Farmington Hills Nonprofit Encourages 'Culture of Gentleness'

JARC, an organization serving people with disabilities based in Farmington Hills, has been recognized by The Center for Positive Living Supports and Macomb Oakland Regional Center, Inc. (MORC) as the first and only organization certified in a Culture of Gentleness.  

"JARC has been a leader in the fight for full citizenship for those JARC serves and has worked passionately for people with disabilities to have lives that are rich and full,” said Gerald Provencal, Executive Director of MORC. “JARC has never wavered, never taken a safe route. They have stood up to community resistance when it was fierce, and always tried new things. JARC is on the cutting edge. It was a pleasure for me to present this award to them."

Starting in 2009, JARC began an agency-wide effort to make sure everyone was treated in a way that made them feel safe and cared about. This has translated into countless hours of extensive staff training as well as adapting agency policies, forms, and even physical environments to adhere to the tenets of Gentle Teaching, enabling those entrusted to our care to feel safe, cared for, caring and engaged.  

To date, JARC has trained three staff members to be Gentle Teaching Mentors with three more in the process of attaining certification. 

"The journey to establish and maintain a Culture of Gentleness is really an ongoing process and we are very proud to receive this honor,” said Chris Hench, JARC’s Chief Operating Officer. “JARC is continually reaffirming our unwavering commitment to supporting the principles of Gentle Teaching, and to bringing the Culture of Gentleness to others in the community."

Learn more at jarc.org or call 248-538-6611.