An Interview with Winner Vanessa Fortin

Health and Wellness, Staff Perspectives

This month the Rochester Business Journal announced their Health Care Heroes awards, and for the third consecutive year, a staff member at The Arc of Monroe has been recognized. Vanessa Fortin, RN and RN Coordinator was honored in the Special Needs category. The awards recognize excellence, promote innovation and honor the efforts of organizations and individuals making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the Rochester area. Vanessa and all the winners will be honored during a virtual celebration at noon on Tuesday, May 11. Let’s meet Vanessa: I am humbled to have been nominated for the …

A Heartfelt Message from The Arc of Monroe

COVID-19, Staff Perspectives

A Heartfelt Message from The Arc of Monroe: It has been a year since the first reported case of COVID-19, and throughout these past twelve months, we have persevered even though they have been stressful and traumatic. Many of us have mourned the loss of loved ones, loved ones contracting the virus, remote learning. We have worked through the challenge of how best to care for children, elderly parents, friends, neighbors and the health of our community. We will be forever changed by this collective experience, and I believe we will emerge with a different perspective in critical areas, including …

girl standing with black lab therapy dog in room

Pre-vocational College Student Lands Therapy Dog Internship

COVID-19, Health and Wellness, Programs and Services, Stories Of People We Support

Morgan is a freshman in the LifePrep@Naz program. She showed up day one ready to hit the ground running! But with Covid restrictions, the program wasn’t allowed to send the students on internships last semester. However, this semester, Morgan has been chosen to start a 4-year long internship. Morgan will be working with an Occupational Therapy Professor, who has a therapy dog on campus. Morgan is a huge dog lover so this is perfect for her! She will be taking the therapy dog from an office, walk her around campus and allow her to interact with college students on camps. …