TURNERS FALLS — After a turbulent year in which The United Arc removed its executive director after losing two state contracts, the organization is looking at 2022 as a chance to rebuild trust with the community.
As The United Arc lost its contracts, former employees and families served by the organization spoke about the downturn of its services and the toxic workplace culture that had festered for several years. As the calendar flips to January, board of directors President Bruce Biagi said The United Arc has turned “180 degrees” and has started to address the problems that plagued the agency.
“The culture is slowly being changed to reflect an understanding for accountability and documentation, and why that’s important and why everyone should participate,” Biagi explained by phone. “Both from the board and senior staff that’s present there now, with considerably more openness and discussions going both ways.”
The United Arc, founded in 1951 by Rita Marguerite Canedy and incorporated in 1960, serves clients living with developmental and intellectual disabilities in Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden and Worcester counties through its offices in Greenfield, Turners Falls, Holyoke and Athol.
The board of directors previously voted to remove Executive Director Lynne Bielecki. The organization has since tapped Fred Warren as its acting executive director, and Biagi said he has done “an excellent job” thus far.
“I have confidence,” Biagi said, “in the new senior staff and Fred’s leadership.”
In response to the toxic workplace, Biagi said The United Arc has implemented biweekly reports, outside evaluations and monthly meetings. The agency is also starting quarterly staff surveys to ensure it is “getting feedback from all levels.”
In June and July, a state Office of Quality Enhancement report found The United Arc was failing to manage its clients properly and revoked the agency’s licenses for its Residential and Shared-Living programs, which were given to ServiceNet. The agency was also put on a temporary license for its Individual Home Supports program, which will be reevaluated sometime this year. The Residential program served 14 individuals, the Shared-Living program served five individuals and the Individual Home Supports program serves 44 people. The United Arc also retained its contracts for Adult Support Services and Family and Youth Services, through which it serves 500 people.
Biagi said The United Arc is working to improve its services and bring them back to the standard they were at before.
“Everything we’re doing is in response to what was found lacking,” Biagi said. “The bottom line is we now have an organization that can respond much more appropriately and much more quickly and with input from everyone.”
Biagi estimated the relicensing review for the Individual Home Supports contract will come in August.
“I know we’re going to be ready,” he said.
As The United Arc picks up the pieces, Biagi said operations have been going well and the organization may look to expand in 2022 — if it can find the staff to work, that is.
“It’s a possibility. We have been looking to expand. … We’re looking for new space and, as everywhere, there is a problem with hiring,” Biagi said. “We’ve got to get over the bad perception of The Arc.”
Biagi said the agency’s Adult Support Services and Family and Youth Services are “very strong,” and he hopes to implement more community-based advocacy groups to bring people together.
“We look to (the existing services) as something that will probably grow in the future,” Biagi said.
The top priorities for the year include securing the Individual Home Supports license, solidifying the improved work culture and reestablishing any trust that may have eroded in the community.
“We are getting ready to redefine a five-year plan of what our goals are,” Biagi said. “Our plans are to continue to communicate with the community.”