Arc of Cape May County Receives Quality Assurances Accreditation

SOUTH DENNIS – Maryanne D’Aleo, immediate past president, and Majken Mechling, current president, announced that the Arc of Cape May County Inc. was awarded the three-year Quality Assurances Accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). The award confirmed that the organization embraces person-centered solutions to improve the quality of life for people receiving supports and services.
The Arc of Cape May advocates for people in Cape May County with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them achieve their life goals and become productive members of the community by creating opportunities for education, employment, housing and recreation and by providing the necessary supports to be fully accepted, respected and integrated into society.
The Arc is changing public attitudes and fostering access and inclusion by encouraging and assisting individuals to take the lead on choosing how they live their lives.
“The accreditation process ignited a stronger passion for meaningful living in all people at The Arc,” stated Patricia Merk, executive director of The Arc of Cape May. “It helped us weave together the individuals we support with the greater community and how they envision their place in it.
“Now the agency has a better understanding of the impact and power we each have to move individuals, their families and the agency forward.” 
When the Arc of Cape May partnered with CQL to pursue accreditation, it undertook a rigorous process to review and improve supports and services.  The efforts of the Arc were focused on empowering the people who receive supports to pursue what really matters in their lives, and achieve their personality-defined outcomes.
“CQL commends the Arc of Cape May for its success in increasing the quality of life for the people it supports,” stated Mary Kay Rizzolo, president and CEO of CQL. “We are pleased to partner with them on this journey of ongoing organization transformation.”