The Arc Mercer News

Frontline staff at The Arc Mercer are more than the backbone of daily operations, they are essential partners in shaping the agency’s future. The TAC Ambassador Program  strengthens that partnership by elevating mission-critical staff, including Direct Support Professionals, Behavioral DSPs, Job Coaches, and Shift Managers, into leadership and strategic planning roles. Ambassadors serve as a bridge between staff and the Team Atmosphere Committee (TAC),  ensuring that frontlin

The Arc Mercer’s Team Atmosphere Committee (TAC) hosted its January 2026 Awards Luncheon on Friday, January 23, recognizing outstanding employees, celebrating personal growth, and honoring years of dedicated service across the agency.  The luncheon brought staff together to reflect on the meaningful contributions that strengthen Arc Mercer’s mission and workplace culture. Rising Star of the Month: Kevin Pearce  One of our residents, Kevin Pearce, was recognized as the Decembe

The Arc Mercer Farm is entering an exciting new chapter with the early groundwork now underway for a future wildflower meadow. With guidance and support from Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space , our team has officially begun the preparation process by laying down a tarp, an important first step in restoring the land and preparing it for native planting later this Spring. This meadow represents more than a landscaping project. It is a long-term investment in sustainability,

The Arc Mercer’s Team Atmosphere Committee (TAC) continues to demonstrate the power of culture, community, and compassion through the work of its Cultural Connection Groups.  Most recently, the Jamaican Cultural Connection Group led a meaningful clothing drive and fundraising effort to support Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in Jamaica. With support from staff across the agency, the initiative raised critical funds and supplies that were delivered directly to those impacted.

The Arc Mercer has begun to work on an innovative initiative that has the potential to redefine what independence can look like in IDD services: a thoughtfully designed pet ownership policy for the consumers the agency supports. Across the field, pet ownership is rarely addressed in a structured, intentional way. The Arc Mercer is taking a different approach, one that recognizes the powerful role animals can play in emotional well-being, motivation, routine-building, and pers

In 2026, The Arc Mercer will be working toward  a renewed focus on meaningful goal progression for the people the agency supports. While individualized goals are widely used across IDD services, there is currently no nationally accepted standard  that defines what quality goal progression should look like. As a result, goals can vary greatly across providers and systems. At The Arc Mercer, this gap presents an opportunity for thoughtful improvement. Rather than focusing only