Holy Family University’s PsyD Student Receives The Arc Mercer’s Beverly Roberts Scholarship for Serving the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Community

The Arc Mercer traces its roots to 1950 when a group of parents took action in creating opportunities for support within the intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community. Today, The Arc Mercer works with over 1,000 children and adults within the I/DD community, providing them with various programs that both support and empower the individuals they serve.

The Beverly Roberts Scholarship is awarded to individuals who demonstrate their commitment to and advocacy for the I/DD community. In memory of Beverly, who dedicated her time, energy, and life to advancing healthcare and played an instrumental role in the development of the healthcare center at The Arc Mercer, this scholarship is to support future providers as they continue to carry out her legacy in the work.

One of the two recipients of this first-ever internship award through The Arc Mercer’s Beverly Roberts Scholarship Fund is Holy Family University’s own Patricia DiFalc0—a student in our doctor of psychology in counseling psychology, PsyD, program. Patricia worked directly with Monica Quaste, director of behavioral services, and Holy Family alumna Andrea Resko, director of healthcare operations, providing both individual and group therapy. This honor is not taken lightly, as her work with The Arc Mercer team and consumers has been nothing short of transformational and impactful.

DiFalco shared:

“I had the opportunity to work with individuals aged 18 to senior and loved every minute. The Arc Mercer is a tremendous organization that provides programs and services that empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in many ways. Their mission is to provide opportunities for personal development, job training, fun and recreation, and independent living. I tried my best to empower my clients and provide them with strategies to incorporate into their daily lives to benefit their mental health.”

Her experience is a true testament to how our students are able to integrate their educational experiences into their careers. As Patricia is continuing her coursework with Holy Family and working towards her goals, she explained that she “plans to work with individuals with intellectual disorders.” We are thrilled to celebrate her achievement in this field and we are eager to see the clinician she is becoming.

Written by: Francesca Maslin

To learn more about The Arc Mercer, please visit their website: https://www.arcmercer.org/
To learn more about our PsyD Program, please visit our program page: https://www.holyfamily.edu/academics/programs/doctor-psychology-counseling-psychology-psyd