The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded MARC, Madison Area Rehabilitation Centers, Inc. $195,822 to Improve staff training and development. This funding is part of a total of $17.3 million awarded to 69 organizations statewide. These grants are intended to improve Medicaid home and community-bases services that help older adults or those who have disabilities.

The purpose of MARC’s Staff Training project is to increase staff knowledge, skills and abilities when providing direct support. The goals of the grant are to specifically increase skills in the areas of autism, dementia, mental health crisis, traumatic brain injury, High School transition, and supported employment specifically related to the successful coordination of three Project SEARCH sites.

MARC is extremely grateful to DHS for the funding to research and implement best practices in the services offered at MARC. The mission and purpose of MARC is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities, and the best way to accomplish this is with highly trained & qualified staff. MARC has researched the most appropriate and cost-effective training options for staff training. MARC is exploring on-demand training and webinars that do not require extensive time commitments and time away from services due to staff shortages. Program Directors have researched trainings that are program and participant specific, in addition to trainings that would benefit all MARC staff and participants. Suzanne Hanson, MARC’s Executive Director, commented that “ We are grateful to receive this funding to update staff training to create the very best programs possible because MARC staff are well trained and confident in the services are care provided across MARC.”

Grant funding is made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). To learn more about the statewide grant opportunity and all funded projects, visit the DHS website. Questions about ARPA funding and DHS can be sent to the DHS media team at [email protected].