The Boards of Directors of The Arc Quinebaug Valley and The Arc New London County recently announced they will merge and form The Arc Eastern Connecticut. The merger will augment and strengthen service provision for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
“The Arc Quinebaug Valley and The Arc New London County share a common heritage, mission, and passion to advocate for families and people with IDD,” said The Arc NLC’s CEO Kathleen Stauffer, tapped by both boards to lead The Arc ECT as chief executive officer.
The Arc QV’s executive director, Susan Desrosiers, had been slated to retire, and the merger results from both agencies’ strategic and succession planning efforts.
The Arc NLC and The Arc QV are independent, affiliated chapters of The Arc of the United States and The Arc Connecticut, actively championing full community inclusion. Both agencies are licensed, contracted service providers of the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and provide residential, daytime, employment and social supports to people with IDD and their families. In forming The Arc ECT, The Arc QV, based in Danielson, and The Arc NLC, based in Norwich, will serve more than 900 people with IDD and their families in 40 cities and towns. The Arc ECT’s 2019 budget will be approximately $20 million; the agency will employ more than 440 people from the surrounding area. Both Boards of Directors believe that combining forces from a position of strength will further improve inclusion for people with IDD in Connecticut.
Established in 1952 as a grass-roots movement by families seeking greater opportunity for loved ones, The Arcs QV and NLC anticipate increased efficiencies via expanded implementation of dedicated technologies, joint employee training and quality oversight, expanded staff recruiting, and targeted, more effective regional fundraising. The Arc NLC’s previous merger with Seacorp in 2010 led to improvements in workplace safety, greatly enhanced quality-service scores, and investments in adaptive technologies that led to greater independence for many people with IDD in the region. The establishment of The Arc Eastern Connecticut will both duplicate prior successes and create stronger and more efficient service delivery for families squeezed by ongoing state budget crises. The Arc ECT will be the largest affiliated chapter of The Arc in the state.
“Both agencies were born from the dreams of parents who fought to see their loved ones with IDD fully included in their communities,” Stauffer said. “In creating The Arc Eastern Connecticut, combined talents, personalities and gifts can only strengthen the supports that our families have come to expect.”

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