SYRACUSE — L’Arche Syracuse began an affiliation with AccessCNY in an agreement that became effective on May 1. The two nonprofit disability providers have been partnering on services for the last several months, per a news release about the affiliation. Financial support for this partnership was provided by the Central New York Community Foundation’s strategic […]
SYRACUSE — L’Arche Syracuse began an affiliation with AccessCNY in an agreement that became effective on May 1.
The two nonprofit disability providers have been partnering on services for the last several months, per a news release about the affiliation.
Financial support for this partnership was provided by the Central New York Community Foundation’s strategic partnership fund. The fund provided a $16,000 grant, Matt Seubert, associate executive director–development, communication, and advocacy, tells CNYBJ in an email.
The Community Foundation has supported AccessCNY’s growth over the last five years through grants that have encouraged collaboration, the organization said.
L’Arche Syracuse will maintain its identity as a faith-based provider of services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Through a “change of auspices” affiliation structure, L’Arche says it will benefit from AccessCNY’s administrative services and expertise in management, finance, and human resources.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with AccessCNY,” Peggy Harper, executive director of L’Arche Syracuse, said. “As funding and regulations for providers of services for people with disabilities has become more challenging, it became prudent for L’Arche Syracuse to find new ways to move forward. The size and scale of AccessCNY made it an ideal partner for us. L’Arche’s unique mission necessitated a unique arrangement. The change of auspices allows L’Arche to continue our faith and community-based approach to serving individuals with disabilities, while calling on the expertise of AccessCNY.”
Harper will continue in her role until her retirement later this year. Given the hands-on nature of supports provided by the agencies, “no staff reductions are anticipated” as a result of this affiliation, AccessCNY said.
“We’ve been working with L’Arche Syracuse over the past several months to make this partnership seamless to those served by the agency, some of whom are also served by AccessCNY. Our facilities, behavioral management and quality enhancement teams have been among the first to collaborate with L’Arche. Both agencies will be stronger as a result of this partnership. AccessCNY was created from a merger and will continue to partner to meet the needs of Central New York as we create a community where all people belong,” Paul Joslyn, executive director of AccessCNY, said.
About AccessCNY
AccessCNY, based at 1603 Court St. in Syracuse, serves over 3,300 people with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental-health diagnoses and/or acquired brain injuries each year.
In 2015, AccessCNY was created from the merger of two agencies that served individuals with disabilities: Enable and Transitional Living Services.
AccessCNY expanded again in 2018 with the merger of Spaulding Support Services. Onondaga CASA, a program that serves abused and neglected children in foster care, also became part of AccessCNY in 2019.
About L’Arche Syracuse
L’Arche Syracuse is one of 135 L’Arche communities around the world.
L’Arche includes people with and without disabilities sharing life in a community of faith. Locally, it operates a day habilitation program and four Syracuse homes for people with developmental disabilities where staff live as part of the household.