902 W. Cherry Lane
Carlsbad, NM 88220
(575 887-1570
Mark.schinnerer@carcinc.org
CARC, INC. has been helping individuals with special needs lead active and healthy lifestyles for 50 years.
What does your business do?
CARC, INC. provides adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a comprehensive residential and vocational program that includes 12 residential living homes, adult day habilitation program, nursing services, transportation, supported employment and work services, money management, case management, crisis intervention, social activities, and the opportunity to participate in Special Olympics.
Our residential services allow each individual to build a meaningful life that meets their unique needs with support and planning based on choice, personal situations, and defined goals.
Our work services program allows individuals to learn the job skills and social skills needed for success in the career they choose. On-going training and supervision allow for continual growth opportunities in vocational, social, emotional, and community involvement.
CARC, INC. also offers a full child daycare facility for children 8 weeks to 5 years old. Located on the main CARC campus, the daycare is a small and unique place where children learn and grow in their development among their peers while enjoying the beautiful grounds and interacting with our adult individuals.
Our children’s program also provides Early Childhood Intervention services to children from birth to age three. The program serves families whose children have a developmental disability, a delay in their development or are at risk of developing delays. Each child/family has a Family Service Plan developed that facilitates a partnership between the family and the service providers. Parents, Developmental Specialists, and other team members build on strengths and abilities by promoting the child’s self-image in a positive learning environment. This program serves all of Eddy County, with offices in Artesia and Carlsbad.
What services does your company provide for the community?
CARC, INC. offers, in addition to the residential and vocational programs and children’s programs, various services to the community. These include horticultural products in our Country Store and Greenhouse, pecans processed in our Pecos Valley Pecans operation, plant barrel rental program for businesses, and document destruction services for both drop-off and secure contract shredding.
We also have the Farmhouse Bargain Store that is a second-hand store offering low-cost clothing, furniture, housewares, books, etc., that are donated. All proceeds are used to support the individuals who live at CARC.
How is your workforce active 24/7?
Our workforce includes direct support professionals in our residential and vocational programs, service coordinators and developmental specialists in our children’s program, licensed nurses, and various support staff. All group homes are staffed 24/7 based on federal and state requirements. Residential staff duties include home upkeep, meal preparation, laundry, personal care for individuals, transportation, and activity outings in the community.
All of the adult programs are regulated by state and federal requirements, which include annual health and wellness inspections as well as oversight and review on a daily basis by case management and nursing staff. Each individual’s plan includes nutritional guidance, medical oversight, medication management, and the review and document tracking of program plans, goals/objectives and outcomes.
What do you want the community to know about your business?
In addition to being a licensed Individual Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, CARC, Inc., is a nonprofit organization, and we are blessed to be supported financially by our donors. We are a Medicaid-certified program, so our funding is from Medicaid, meaning we are at the mercy of the State to set the funding rates that allow us to operate. Without the financial support of donors, we would be hard-pressed to maintain the lifestyle and amenities of our program that set us apart from others in the state. There is no other program like ours in the State of New Mexico that does all we do for our individuals. We seek and welcome all who want to help us give these individuals with special needs a better opportunity in life and be active citizens in their community.
We have been providing these services and programs now for 50 years and this year we are celebrating an amazing 50-year history serving over 500 adults, many of who have lived with us for 10, 20, and even 30+ years. These individuals deserve to have the same opportunities in life as we all do: their own home, their own friends, and their own jobs. At CARC, we are thrilled to be able to support them in their lives.
Our children’s Early Intervention program has been operating for nearly 30 years, and in that time, we have served over 3,000 children. Our proudest achievement is that nearly 75% of our 3-year-olds in the program do not need further intervention services from the school system. It’s a program that is kept way too quiet but gives big results.
What needs does your business/organization have?
First and foremost, we need additional staff who have a passion for working with and helping individuals to have the support and services they need to be successful every day. It takes special people who have a heart for helping others, and the smiles and hugs make it all worth it.
These times are especially difficult because of inflation in all our costs of living, i.e., utilities, food, personal care items, clothing, equipment, and vehicle/transportation costs. Sadly, the Medicaid program does not keep up with the rapidly increasing costs, and we couldn’t do all the good we do without donors and their generous giving. We actively seek and encourage others to partner with us in this work and support our individuals, our staff, and our programs.
How can the community help you in your mission?
First, this year, help us celebrate the amazing history of the last 50 years. Sadly, we lost Gary Forrest, the son of Bob and Barbara Forrest, who was born with Down’s Syndrome and was the impetus for Bob and Barbara to begin a mission to find a way to serve and provide services to other children with special needs. As we celebrate this year, we remember Gary and the mark he has left on CARC. We will celebrate this historical time in a community gala event on October 5th. Come celebrate with us!
Second, share our organization with those who may need the services we provide and encourage them to reach out and come visit. Third, please help us financially if you have a place in your generous heart.
Most importantly, we hope the community continues to accept our individuals into the community and to support the programs we have to give them special lives.
Community spotlight originally published in Focus on Carlsbad 2023 Fall edition.
