Achieva is excited to announce the affiliation of The Arc Erie County (PA) with The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh, a member of the Achieva Family of Organizations. The affiliation of the two chapters of The Arc commenced on January 1, 2022.
The affiliation aligns with Achieva’s strategic goal of prioritizing its advocacy mission and increasing access to innovative services for people with disabilities. Achieva’s 70-year history and The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh’s long-standing reputation as a trusted advocate offers assurance to members and supporters of The Arc Erie County that advocacy will remain a core service. The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh oversees all advocacy and family support services for Achieva in Allegheny, Beaver, and Westmoreland Counties. Under the arrangement, The Arc Erie County will remain its own 501c3 charitable organization and chapter of The Arc. The addition of The Arc Erie County as a subsidiary of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh will help undergird advocacy services needed by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Erie County when navigating complicated special education and adult service systems, as well as give them access to professional, compassionate, and innovative disability services offered by Achieva’s other affiliate organizations (Achieva Support, The Family Trust, Autism Connection of Pennsylvania).
Nancy Murray, President of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh and Senior Vice President of Achieva, is delighted with the new partnership. “The board and staff of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh look forward to building on the history of, and solid foundation provided by The Arc Erie County. We will assist The Arc Erie County to strengthen and grow resources to benefit children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in northwestern Pennsylvania.” Murray continued, “As a chapter of The Arc, systemic advocacy issues will also continue to be a focus of The Arc Erie County, such as promoting inclusive special education, ending the waiting list for adult services, and addressing the Direct Support Professional staffing crisis.” There are 30 local chapters of The Arc across Pennsylvania, and over 500 chapters of The Arc nationwide. Under its affiliation with The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh, The Arc Erie County will remain an important part of The Arc network, continuing to benefit from the systems advocacy work performed by The Arc of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg and The Arc of the United States in Washington, D.C.
Rhonda Schember, Board President of The Arc Erie County, praised the affiliation as well. “The Arc Erie County has a lot of passionate supporters, and the people with disabilities in our region need and deserve the strongest Arc chapter possible. Our affiliation with The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh and its parent organization, Achieva, will deliver that. Our mission will continue, our Arc chapter will get stronger, and the people who need our services will be better served.”