Profile

Barb Helm is the Executive Director of Arcare, Inc. Arcare is a nonprofit organization in Kansas City, specializing in advocacy, life care planning and fiscal management for persons with disabilities. She has a degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas, is a Kansas Licensed Social Worker, and a National Certified Guardian. Barb has been the executive director of Arcare for 33 years. It was under her leadership that Arcare developed their Representative Payee Program, Pooled Trust Program, and Life Care Program. Arcare provides services to over 1500 individuals throughout Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Arcare serves a diverse population including people who have mental illness, intellectual disability, physical disability, acquired brain injury and dementia. Barb serves as the Chairperson of the National Plan Alliance, Treasurer of the Alliance for Pooled Trusts, and is a board member of the National Down Syndrome Congress and The Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities. She is a frequent speaker both locally and nationally on special needs trust administration, public benefits, and life care planning. Barb is a native of Kansas City where she still makes her home with her husband. She has 3 grown children and two granddaughters.