Welcome to Partners N Pals

Campers are required to fill out a Ben Franklin Transit Dial-A-Ride Application for transportation during camp. Luckily, we can walk you through the process!

Partners N Pals provides limited door-to-door transportation to and from the camp for campers who qualify for Ben Franklin Transit’s para-transit services. (Last year campers who were accepted for Dial A Ride - your approval should be good for 3 years-)

Campers who have not received approval we ask for you to fill out the Dial A Ride Application - it does require a doctor’s approval - It takes Dial A Ride 30 days to approve.

If your child is Dial-A-Ride eligible, The Arc is able to pick them up at their homes within designated boundaries. Be aware that campers are allowed only 1 address for pickup/drop-off.

Partners N Pals will not be able to serve campers who are not Dial A Ride Eligible.

Please turn in applications to The Arc.

Dial-A-Ride Application Link

Need help with your Dial-A-Ride Application?

Contact Sue Pederson: suep@arcoftricities.com

Other Information to Consider

Booster Seat Policy

Due to Washington State Law RCW 46.61.687 campers 16 and under must ride in a booster seat until they are 4’9” in height. Campers riding in Dial-A-Ride buses will not be required to use a booster seat.

Seat Belts

The Arc of Tri-Cities, in order to comply with Washington State Law RCW 46.61.687 requires the following:

• Parents or guardians to sign a release that they have read the Booster Seat Policy.

• Children up to age 13 must ride in the back seat.

Scheduling

Scheduling transportation is one of the most complex parts of Partners N Pals.

Transportation schedules will vary week to week due to the number of children attending and their home locations. We appreciate your patience.

Pick Up Policy

Campers need to be ready 15 minutes before and/or after their general scheduled time. In other words, if transportation arrives 15 minutes early or 15 minutes later than the scheduled time, we are “on time.” Please call 783-1131 and camp extensions before 8:30 am to inform transportation of any cancellations. Leave a voice mail if needed.

• Ext. 141 Richland Camp

• Ext. 143 Kennewick Camp

• Ext. 142 Pasco Camp

• Ext. 140 Camp Manager

Drop Off Policy

Campers under the age of 12 and/or those whose parents have not signed the “home-alone” release, will not be dropped off unless a parent and/or caregiver is home.

If no one is home, the driver will wait three (3) minutes and then The Arc will continue to provide support to the camper at a charge of $15 per 1/2 hour. There is a minimum charge of $15 due upon pick up of the child. Parents can pick up their child at The Arc of Tri-Cities, 1455 Fowler in Richland.

Notification

For the first week of camp, families will be notified of the transportation schedule the day before camp by phone or a postcard taped to the front door (drivers will arrive or call sometime between 8:30 am - 4:00 pm).

For all other weeks Camp Management will notify new campers of their transportation schedule by Friday the week before their scheduled attendance.

Group Level

With the help of outstanding youth volunteers and committed staff leaders, The Arc is able to offer low staff ratios no greater than 1 to 4 for our group level. Campers identified as needing group supervision are able to follow directions, stay with a group, and require little to no help with personal care (feeding, toileting, etc.). Campers signed up as group will be supervised by our youth volunteers.

Intense Supervision Level

Intense supervision level (1 to 1) for those campers identified as needing additional assistance and for which both the family and The Arc feels that staff can serve safely in the community.

Things to Consider

Please sign up your camper for the supervision level that you believe is best. We evaluate the needs of each camper as applications come in and may need to make adjustments to supervision levels. These adjustments will be discussed with families at every step of the process.

Intense Supervision - $600 per week

Group Level - $375 per week

Using Developmental Disabilities Administration Respite Dollars

WAC 388-845-1615  Prohibits The Arc from charging families additional fees.  Families paying with DDA dollars will be charged the regular group cost, and are not eligible for the pre-paid discount rate. DDA funding is based on attendance records.

• Parents/legal guardians are responsible for payment.

• Campers and volunteers must pre-pay before attending camp, unless payment plans are pre-arranged.

• Payment can be cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard.

• Payments can be mailed or delivered to The Arc during office hours of 8:30-4:30 (closed for lunch 12-1:00 PM).

• Funding approval from state supports must be received prior to attendance.

• The Arc is a contracted Community Respite Agency through Developmental Disabilities Administration.

• Sunscreen

• Extra set of clothes

• Socks (if bowling that week)

• Water!!

• Swim diapers (if needed)

• Hand Sanitizer

• Lunch

• Extra diapers/pull ups

• Towel

• Swimsuit

Partners ‘N Pals kids swim as much as possible. Swimming occurs in public pools. The following is helpful in making swimming a fun experience:

• Swimsuits need to be modest and durable- no midriff

• PLEASE come in swimsuit under clothes

• Due to health requirements, participants who require toileting assistance and/or frequent reminders must wear swim diapers and/or plastic pants under their swimsuit. (Amazon offers a selection of plastic swim pants)

• Swimsuits must be lined—swimming pools require all male swimsuits to have a liner

• In need of swim diapers? Amazon has them! Here is a link for swim diapers size small to 2X.

The Arc of Tri-Cities staff are not medically trained. In case of an emergency staff will:

• Call 911

• Notify Camp Director

• Notify Family