The Arc of Southeast Mississippi (Arc) is a United Way non-profit organization devoted to providing community-based services to individuals with mental challenges and their families. In addition, through our programs, the Arc promotes and encourages the acceptance of those with mental disabilities by exposure to, and interaction with, people in our community. The services we provide and the population that we reach makes us a unique agency.

Our agency is committed to providing a network of support for families as they face the challenges of caring for a mentally, and often physically, disabled child or adult. We attempt to achieve this goal through our various programs that include: after school care, seasonal social activities (dances, contests, parties, games, etc), Mother's Day Out, Adventures Summer Program, Day at the ARC/Weekend Respite (for medically fragile children), participation in Sunday church services, Adult Male Respite, Adult Female Respite, Rise and Shine, music and art programs, and parent support groups. Through these various services, we are able to offer a wholesome quality of life to our clients and their families; improving the physical, mental and spiritual health of all the individuals involved.

No other organization serves solely the individuals with disabilities. In the last several years we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of referrals to our agency from medical, educational, social and individual sources.

The Arc serves clients from the counties of Lamar, Perry, Marion, Green, Jones, Wayne and Stone. Clients range in age from birth until the individual's death. The scope of disabilities includes: hearing impaired, visually impaired, physically impaired, multi-disabled, mentally disabled, medically fragile and autism. In a fiscal year, approximately 10,000 individuals with some form of disability or members of the community at large are served.