Parca Programs Provide Specialized Care

San Mateo County is certainly not lacking in rewarding jobs. Thanks to nonprofit Parca and its programs, people with developmental disabilities have a home away from home that’s part of a community led by people who love what they do for a living.

Parca, which was started in 1952, operates numerous specialized programs throughout the county, including REACH, a child care program that serves children with and without disabilities in San Bruno; Horizons, a Belmont-based assisted living apartment complex for adults with developmental disabilities; Cedar Street House, a four-bedroom assisted living house in San Carlos; Redwood City’s Alameda House, an independent living home for adults with developmental disabilities; Palo Alto’s Page Mill Court, with similar to Horizons; and Burlingame-based Raji House, a weekend respite care program for children and teens with developmental disabilities.

At Raji House, up to 12 children spend the day at the four-bedroom home on Palm Drive, and up to six stay overnight.

“This is designed to give parents a break,” said Parca CEO Diana Conti, adding that caring for someone with a disability can be challenging for families.

“It’s a really nice weekend experience for the children,” Conti said.

During their brief stay at Raji House, guests take part in arts and crafts, music and movement, reading, outdoor games and field trips.

Time at Raji House provides more than just a break for parents.

“It helps their socialization too,” Conti said.

Conti, who has been in the nonprofit industry for about 30 years, previously worked at the Marin Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Problems.

Conti has been with Parca for 10 years and feels that advocacy for people with disabilities has come a long way and that cultural changes have allowed people to embrace differences.

“Back in the ’50s, people were told not to get too attached to their (disabled) kids … that they would have to be institutionalized,” Conti said.

Parca programs give their clients a better quality of life and the tools they need to be more independent, Conti said.

Conti finds the work extremely rewarding.

“It’s a wonderful population to work with,” she said.

Pati Vicari, Parca’s director of programs, agrees.

“We have a lot of fun,” said Vicari, who often spends her week traveling to the various program sites.

Vicari’s favorite part of her job is “seeing the day-to-day improvement” as the adults in the program become more independent and the children learn to read and become more interactive.

“It’s an awesome place to work,” Vicari said.

Raji House was named for Umang and Ruth Gupta’s son, Raji, who was born with special needs. The Guptas donated a trust to the organization, Conti said.

For more information about Parca and Raji House, visit http://www.parca.org/ and http://www.parca.org/raji.html.