Norwich — Directors of The Arc New London County and The Arc Quinebaug Valley announced Thursday that the nonprofit organizations serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will merge, forming The Arc Eastern Connecticut.

Based in Norwich and Danielson, respectively, the agencies are independent, affiliated chapters of The Arc of the United States and The Arc Connecticut. They are licensed, contracted service providers of the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services and provide residential, daytime, employment and social supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families.

“The Arc Quinebaug Valley and The Arc New London County share a common heritage, mission, and passion to advocate for families and people with IDD,” said The Arc New London County’s chief executive officer, Kathleen Stauffer, whom the boards of directors of both agencies chose to lead The Arc Eastern Connecticut as CEO.

The Arc Quinebaug Valley’s executive director, Susan Desrosiers, had been scheduled to retire, and the merger results from both agencies’ strategic and succession planning efforts, the agencies said.

“Both agencies were born from the dreams of parents who fought to see their loved ones with IDD fully included in their communities,” Stauffer said. “In creating The Arc Eastern Connecticut, combined talents, personalities and gifts can only strengthen the supports that our families have come to expect.”

The Arc Eastern Connecticut will continue to operate its existing locations in Norwich, Groton and Danielson and plans to deploy support professionals from all three locations, according to Stauffer. 

“It’s actually more efficient to provide services regionally in light of transportation costs particularly given the intensiveness of some of the supports that we provide,” she wrote in an email. “Additionally, both agencies are in the process of opening additional group homes, homes that formerly were operated by the state. We will utilize technology heavily to realize savings by covering more ground more efficiently. Joint trainings in central locations, joint recruitment and turnover reduction are additional strategies that will be employed to realize efficiencies.”

The Arc Eastern Connecticut will be the largest chapter of The Arc in the state, serving more than 900 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families, in 40 cities and towns. It will operate on a 2019 budget of about $20 million and employ more than 440 people.

Eastern Connecticut's Arc agencies were founded in 1952. The Arc New London County merged with Seacorp in 2010.