The dreams, desires and needs of people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities are realized through innovative services and advocacy.
Our mission
To offer people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities opportunities to live and experience full lives.
What we value
Ulster-Greene ARC strives to be a values-based organization with a commitment to:
Respect – We treat everyone affiliated with our agency – people we serve, their families and our employees – with the same dignity and respect that we would want for ourselves. This includes respect for the cultural diversity and individual beliefs that are an integral part of the richness of our organization.
Integrity – With integrity as a foundation for all our actions, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of honesty, loyalty, trustworthiness and principles in all our interactions with the people we serve, their families and advocates, our co-workers and all others.
Compassion – We exhibit kindness, understanding, empathy, and concern for the people we serve and our co-workers.
Excellence – We dedicate ourselves to provide the highest standards of care to the people we serve on a daily basis, well beyond the requirements of our regulatory bodies. We take pride in helping to define their needs and meeting those needs in cooperation with others.
In adopting these values as our guiding principles, we promise to work together to encourage equally, the people we serve, their families and
our employees to grow and flourish
Email us for more information about Ulster-Greene ARC at
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Our phone no. is 845.331.4300 x707.
Our mailing address is Ulster-Greene ARC at 471 Albany Ave., Kingston, NY 12401
UGARC is a chapter of NYSARC, Inc. and a United Way Agency
We are a not-for-profit agency that serves nearly 2000 people who have developmental delays or disabilities throughout the mid-Hudson and Catskill Mountains region. The disabilities include mental retardation, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, to name just a few.
Developmental disabilities are those that have an onset usually at birth but before the age of 21 and which are permanent in nature. The exception is traumatic brain injury which can occur at any time, but which is permanent in nature.
We teach people daily living skills that can lead to higher levels of independence. These skills might include personal hygiene, learning how to take public transportation, learning how to open and manage a bank account, learning how to shop, cook, and keep a home. Basically, our services are centered around personal and family choice.
We provide advocacy for families by helping them obtain the services they need at Ulster-Greene ARC or other area agencies. This advocacy might take the form of assisting someone with the legal process of guardianship or obtaining special education services or finding ways to become better included in the community.
We are able to act as lifetime guardian for people with disabilities providing peace of mind for often elderly parents who worry about the future of their children. We are able to assist family members in securing legal guardianship for themselves and are able to assist when it comes to preparing for the future.
We advocate for funding and legislative policies that preserve and improve needed services for people with disabilities.
Our own transportation system includes 150 vehicles that travel about 1.8 million safely-driven miles each year. In our rural community, transportation is the vital link to work, to neighbors, to church and synagogue, to recreation. It means the difference between segregation and community inclusion.
As part of our outreach, we offer defensive driving courses to the public in the interest of community safety. These courses are taught by our certified driving professionals.
We act as good neighbors by upgrading our properties, keeping them well-maintained and beautifully landscaped.
We believe strongly in the ideals of voluntarism. The people we serve, their families and our staff give generously of their time to help the community by volunteering at fire and rescue squads, religious groups or organizations, sports associations, local soup kitchens, school groups, service clubs and in many other ways.
Our Residential Services meets the individual needs of people for housing or related services. We offer services that help people with disabilities remain with their families by providing services in their home. We also offer a range of choices from help in finding an apartment to 24-hour care in one of our community homes.
Laurie A. Kelley, Executive Director, FACHE, has served as Executive Director of Ulster-Greene ARC since 2002. She first joined the not-for-profit agency in 1999 after more than 20 years as a health care executive.
Laurie Kelly holds a MBA from Union College. Laurie is a well-respected community leader who founded a local eating disorders education and advocacy coalition; mentors women at risk; who serves on human service-related boards in Ulster and Greene counties as well as volunteering with the Kingston Lions Club, where she is a past president. When she was appointed Executive Director of Ulster-Greene ARC she vowed to family members and the people who chose our services “to never misplace the trust they place in Ulster-Greene ARC and me. It’s an awesome responsibility helping people with disabilities and we must strive everyday to live up to that responsibility.” Laurie resides with her husband Bill in Kingston where they raised their son Eric and their daughter Caitlin.
Brian P. Doyle, Associate Executive Director, brings more than 30 years of professional experience to helping people with disabilities. He joined Ulster-Greene ARC in 2000 after more than 20 years with the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities where he began his career as a Direct Support Professional. He holds a Masters in Public Administration from Marist College. He is an active member of his community where he serves as the Chairman of the City of Poughkeepsie, NY, Common Council. He also serves on the boards of several local not-for-profit agencies. He and his wife Evelyn are the proud parents of Dan and John who are pursing their careers in law and environmental policy.
Salvatore A. Garozzo, Associate Executive Director, has worked in human services for more than 20 years. He joined Ulster-Greene ARC in 1998 as Director of Vocational Services. Since that time, he also served as Director of Clinical Services before his appointment by the Ulster-Greene ARC Board of Directors to his current position. Sal holds a MBA from the University of Buffalo with a certification in rehabilitation counseling. He serves on the Chamber of Commerce of Ulster County’s marketing committee. He also serves as a vocational rehabilitation expert for the Social Security Administration’s Office of Hearing and Appeals. Sal and his wife Cheryl are active volunteers at St. Joseph’s Church and School where their son Joseph attends. Sal and Joseph play chess in their free time.
JohnMcHugh, Chief Financial Officer, joined Ulster-Greene ARC in early 2008. He has over 18 years of financial experience in the field of disability services and and in hospital administration. John has a brother with Down syndrome who currently lives and works in the state of Florida. John holds an MBA from SUNY New Paltz as well as a dual certified Masters in Education and Special Education from Mount St. Mary College. John is a volunteer with the Chamber of Commerce of Ulster County. John, whose wife Melissa he had met at Mount St. Mary College, is a NYS Certified teacher in Special Education. They have three young children, Brian, Isabella, and Olivia and reside in Ulster County.
Our Board of Directors serve with a passion for Ulster-Greene ARC's mission, "To offer people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities opportunities to lead and experience full lives."
For many of them, the passion is personal. Current board president, Joe Bruck, has a nephew Joe who’s gained independence and work skills from the assistance he receives at Ulster-Greene ARC. Joe received a NYS award……His uncle is a retired special education administrator who has devoted his life to helping people like his nephew and others.
Mark Storch is a retired high school science teacher. He's been one of the strongest advocates for the human rights of people with int3ellectual and other developmental disabilities. He says that as a parent of a very vulnerable daughter with autism, there's constant worry about her care and safety. "I trust Ulster-Greene ARC and the staff members who care for Jenny. They are just like family to Jenny and me. That's why I'm involved in Ulster-Greene ARC; I have a strong vested interest in this agency's success and future."
Tom Hitchcock’s daughter Alison is fiercely independent. She was raised with a focus on her abilities, not disabilities. Tom and Alison's Mom, Lonna, are retired educators who enjoy travel and visiting with grandchildren. Tom says they can be away with a lesser sense of worry about Alison who lives semi independently and works in the community, because they know Ulster-Greene ARC is there to help her succeed. "When you have a child with a disability, the concerns are constant. We put our trust into UGARC because we know the staff and the leadership team is totally dedicated to Alison and the other people they serve."
The Board of Directors of Ulster-Greene ARC serve as community volunteers who share their insights, passion and expertise in assuring that our agency remains a sound choice for high quality assistance for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Board members include people with expertise in the areas of financial and strategic planning, education, health care, real estate development as well as other areas.
To learn more about Ulster-Greene ARC’s advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities visit our History page…..
Announcing the Greene county support group for Parents with special needs children
Led by parents, for parents.
Get support and knowledge from others.
TIME:
10:30am the 1st Saturday of each month* and
6:30pm the 2nd Monday of each month*
(*except holidays)
PLACE:
Catskill Ulster-Greene ARC Building
311 West Bridge St
Catskill NY 12414
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Email Tina Noeth at
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or Tracy Powell at
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