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The Assurance Plan is a lifetime advocacy program that will provide activities, financial oversight, make visits and attend planning meetings, and ensure the wishes of the individual and families remain in place. The Assurance Plan is a replication of a program that’s been around for 30 years on the southeast side of Michigan, and Finn is ready to make sure this resource is available in West Michigan. “I’m very excited to bring this to Kent County so that families can be assured that their loved ones will still have the quality of life we’ve worked so hard to maintain.”
Along with the new Plan, The Arc also provides advocacy, resources, and information across the lifespan. There is a parent mentor to help families understand the special education system and helps facilitate meetings at school. They help adults navigate the community mental health system and access and maintain needed services. There is the Community Participation Initiative, which helps adults connect with activities in the community such as volunteering or recreation so that they can be as independent as possible. And they advocate at the state and federal level to ensure that the voices of the families and individuals with disabilities are heard and their needs are met.