Community Needs Assessment

Unicorn Children's Foundation with Community Partners conducted a Community Needs Assessment in Palm Beach County to capture data on the “state of special needs” in the community and streamline data sharing among organizations.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats for Individuals with Special Needs: Recommendations for an Improved System of Care:
https://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/uploads/1/0/8/1/108108451/pbc_community_needs_assessment_system_model_recommendations.pdf

Developing Comprehensive Services for Individuals with Special Needs: A Business Plan 2015:
https://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/uploads/1/0/8/1/108108451/pbc_community_needs_assessment_business_plan.pdf

Description of Funding Streams for Services for Individuals with Special Needs:
https://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/uploads/1/0/8/1/108108451/pbc_community_needs_assessment_funding_streams.pdf

Response to Questions: RFP for Virtual Hub Developer

Please view the Response to Questions from the RFP for a Virtual Hub Developer.

Download here

Request for Proposal for Virtual Hub Development

As part of the Palm Beach County Community Needs Assessment on Special Needs and Disability, the need for a more efficient and effective system of locating resources and sharing information was identified. The ongoing work of the Special Needs Advisory Coalition has resulted in the announcement of an RFP for a Virtual Hub Developer.

More information: http://static.donordrive.com/assets/unicornchildrensfoundation/files/$cms$/100/2306.pdf

The State of Special Needs & Disability in Palm Beach County

On December 1, 2015, we shared the results of our community needs assessment and plan to expand and transform the system of care.

View All Photos

The State of Special Needs & Disability in Palm Beach County Tomorrow

There are still a few spaces available for tomorrow!!

RSVP now: http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/townhall/

Last Day

Today is the last day to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Today is the last day to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

1 Day Left

There is 1 day left to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

There is 1 day left to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

2 Days Left

There are 2 days left to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

There are 2 days left to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

3 Days Left

There are 3 days left to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

There are 3 days left to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

4 Days Left

There are 4 days left to tell us about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

There are 4 days left to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. Your information is completely confidential and anonymous. We are sharing your voices as part of this independent study so we can create a better community for you to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

Parents - Tell Palm Beach County Your Experiences by June 30th

Don’t be silenced! If you are a parent of a child with special needs or disability and live in Palm Beach County, please complete this survey to ensure that your needs are being met.

June 30 is the deadline to tell Palm Beach County about your experiences:
http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Here is what some other parents had to say.

“I feel like I'm on my own when it comes to ensuring my child succeeds in school.”

“It has always been difficult to find information on services no matter what age. Now that my daughter is an adult information is basically nonexistent. Although we have tried to make plans for her after we are gone it is frightening to think about how she will manage on her own. If we have trouble getting information how will she manage?”

“When I die is there some place he can live safely?”

Share Your Experience Until June 30

How do individuals with special needs or disabilities feel about living in Palm Beach County? We are sharing their voices. If you have been diagnosed with a special need or disability and live in Palm Beach County, please complete this survey to ensure that your needs are being met.

June 30 is the deadline to tell us about your experiences:
http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

“I need to be able to move forward in my dreams (even the disabled have them).”

"When you live with an invisible disability, the world expects you not to be disabled. Because I have lived through it, I know what life is like without money, without a home, without a car, without safety, and without hope. Repeatedly, I could have withered away as a statistic."

“I want a job that makes me feel important and not like an idiot. I want a place I can call my own. I need dependable transportation.”

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace!

June 30 is the deadline to tell Palm Beach County about your experiences as a parent or caregiver of a child with special needs or disability. The County is listening and we want to ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Here is what some other parents had to say:

“We strongly feel that many years were wasted being new parents and very unsure of how to (a) process that our son has autism and (b) navigate the system. Palm Beach County needs a system where families are brought in from day 1 and truly guided throughout the process not just given list of contacts.”

“We need a center with job skills training, social skills training, daily life skills training, community based employment instructions, training and support to integrate into the community, work readiness, and life enrichment  such as decision making, self-improvement, task completion, and community involvement.”

“My family's income falls where we make too much for Medicaid, but we still can't afford to pay for all of the services our daughter needs.”

“When I die is there some place he can live safely?”

Don’t Be Silenced.

June 30 is the deadline to tell us about your experiences living in Palm Beach County with a special need or disability. We are sharing their voices so we can create a better community for all to live in and ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

“I had a difficult time answering the question about whether I am happy. Of course I am happy, and yet, how happy can one be with so much going on that triggers stress and feelings of powerlessness?”

“I am not happy with the mentality or non diversified population of the community in which I live.”

“I would like any job offers in a restaurant”

“I need more opportunities to socialize”

June 2015 Newsletter

The Unicorn Children's Foundation June 2015 Newsletter is now available online!

http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/615newsletter/

How do individuals with special needs or disabilities feel about living in Palm Beach County?

We are sharing their voices. If you have been diagnosed with a special need or disability and live in Palm Beach County, please complete this survey to ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

“I need to be able to move forward in my dreams (even the disabled have them).”

"When you live with an invisible disability, the world expects you not to be disabled. Because I have lived through it, I know what life is like without money, without a home, without a car, without safety, and without hope. Repeatedly, I could have withered away as a statistic."

“I want a job that makes me feel important and not like an idiot. I want a place I can call my own. I need dependable transportation.”

Don’t be Silenced!

If you are a parent of a child with special needs or disability and live in Palm Beach County, please complete this survey to ensure that your needs are being met.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Here is what some other parents had to say.

“I feel like I'm on my own when it comes to ensuring my child succeeds in school.”

“It has always been difficult to find information on services no matter what age. Now that my daughter is an adult information is basically nonexistent. Although we have tried to make plans for her after we are gone it is frightening to think about how she will manage on her own. If we have trouble getting information how will she manage?”

“When I die is there some place he can live safely?”

We need to hear your voice!

If you live in Palm Beach County and are the parent or caregiver of children or adults with special needs, mental health issues or disabilities, we want to hear from you.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Help us create a model community where individuals with special needs and disability will be appropriately assisted and supported in least restrictive ways to maximize their full potential.

We need to hear your voice!

If you live in Palm Beach County and have been diagnosed with a special need, mental health problem or disability, we want to hear from you.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey

Help us create a model community where you will be appropriately assisted and supported in least restrictive ways to maximize your full potential.

Opportunity to Have Your Voice Heard

If you live in Palm Beach County, we need your help to transform the landscape of services and supports for individuals with special needs/disability. Please share these links with all of your clients/constituents/employees/vendors. Just to clarify, there are 2 different surveys –

1. Parents or caregivers can describe their experiences in obtaining supports and services for a child or adult with special needs at http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey.

2. Individuals who have diagnosed with special needs/disability can share their personal experiences at http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey. It is possible for a parent, teacher, or interviewer to assist the individual with completing the survey.

This is an opportunity to have your voice heard!