CFC #46189

How We Began….

SPARC was initially sponsored by Community Recreation Services, under the Department of Therapeutic Recreation.  Therapeutic Recreation remain our champions and partners.  SPARC was built to answer the demonstrated needs identified by the young adults with disAbilities themselves. 

“The number of residents in the Fairfax Community who are unable to perform essential activities of daily living is increasing dramatically. Without adequate planning, existing agencies and institutions both private and public, will be unprepared to effectively respond to residents' needs for Long Term Care in the future.”  This was the finding brought to our Board of Supervisors from the Area Agency on Aging and other Social Service Advisory boards in our county.

 

In 1999, our Board of Supervisors endorsed a recommended strategic plan of the many task force participants to begin building the required infrastructure of services needed in our county for “long term care”.

 

In 2001 this task force identified the needs of young adults with disAbilities and the gap of services that existed.

 

Donna Goldbranson participated in the initial focus groups that helped identify this gap in services for young adults after high school graduation.  As the mother of a daughter with complex life-long disAbilities, she and many other citizens helped consolidate the needed service supports for this growing population.  

 

This focus group grew to a task force and later was asked by the Board of Supervisor’s to form as a permanent Advisory Council on all issues touching long term care for seniors and individuals with disAbilities.  The Long Term Care Coordinating Council (LTCCC) began meeting monthly. To learn more about LTCCC and the county plan visit:  http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/ltccc/ltcbackground.htm

 

As this Council developed, one committee was formed to represent young adults with disAbilities. Donna and many of the current SPARC participants and their families were involved in the process of surveying the choices in our county and providing the feedback to our county agencies.  They also served on the LTCCC to facilitate the conversations of the self-advocates.   As a committee member, Donna brought her day support idea; SPARC, to the LTCCC.  With their endorsement and the partnership with Community Recreation Services, she began SPARC on November 2, 2006 and the club has been growing ever since!   Donna remains a member on the Young Adults Services Committee of the LTCCC.

At our Grand Opening Dec 12, 2006 SPARC began supporting 4 friends at the Southgate Community Center.  We currently support 14 club members and operate with a waiting list.  Our plans are to open a second clubhouse in 2010.