SALEM, Oregon — For the last 70 years, the Salem-based nonprofit The Arc Oregon has offered mental health services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) — and they just got a big financial boost.
The UnitedHealthCare awarded The Arc a $90,000 grant that will allow them to help train at least 200 direct support staff across Oregon. It will also help identify two staff to complete the Mental Health First Aid training to become certified instructors.
"[We] just [saw] the opportunity to apply; we jumped on it," said Em Braman, the executive director of The Arc Oregon. "Then when we got it, we were quite excited and ready to jump in with 'How do we get going on this? How do we start spreading the word about this in Oregon?'"
According to America's Health Rankings Mental and Behavioral Health Data Brief, people with disabilities are 3.5 times more likely to experience frequent mental distress compared to adults without disabilities.
This is something Braman says will be a game changer for the community as a whole.
"There is a huge need, particularly to support folks who have both intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health diagnosis," said Braman, "so anything we can do to help in that area, we are overjoyed."
The funding is part of a three-year, $2.5 million grant to The Arc from the United Health Foundation. Braman added that The Arc Oregon plans to continue training folks moving forward even after the funds expire in Oct. 2026.
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