreational opportunities in our surrounding communities for young children, teens and adults with special needs. A variety of organizations will offer information; including, individual and team sports, creative arts, therapeutic and leisure activities, play structures, summer camps, social groups and more.

There will be face painting, paper crafts and snacks for the children. Come find out what our community has to offer!

For more nformation, contact Lisa Kowalski at lisakowalski@wowway.com

2012 Dove Awards Nomination Form

AMurowany — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:25:39 +0000

For 42 years, The Arc of Oakland County has honored individuals, companies, agencies, residential settings, technicians, teachers, employers and volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to the lives of people with intellectual and other related developmental disabilities.

Awards are presented in several categories at the Annual Dove Awards Presentation and Silent Auction. Each and every nomination that is sent back to The Arc is reviewed by a Selection Committee comprised of individuals working in the fields of mental health and special education, together with a parent representative and a volunteer.

Your Nomination Is Very Important To Us!

Click here to view the 2012 Dove Award nomination form. The nomination form can also be found on our website at http://thearcoakland.org/events-fundraising/dove-awards/.

All nominations are due into The Arc office by Friday, March 2, 2012. The Selection Committee will meet the following week and the award recipients will be notified shortly thereafter. Nominations may be sent by mail (1641 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, MI 48084), fax (248-816-1906) or email (amurowany@thearcoakland.org).

The 42nd Annual Dove Awards Presentation and Silent Auction, will be held on Friday, April 13, 2012 at the San Marino Club in Troy.

If you have any questions regarding the nomination form or process, or if you need assistance, please contact Allison Murowany at 248-816-1900.

Medicare & Medicaid Dual Eligibility Forum 11/10/11

AMurowany — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:55:16 +0000

The Michigan Department of Community Health’s (MDCH) is planning to develop an integrated care system for people who receive services funded by both Medicare and Medicaid programs.

What changes are likely to occur?
What does this mean for people in Oakland County?

Everyone, especially people covered by both Medicare and Medicaid, (often called dual eligibility) is welcome to join Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority’s community forum to learn and discuss the answers to the above questions and how it impacts individuals with disabilities, and the community as a whole.

Please join for an interactive presentation and discussion that will include:

The program elements of MDCH’s plan.
The impact on people served by Oakland County
Community Mental Health Authority and our community.
An opportunity to provide feedback on how this plan would work best for you, persons you support and community members.
An opportunity to express your concerns and ask questions.

Thursday, November 10, 2011
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Birmingham Conference Center
(31301 Evergreen Rd., Beverly Hills, MI 48025)

Lunch will be provided.

Please register at 248-858-0929 or RegisterMe@occmha.org.

Click here to view the flyer on the Dual Eligiibility Forum.

Getting My Own Address for People with ASD and Developmental Disabilities Guide

AMurowany — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:33:23 +0000

Community Housing Network, Inc. is excited to announce a new resource that is available to families and professionals. The Getting My Own Address for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities guide was developed and produced by Community Housing Network through a generous grant from the Autism Society Oakland County.

Planning housing for the future takes time and collaboration. The guide materials introduce people with disabilities and their families to the many choices possible in deciding where they want to live and how to get there. The guide is a comprehensive, but simple explanation of the steps, options and choices that are available to plan for housing in the community of one’s choice.

This guide was compiled with input from individuals with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities, and their families and supports (including teachers, transition coordinators, supports coordinators, caregivers and others).

The 289-page guide offers explanations that do not assume prior knowledge. There are worksheets in every chapter that enable those using the guide to learn, make choices, plan and participate. The Learn More boxes point families and supports to web sites with additional detailed information. The “What Should Parent’s Do?” boxes acknowledge parent concerns while guiding them on how to support their child’s journey.

To view the guide, please visit http://www.communityhousingnetwork.org/GMOA.

FREE Overview Presentations for Parents/Individuals/Professionals

Thursday, October 27, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Rochester Community Schools
501 W. University, Rochester, MI 48307

Thursday, November 10, 2011 from from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Huron Valley School District
Lakeland High School, LGI Room, 1630 Bogie Lake Road, White Lake, MI 48383

Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Lamphere Center
29685 Tawas Road, Madison Heights, MI 48071

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
West Bloomfield School District
7071 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 120, West Bloomfield, MI 48322

Community Housing Network will be selling the guides before and after every Overview Presentation. The guide is available for free to everyone through the web site listed above. The guide will cost $25 for Oakland County families, $35 for Oakland County professionals and $40 for anyone outside of Oakland County. The Autism Society Oakland County is subsidizing the cost of the guide for Oakland County families. You will save shipping costs if you pick up the guide at a presentation or at Community Housing Network in Troy. All proceeds will be reinvested into this project to promote the longevity of the program.

The Arc of Oakland County also has one guide available to view at our office (1641 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084).

Oakland Schools Transition Conference 11/18/11

AMurowany — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:14:47 +0000

The Oakland Schools Transition Network is hosting a Transition Conference on Tuesday, November 18, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Troy Community Center (3179 Livernois, Troy, MI 48083).

This event will focus on resources for individuals with behavioral health needs. Feature sessions include:

Substance Use Issues & Prevention
Planning for Career
Getting My Own Address
Parent & Peer Supports

To register please visit www.oakland.k12.mi.us. For registration help call (248) 209-2500 or (888) 263-3867. If you have questions about the presentation content please call Linda at (248) 975-9835 or Cathy at (248) 209-2504.

CEU’s are pending.

Click here to view the Transition Conference Flyer (PDF).

MORC Fresh Food Bank

AMurowany — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:55:24 +0000

Dear Friend of MORC,

Macomb Oakland Regional Center and Forgotten Harvest have partnered together to develop the MORC Fresh Food program. Forgotten Harvest will bring in 11,000 pounds of mostly perishable food—5,500 to AHO and 5,500 to CTO—every month. Forgotten Harvest provides high quality food for many shelters, emergency food pantries and soup kitchens in the metro area.

Meat, poultry, fish, dairy, bread, fruit, vegetables and more will be delivered by a refrigerated truck to our MORC locations. These deliveries will occur at the Auburn Hills MORC office every first Thursday of each month, and at the Clinton Township MORC office every third Thursday of each month. For your convenience, we have listed the next few MORC Fresh Food days below:

September 1, 2011 Auburn Hills MORC

September 15, 2011 Clinton Township MORC

October 6, 2011 Auburn Hills MORC

October 20, 2011 Clinton Township MORC

Our Auburn Hills address is: 1270 Doris Road, Auburn Hills, Michigan

Our Clinton Township address is: 16200 Nineteen Mile Road, Clinton Township, Michigan

In order to serve everyone, we require that you RSVP to every event you plan on attending. To RSVP, please call 248-535-1549. When calling, please give your name, your MORC support coordinator’s name, and the number of people that will be served by the MORC Fresh Food donation.

On the day of the event, please arrive at 10:30 a.m. You will see signs and team members to assist you. If you are in need of this donation, but transportation or health issues make it impossible for you to come to our offices, please call 248-535-1549, and we will do our best to arrange for MORC volunteers to deliver a basket of food to you; however, due to limited resources, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet every request.

If you have previously attended a MORC Fresh Food event, we ask that you bring the MORC Fresh Food bags you were given so that we may reuse them and keep our costs down.

We look forward to serving you!

MORC Fresh Food Team

Oakland CMHA Wants To Become Involved in Helathcare

AMurowany — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:49:42 +0000

The Oakland County Community Mental Health (OCCMHA) is proposing taking $4 million out of its reserve funds to set up a non-profit called the Oakland Integrated Health Network (OIHN). The OIHN will apply to qualify to become a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or FQHC “look-alike.” The OIHN will provide physical healthcare services to the people of Oakland County with particular emphasis on integrating services with those served by OCCMHA.

The OCCMHA Board of Directors will vote to approve taking $4 million out of its reserve fund for this OIHN project at its regular business meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.

The meeting will be held at OCCMHA, which is located at 2011 Executive Hills Blvd., Auburn Hills, MI. 48326. There is time set aside for public comment at the beginning of this meeting.

Help The Arc win up to $10,000 through the Great Charity Giveaway!

AMurowany — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:53:58 +0000

The Arc of Oakland County is in the running to win up to $10,000 through the Suburban Collection Great Charity Giveaway. VOTING STARTS TODAY 8/10 AND GOES THROUGH 8/24.

Voting is easy! All you have to do it login to your Facebook account and go to

https://www.facebook.com/SuburbanCollection and click “Vote Now” for The Arc of Oakland County to submit your vote. Each person can vote once.

Please help support The Arc of Oakland County by voting! If you have any questions please contact Allison Murowany at amurowany@thearcoakland.org or call 248-816-1900.

Thank You in Advance for your Support!

U of M School of Kinesiology is Looking for Participants for a New Study

AMurowany — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:23:23 +0000

The Center for Physical Activity and Health in Pediatric Disabilities directed by Dr. Dale Ulrich, in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan, is looking for children with and without Down syndrome between the ages of 9-17 years to participate in a physical activity study.

They are studying if current ways of measuring physical activity and body fat are accurate for use in individuals with and without Down syndrome. In this study, participants will come to the University of Michigan and walk on a treadmill for 15-20 minutes.

They will be measuring how much your child is moving, their heart rate, and how hard they are breathing. Participants will have their body fat measured two ways and it should take between 15-25 minutes. Children should generally enjoy the activities.

Your child may participate if they:

• are between the ages of 9-17
• have a Down syndrome diagnosis OR
• have typical development without Down syndrome

Your child is not eligible if they:

• have a physical disability limiting their ability to engage in physical activity
• has a dual diagnosis with Down syndrome (i.e. Down syndrome AND autism)
• have strong adverse negative reactions to new situations
• have a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or other metabolic disease
• take medications to alter heart rate or metabolic responses
• have asthma or other respiratory disorder
• have instability in the neck (atlanto-axial instability)
• have an uncorrected congenital heart defect

Total time required is a maximum of two hours. Families will receive $20 to defray travel costs & participants will receive $20 for completing all measurements.

They hope this study will help them better understand the tools used to measure physical activity and body fat in youth with and without Down syndrome so health professionals can collect trustworthy information to improve the health, physical well-being, and quality of life for all individuals. Appointments are flexible. They are available weekends and evenings.

If your child is interested in volunteering for this study, or you would like more information, please contact: Phil Esposito, philespo@umich.edu, 734.936.2607 or Dr. Dale Ulrich, ulrichd@umich.edu, 734.615.1904

Tom’s Annual Marathon Challenge

AMurowany — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:43:02 +0000

Every year, The Arc of Oakland County presents a donation challenge to the agency’s members and friends. After running and raising money for The Arc for 10 years, around Mackinac Island and in the Chicago Marathon 7 times, Tom Kendziorski, The Arc’s $139k Man, has elected to run the Fourth Annual Brooksie Way Half Marathon on October 2, 2011. As in previous years, the membership challenge is requesting a $44 donation to commemorate the 44th Anniversary of The Arc of Oakland County.

The 2011 goal for the Annual Marathon Challenge is $13,000 and with your support we know we can reach our goal! You can donate directly on The Arc’s website through out secure PayPal site at http://thearcoakland.org/events-fundraising/tom%e2%80%99s-marathon-challenge/.

To view the 2011 Annual Marathon Challenge Post Card please visit http://thearcoakland.org/wp-content/uploads/Toms_Run_Post_Card.pdf.