Arc Opens Three New Sites

Above: Hampton Enhanced Day Habilitation Center shortly after completion of renovations. Photo: Jim Cooke

Arc of Onondaga has invested in opening three new properties in Syracuse to serve people with developmental disabilities. The completely renovated buildings will provide enhanced day habilitation services to over 100 people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

Arc is closing its James Street enhanced day habilitation location in Eastwood after 17 years to make way for a much anticipated Walgreens store. People served by the former Eastwood location will now attend the three new, smaller sites.

“The new sites allow us to better serve each program participant,” said Kristine Firenze, Arc Director of Enhanced Day Habilitation. “Relocating to the smaller sites will allow us to provide services to consumers with similar needs rather than trying to group individuals with disparate needs.”

The locations are: Salina Center - 677 S. Salina St., Syracuse, 13202; Fremont Center - 7041 Manlius Center Rd; East Syracuse, 13057; and Hampton Center - 203 E. Hampton Place, Syracuse, 13206. The Salina Street and Fremont sites have opened first; The Hampton enhanced day habilitation center opened on January 14th. The sites took 6 months to complete.

“We’ve made a significant investment in the community,” said Dale Marris, Arc’s Director of Facilities & Operations. “Over the past two years, Arc of Onondaga has invested $2.1 Million in constructing new and purchasing and renovating existing properties in Central New York.”

Arc’s enhanced day habilitation programs provide assistance with the acquisition, retention or adaptation of skill levels in the areas of self-help, socialization, adaptive skills and development of manual and perceptual motor skills. Individualized services are the cornerstone of enhanced day habilitation. Each program also includes an integrated recreational component with both community and facility based activities that meet each program participant’s needs. Nursing, behavioral, and physical therapy services are all available at each site.

Arc of Onondaga is the largest provider of services for people with developmental disabilities in the county.  Arc of Onondaga, a non-profit division of NYSARC, Inc., serves over 3,000 individuals and their families at 37 local sites. It is the mission of Arc of Onondaga to assist individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve their fullest potential.