Top Nonprofits | STARC
In the Business of Independence
As a PRIVATE, nonprofit organization, STARC has helped thousands of people since it started nearly 35 years ago. While they’ve grown over the years, their services still involve individuals reaching out to individuals to connect with the ABILITY that lies behind the disABILITY. You could say that they’re in the business of building independence, day by day and step by step.
STARC was founded in 1972 by Laura Delaup with two other mothers after her eight-month-old daughter, Heaven, was bitten by a mosquito carrying encephalitis. The disease left Heaven developmentally disabled, and she became one of three original STARC participants. Today, STARC’s east and west divisions serve over 700 individuals and their families in St. Tammany, Washington, St. Helena, Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes at any time.
STARC helps people of all ages. Programs and services include:
Early Intervention Program—Offers services to eligible infants and toddlers with developmental delays, from birth to age three. The program provides special instruction, speech, occupational and physical therapy, support groups, family counseling, parent workshops and social work.
Noah’s ARC Children’s Daycare Services—Noah’s ARC cares for children aged six weeks to five years. Since the best role models or peers for developmentally disadvantaged children are typical children their own age, the center provides care to all children side by side…an inclusive day care.
Services include early education, therapy and motor skills development.
Adult Daycare Services—A program in which individuals with developmental disabilities can get full-time assistance during the day.
Supported Employment—Enables adults with disabilities to work in a competitive job setting with the assistance of a job coach. The coach trains the individual in the skills necessary to perform the job and works with employers to assure that on-going job requirements are met.
Residential Services—STARC residential services are provided through community homes that allow individuals with disabilities to live in a family-style environment. The three homes—two in Slidell and one in Covington—are supervised 24 hours a day.
Waiver Services—Waiver services are home and community based services that provide services for clients and their caregivers in an effort to support the caregiver and avoid institutionalization.
Elderly Services—Non-medical services to senior citizens with physical or mental disabilities. Services include grocery shopping and prescription pick-up/delivery, personal care assistance and light housekeeping, as well as adult day care.
STARC Businesses—Did you know STARC offers commercial linen services? You can rent your table cloths and napkins from STARC for special occasions or they can handle your laundry needs. Call 985-641-0432. STARC also owns and operates a retail dry cleaning service with full pickup and delivery. For more information, call 985-781-0929.
How Can You Help?
STARC welcomes tax-deductible contributions of any amount at any time. Donations strengthen our agency, enhance our programs and allow STARC to be even more responsive to the needs of the many children and adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs who rely on us. No donation is too great or small. When you support STARC, you are supporting the diligent efforts and dreams of individuals with special needs. You help make a lifetime of greater opportunities possible.
You can also help STARC defray expenses and continue to provide quality services by volunteering your time and talent. Opportunities in a number of areas exist.
For more information about STARC and its programs and services, please
call (985) 641-0197 or www.starcla.org. |
