A new adult special needs care service has been announced for Siloam Springs.
Friendship Community Care is opening a "Friendship Adult Day Program" for the city.
The program is aimed toward those who are developmentally challenged or disabled and are ages 18-21 with a high school diploma or certificate of completion, or are adults 21-and-older.
FCC is hosting the program at Ability Tree at 300 East Main Street from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program focuses on developing educational skills, living and social skills and physical fitness, as well as providing social outings.
Transportation is not offered at this time, but will be considered based on need.
"Back in early fall, FCC conducted a research forum of parents of adults with developmental disabilities," Director of Communications Theresa White said in an email. "Parents were very vocal in they wanted services provided in their home town where their friends and family lived rather than transported to the larger city centers."
"The need for adult special-needs services in the western side of the county has been brought to our attention for several years as there is currently no other community provider in the area."
The program will also provide a way to care for children as they age out of current programs.
"There is also a significant number of special-needs youth and school-age children growing up in the greater Siloam Springs area that will need services once they graduate high school," White said.
Friendship Community Care Inc. was established in 1972 and is one of the largest statewide systems of care for both children and adults navigating life with a disability. Adult systems of care have been offered in the River Valley, Central Arkansas and North Central Arkansas for many years.
FCC has operated in the northwest Arkansas region for a little over eight years and has pediatric locations in Siloam Springs, West Fork and Lowell, Ark., and an adult services office for in-home waiver supports in Fayetteville.
Friendship Community Care Inc. is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and received the "Non-Profit Business of the Year" from the Arkansas Business Association in 2009.
General News on 01/13/2016