Congratulations to The Arc Central Chesapeake Region!

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Congratulations to The Arc Central Chesapeake Region!

The Standards for Excellence Institute would like to congratulate The Arc Central Chesapeake Region for renewing their accreditation under the Standards for Excellence: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.

Being accredited by the Standards for Excellence Institute demonstrates that the nonprofit has met the rigorous requirements that are included in the standards. Being an accredited nonprofit sets the organization apart as a top performer in the nonprofit field and lets all its stakeholders (funders, community members, board, staff, volunteers) know that they can have confidence in the quality of its programs, its accountability and openness, and its commitment to best practices.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region’s mission is to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live the lives they choose by creating opportunities, promoting respect and equity, and providing access to services. They serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Anne Arundel County & Maryland's Eastern Shore through their programs, which include:
• Children, Youth, & Their Families - Serves youth under 21 with free Family Navigation, educational resources, and grant programs.
• Living Options & Services - Supports people with IDD to live independently or in a residential group home in the community.
• Workforce Development - Supports people with IDD to realize their career goals and obtain and maintain their chosen employment.
• Day Services - Creates opportunities for people to determine how they spend their day, supporting them to be active in the community.
• Behavioral Health - Provides tailored mental health counseling and therapy for people with IDD as a foundation for each person's well-being.
• Self-Directed Services - The Arc is one of two providers in Maryland authorized to provide fiscal management & counseling services to people with IDD who self-direct their services.

Their Executive Director, Jonathon Rondeau, says:

The Arc has been accredited through the Standards for Excellence since 2008, and each accreditation cycle includes more requirements around assessing organizational capacity, leadership, compliance, ethics, finance, resource development, and advocacy. This year was no different and the process for completing the accreditation took several months with the coordination and gathering of all data and narratives needed from across the organization. This recognition is not just about the amazing work we do, but how we do our work. And none of this would be possible without our forward-thinking Board of Directors and the excellence each employee brings to the community and behind the scenes.

Congratulations again to The Arc Central Chesapeake Region for this noteworthy achievement. They have earned the right to proudly use the Seal of Excellence, the symbol for excellence and transparency in nonprofit management.

The Standards for Excellence Institute encourages all nonprofits to check out the Standards for Excellence code and to consider applying for accreditation or recognition. A good starting point is the free online self-assessment, which provides a detailed, actionable report, along with links to resources.

By Amy Coates Madsen | December 20, 2024 | Standards for Excellence Institute

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About the Author: Amy Coates Madsen

Amy Coates Madsen is the Director of the Standards for Excellence Institute, a national initiative to promote the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations, and to facilitate adherence to standards by all organizations. The Standards for Excellence Institute is a program of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations where Amy has served for more than twenty-two years. Amy is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the association’s comprehensive ethics and accountability program and efforts to replicate the program nationally. She serves as a frequent trainer and writer in the areas of board conduct, program evaluation, program replication, fundraising ethics, and nonprofit management. She has taught courses on nonprofit ethics and accountability at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies Certificate Program on Nonprofit Management. She has held positions at the Trenton lobbying firm of the Princeton Public Affairs Group, and the Public Policy Liaison Unit at the world headquarters of Catholic Relief Services. Amy received her Master of Arts in Policy Studies degree from the Johns Hopkins University – Institute for Policy Studies in Baltimore, Maryland; and her Bachelors degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Amy is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Amy serves on the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT). Amy is a former member of the Disaster Action Team of the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross and is qualified to provide disaster preparedness training to children and adults. She has also served as the former President of Central Maryland CAN TOO and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the largest United Methodist Church in Baltimore City. She serves on the board of her children’s preschool PTA and is a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. Amy is currently leading an effort to establish an endowment for the Virginia Tech University Honors Program.