Kari Bates, President & CEO, The Arc Jacksonville
In an interview with Invest:, Kari Bates, president and CEO of The Arc Jacksonville, talked about key milestones from the past year, including the launch of innovative programs like the Career Campus partnership with Florida State College, which has significantly increased enrollment. Demand for affordable housing has surged, exemplified by the swift occupancy of their pioneering housing community, The Village. Looking ahead to its 60th anniversary, The Arc Jacksonville aims to enhance local employer partnerships, address staffing challenges, and continue its mission to provide comprehensive support for individuals and families in the community.
What are some of the main highlights and milestones for you over the last year?
Our focus over the last year has been on launching some first-of-its-kind programs which help our participants with intellectual and developmental differences thrive within our community. The IDD community is growing to be a large part of the population here in the United States where resources are limited and demand is high. A year ago, we started a new partnership with Florida State College Jacksonville (FSCJ) that focuses on vocational training for young adults with differences and while it serves as an asset to the community, it also helps employers by preparing the students with the skills to fill workforce gaps and obtain meaningful employment. Since then, it has almost tripled in enrollment in its second year and will remain on that trajectory.
What services are seeing an increase in demand?
For many, affordable housing is a huge issue that we constantly seek to alleviate. Our residential community, The Village, was the first affordable housing community for individuals with IDD in the country. All 121 of the units available are filled and now there is a waitlist to be a resident of the community. About 25 percent of the people who live there actually come from outside of the Jacksonville community seeking the services we have to offer. Because of this, Jacksonville has become a destination for individuals with IDD and their families who are struggling to find those services elsewhere.
In addition, the demand for family support is growing. There are close to 450,000 people with IDD in Florida, whose families are trying to figure out what their loved one’s next step is towards becoming independent. Today, there are more opportunities available than ever before, but the landscape is so complex to navigate and that is why we have made it our mission to not just help the individuals but also their families find the resources needed.
What programs do you offer residents?
The goal of our programs is to help individuals with differences live, work, learn, and thrive. When you consider the things someone needs to successfully live their lives, one of the foundational aspects you think of is having somewhere to live; when that is established then you can focus on work and leisure. Right now, employment opportunities, career development and helping students on their journey after high school are some of the more impactful things we can do long term because it leads individuals towards that path of being financially independent. All of our programs are intertwined to give all our participants the same opportunity regardless of their condition.
We support a wide spectrum of people, and because of that we have to look at employment that way too. We can customize specific job positions to suit a person’s desires and abilities. We find that tailoring different settings based on need is beneficial too; For example, working in a small group or having a job that heavily relies on acts of service with the guidance of our staff. We also have a contract with Johnson & Johnson Vision where people can work at our downtown facility and continue to earn a paycheck while receiving mental health services and other types of support.
Have there been any changes or trends in client expectations?
Because we serve people leaving high school and people well into their 70’s and 80’s, the expectations of individuals and their families are different. Younger individuals and their families see the opportunities that are before them and want to have the same experience as any other young adult. That is something that would have been almost impossible decades ago. The more we show we can invest in people with IDD, the more there is a return on investment. Individuals want to have high-achieving jobs, and if they have the skills to do more, then they want to be given that opportunity. I think them recognizing that in a healthy manner is what allows us to continue raising the bar and answering, ‘What’s Next?’
What makes The Arc Jacksonville stand out or differentiate itself from other assisted living centers and communities?
We stand out from other organizations because we are nationally known for our innovation and first-of-its-kind programs, partnership, and communities. We stand out by having a team dedicated to advocacy and family support, which we know is important when it comes to having a plan in place that can allow our participants to thrive. At the end of the day, the demand is so great, while there are other organizations serving those with IDDs, like ours, we are defined by our innovative programs, independent living spaces, and advocacy efforts.
How has technology affected the assisted living space recently?
Because of the significant challenges in staffing we are excited to dive into introducing new technologies, which can help when it comes to time management and documentation. There are also new technologies that would offer on-demand assistance and would be huge for our The Village residents who need in-person staff accommodations.
What is the overview for The Arc Jacksonville in terms of goals and priorities moving forward?
We look forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2025. Although it is inspiring to think about how far we’ve come, there is always more work to be done. We will continue to focus on housing, supporting local employers with filling staffing needs, and better serving our families and participants. We also want to look at creative ways to solve staffing issues through internal professional development that looks at the future of our organization and builds on the success of those who came before us.
