Project 601: Strategic 3-Year Planning Underway for Arc Mercer’s Liberian Connection

Under the guidance of the Liberian Cultural Connection Group and the Team Atmosphere Committee (TAC), a comprehensive three-year roadmap is currently being developed to upgrade and expand the services provided by our key partners in Liberia.

Exporting Excellence to West Africa

This ambitious initiative seeks to transplant the core competencies of The Arc Mercer to Western Africa. The primary objective is to take the successful service models developed here at the Arc Mercer and adapt them to support special needs services at the Antoinette Tubman Cheshire Home (ATCH) and My Heart’s Appeal organization in Liberia. 

The Liberian Cultural Connection Group is designing a sustainable framework that prioritizes clinical safety, vocational growth, daily structure, staff training, and recognition.

Enhancing Residential Standards at ATCH

At the Antoinette Tubman Cheshire Home, which currently provides a residence for 14 individuals, the upcoming three-year plan emphasizes a transition toward advanced clinical, day habilitation programs, and administrative standards.

Initial efforts focus heavily on medication and health management, ensuring that systems for coordination are as rigorous as those found in the United States, and executing those systems to the Arc Mercer’s top of the industry standards. To support this, the plan outlines critical upgrades to existing medical facilities and the implementation of monitoring systems designed to ensure high levels of world-class compliance and internal accountability.

Expanding Vocational Programs at My Heart’s Appeal

Further progress is being made at My Heart’s Appeal, a day program located just outside Monrovia that currently serves more than 30 individuals. The planning committee is focused on expanding the program's outreach by introducing new vocational tracks.

While the site currently offers woodworking, wood carving, and food services, the new roadmap seeks to professionalize these existing trades while introducing entirely new paths in office skills and other locally needed vocations. This expansion is designed to provide students with the practical experience necessary to enter and excel in the local workforce.

Creating a Unified Support System

A central pillar of the new strategy is the integration of these two entities. By building a unified daily schedule, Project 601 aims to bridge the gap between residential life at ATCH and the vocational training at My Heart’s Appeal.

This holistic approach includes the development of reliable transportation solutions and recreational programs. The goal is to ensure that students and residents have a consistent, productive, and dignified daily routine that mirrors the quality of life we strive for in our domestic programs.

A Transparent Path Toward Implementation

While the specific details of these initiatives are still being refined for final approval, the core components of the plan represent a significant commitment to the people of Liberia. This effort is driven by the leadership of the Liberian Cultural Connection Group, whose members have been tasked with ensuring that Project 601 delivers tangible, life-changing, and sustainable impact.

By focusing on infrastructure, health systems, and professional vocational training, The Arc Mercer is moving beyond symbolic gestures toward a future of shared excellence and lasting independence for individuals with developmental disabilities in Liberia.