History Timeline

1958

April 27, 1958 Arc of Stanly County, Inc. organized. The first President is Mrs. Inez Clayton. Allocations were made available for special teacher in city schools. Camp LotsaFun begins with all volunteer staff. Arc members visit homes in county to find individuals with disabilities.

1959

First fund drive started by Frances Strickland with Green Stamps. Membership reaches 28 with $298.53 in coffers.

1960

Arc meetings held in classroom at North Albemarle School. Mrs. Mattie B. Cranford chosen as first teacher and Ms. Etherine Green is chosen as her assistant. Civitan Club pays Ms. Green’s salary. Arc begins lobbying with legislature.

1963

Aggressive fund raising by Mr. E. J. Snyder and fund team breaks campaign goals two years in a row. Junior Women’s Club starts weekly transportation program to the YMCA.

1965

First space for the workshop leased on Wiscassett Street. Albemarle Jaycees with Mr. Steve Surratt sells workshop made pillows door-to-door.

1968

Workshop burns; almost complete loss. Staff and participants are housed at Methodist Youth Center. Wiscassett Mills part of Cannon Mills make first of two donations of land for the construction of Arc facilities on Greenwood Street. Workshop moves to facilities on Greenwood Street. and Mrs. Eula Cranford becomes first director. This is about the time that VR Work Adjustment became a service option at Stanly Industrial Services.

1969

Five thousand square foot building opens on Greenwood Street as the new workshop. Mr. Jack Chivington chairs the building project. Workshop opens Outlet Store. Optimist Club presents funds for cafeteria equipment.

1970

Collins & Aikman donates funds for equipment needs, and workshop opens nurses training program which last four years.

1972

Lutheran Church agrees to sponsor the preschool program.

1973

State funds Stanly Industrial Services to provide ADAP services sometime immediately preceding this date.

1974

Wiscassett donates $20,000 to build Greenwood Center daycare on land they had previously donated. Fourth Street Apartments open.

1975

Stanly Community College sponsors classes at the vocational workshop. This was the precursor to the Compensatory Education classes.

1980

New group home opens at 610 East Main Street. It is the first Arc-HDS home built in the state. It houses six individuals. Currently licensed as a Supervised Living site.

1981

Arc reorganizes and hires first paid executive, Mr. Elbert Johns. Arc Services, Inc. Board is created by mergers of group home, workshop, Greenwood Center Board.

1982

Arc opens Outlet Store in Badin, North Carolina.

1985

Arc opens Anderson Road group home, first Medicaid waiver group home in state. There are currently six individuals living in this Supervised Living site. Arc leads organization of SCUSA transportation program for Stanly County.

1986

Greenwood Center begins after school program. Arc begins first apartment program. Nine individuals are provided periodical supports in their own apartments. This program later expands with the PCSL grant to serve eighteen individuals. It further expands to serve up to twenty seven individuals with the same amount of funding.

1987

Arc awarded two certificates of need to open two ICF/MR group homes. Land purchased for Moss I and Moss II, and house at 506 Valleyview purchased to be developed into a group home. The Valleyview home is licensed as Supervised Living and has the capacity for five individuals to live.

1989

Developed Ansonville and Myrtlewood homes in conjunction with HC Management. Both homes are licensed as ICF/MR’s and have the capability for six individuals to live in them.

1993

Association for Retarded Citizens National changes name to Arc National. We celebrate 35th Anniversary with a birthday party downtown Albemarle. Partnership in Community Supportive Living (PCSL) begins collaboration with Cabarrus, Union counties through three year grant from DD Council. Offers supportive living services and family support.

1994

Thomas S. class members begin being served by PCSL, through opening Wiscassett home. The following homes designed and developed for subsequent class members: Seneca, North Main, and Graystone. The agency expands its knowledge on Person Centered Planning.

1995

Opened Prader Willi home, first in state, and developed Children’s ICF/MR group home where six children live. PCSL grant expires. Arc Services, Inc. assumes full responsibility for PCSL operation.

1996

Poplin Court, an eight-unit apartment complex, opens on Cohen Lane in Albemarle. Collaborate with Farmer’s Home to build site for people with low incomes. Farmer’s Home is part of Federal Division of Agriculture.

1997

Bethany Center opens, a day care located in Stanly Manor Nursing Home with opportunities for intergenerational activities. The Arc Store adds a location in Albemarle, and the Thomas S. program expands with a home on Woodhurst Lane and Danritch Road. Both close at a later time as participants desire alternate living arrangement.

1998

Arc celebrates 40th Anniversary at the Agri-Civic Center with over 200 in attendance. Thomas S. Group Home (Eldorado) opens, 710 Eldorado Street, Troy for one individual. Later closes when individual chooses to rent an apartment versus living in a home. New programs: Community CAP and Respite.

1999

Independent Living/Private Pay. Washington Street Group Home opened in Anson County. Home transferred from Sandhills Area Program. Licensed as Supervised Living to serve six children. Recognized the fact that the supports in this home did not meet the needs of the children or their families. Worked with children and their families to find alternative placement and closed the home in 2002. Two children transferred to an agency ICF/MR. One child began receiving CAP supports in this family’s home. One child aged out and went to live in an apartment. The other child was transferred to an AFL.

2000

Julius B. Cohen home opens in Norwood, NC. Four individuals live in this home which is licensed Supervised Living.

2001

Begin establishing micro-enterprises owned and operated by consumers. Terry’s greenhouse opens. Four other DBA’s established.

2002

Awarded grant from HUD to develop second Prader Willi group home, to be built in Mt. Pleasant. Agency reorganizes to focus on the consumer as a whole person versus individuals that we separately plan for in vocational and residential services. Agency is awarded funds from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to review its organizational structure and develop a strategic plan that focuses on community integration.

2003

Medlin Road residential site licensed and opened for three people. Exploring Private Home: asked to license personal family home in order to serve son/brother of family. Ground broken for new Prader Willi home in Mt. Pleasant.

2004

After changes to state plan, Area Authorities/LME’s divested programs to local providers who applied through a Request for Proposal process. Arc Services, Inc. was awarded homes, apartment complexes and vocational centers from Rutherford-Polk Area Authority, Piedmont Area Authority, Centerpoint Human Services, and Community Based Alternatives, Inc. extending Arc’s previous seven-county service area to a fifteen county service area. Arc opens its second 6-bed Prader Willi home in Mt. Pleasant, NC.

2005

Divestiture of programs to non-profits continues. Arc Services awarded contracts in Sandhills Local Management Entity, Pitt County Local Management Entity and Neuse Local Management Entity. Total of Group Homes are now about 50, with 8 vocational sites and four administrative sites. VR vendorships expanded. Foundations Behavioral Health Center opens with two therapists. Services now provided in 30 counties, budget of about $28 million. 

Initiates becoming a Comprehensive Community Provider for PBH, providing behavioral health services in Stanly, and eventually Rowan and Davidson Counties.

2006

Divestiture continues. PBH cancels contracts with two local providers and asks Arc Services to assume services. New services are residential for people living in their own home, but providing 24 hour awake staff and services in Alternative Family Living Homes. New service definitions approved, and Arc Services receives contract to provide community support to people with mental illness and substance abuse issues. Foundations expands to have mental health centers in Rowan and Davidson Counties. Budget now about $33 million.

2007

More Growth. Foundations provides Intensive In-Home services to families, adds Psychiatrist and begins using Telemedicine. Discover people like to talk to “the doc in the box”. Monarch opens first Mental Health Supported Living Low Group Home in the PBH catchment area. Add four vocational sites in the Southeastern Regional Catchment Area, Bladen, Scotland, Robeson and Columbus. Budget now about $37 million.

2008

The Arc of Stanly County celebrates their 50th Anniversary with two special Events. In May, a dinner was held at Stanly Regional Medical Center to honor past and present board members, families and people supported along with community members. Honored guests/speakers included former Executive Directors Elbert Johns and Connie Cochran as well as Congressman Robin Hayes. In June, a picnic at City Lake Park was enjoyed by over 300 friends and families of the Arc of Stanly County. Highlights of the day included entertainment by the Silvertones Steel drum band, wonderful food, complete with home made ice cream, and the release of butterflies which signified “New Beginnings” the theme chosen to commemorate this special golden Anniversary.

Arc Services changes its name to Monarch. Foundations, Arc Services, and all other programs now come under one name. Monarch opens a home dedicated to moving people out of Psychiatric Institutions. Monarch is offered additional homes in Pitt County with ECBH (Eastern Carolina Behavioral Health LME) and the Beacon Center (Edgecombe, Nash, Wilson, and Greene Counties). Budget now over $40 million. Open new community based “day activity” program in Pitt County. Agency achieves national accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership.

Monarch moves its corporate offices to Lillian Mills, a historic mill converted to offices.  This move combines administrative offices with behavioral health services in Stanly County. 

2009

Monarch begins Public Service Announcements across North Carolina with the theme "everybody dreams".  Creates first major fund raiser, inaugural "Dreams Take Flight" golf tournament.

Monarch accepts management of three Group homes in the Hendersonville Area.

Monarch opens the first two community based homes in the state for people coming out of the Psychiatric Hospital with high needs.

Monarch begins providing vocational rehabilitation services in the western part of the state.

Monarch accepts management of five day support programs in Chowan, Dare, Tyrrell, Pasquotank, and Currituck Counties.

Monarch adds the organization "Caring Support Services" to the Monarch family.

Now, Monarch's budget is about $43,000,000. 

2010

In January, Monarch opens "the Beach Club" a formerly all volunteer run program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Dare County.  This program is unique in that it has no "site" license.  It is entirely in the community.

In early February, Monarch receives $300,000 in grants to increase services for people who are looking for jobs. 

Mid February, Monarch becomes the provider responsible for the operation of a variety of new services in the Sandhills Local Management Entity (LME) catchment area.  Many of these programs are for individuals living with mental illness or substance abuse.  Monarch accepts responsibility for four group homes and two (8 people) apartment programs for people with Mental Illness in the Sandhills LME catchment area.  We also accept responsibility for four Psychosocial Rehabilitation Programs.

In April, Friends of Monarch gathered at Tillery Tradition Country Club to have fun and raise funds. With the help of numerous sponsors and community participation, the Monarch Golf Tournament planning committee managed to make this year’s event an even bigger success than last year’s with more dollars going toward the very people Monarch supports.

Effective May 3rd, Monarch becomes the provider of services to a number of families and individuals previously supported by Pinetree Community Services in the following counties: Moore, Hoke, Richmond, Anson, Lee, Montgomery, and Cumberland.

During June, Monarch successfully passed all phases of the Critical Access Behavioral Health Agency (CABHA) process and has become one of the first few agencies recognized by the state of North Carolina. CABHA status indicates Monarch as a highly functioning organization with appropriate clinical and medical oversight. The extensive management structure in place at Monarch ensures the highest quality service provision with strong quality improvement procedures – all factors in determining CABHA eligibility.

Also in June, Monarch adds ACTT teams in the PBH catchment area (Stanly, Cabarrus, Davidson, Rowan and Union Counties)

In October, Monarch is selected by Mecklenburg County officials to take over housing and other mental health services previously served by Mecklenburg Open Door. The new responsibility adds to the more than 3,000 children and adults living with disabilities, mental illness and substance abuse problems across the state and currently being served by Monarch.

2011

In January, accepted management of school based Day Treatment Program in Union County In May, Monarch was awarded a mobile crisis team, facility based crisis, and walk in clinic including psychiatric medication management services, injection clinic, and crisis assessment services in the Southeastern Regional MH/DD/SAS region. This includes Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, and Scotland counties. In April of 2011, at the request of the Arc of North Carolina and the Arc of High Point, Monarch entered into a management agreement with the Arc of High Point. This agreement is for Monarch to be responsible for the day to day service delivery to the people supported by the Arc of High Point. It includes all aspects of running the organization which encompasses residential, day and VR services. Monarch is also responsible for the QA monitoring and financial oversight of the agency.