The Arc Receives Grant for Community Inclusion Program
Riviera Beach, Fla. (December 7, 2021) – The Arc of Palm Beach County aims to help all children feel included and to thrive. Thanks to a renewed partnership between The Arc and Prime Time Palm Beach County, children with disabilities will continue to receive inclusive, high-quality experiences during the hours after the school bell rings.
The Arc’s Community Inclusion Program ensures that youth with disabilities can participate in out-of-school time (OST) programs alongside their peers. By providing training and support for OST practitioners, The Arc helps them implement interactive activities that encourage communication, emotional awareness, and social interaction. Improved access to afterschool and summer programs emphasizes each child’s strengths and abilities.
“The Community Inclusion Program provides great advice and wonderful ideas for engaging students of all abilities that we can implement in our programs the right away,” said Kimberly Sheehan, afterschool director at Palm Beach Gardens Elementary School. “All of our students benefit from the inclusive activities we learn through the program, helping to promote acceptance between children with disabilities and their classmates.”
The Community Inclusion Program is made possible with support from Prime Time Palm Beach County, which receives significant funding from the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County. Prime Time has supported The Arc for more than 15 years.
About The Arc of Palm Beach County
The Arc is changing the conversation around disabilities by defying definitions, inspiring possibilities, and improving the lives of the people we serve, their families, and our community. Since 1958, The Arc has envisioned a community where every person feels welcome, connected, and accepted.
About Prime Time Palm Beach County
Prime Time Palm Beach County is a nonprofit organization that provides resources and support for out-of-school time professionals to develop programs that inspire children to be their best and allow them to thrive socially and academically. Prime Time’s integrated model of services is one of the strongest, most comprehensive and well-respected systems for measuring and improving out-of-school time program quality in the nation. To learn more about Prime Time Palm Beach County, visit www.primetimepbc.org.
About Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County
Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, a special district created by Palm Beach County voters, provides leadership, funding, and research on behalf of the county’s children, so they grow up healthy, safe, and strong. www.cscpbc.org www.everyparentpbc.org