Community Impact: REST

Our Program Operations Coordinator has become a REST Master Trainer to teach high quality respite techniques to providers.  85 companions have been trained to give families a much needed break from caregiving responsibilities.

Community Impact : REST Trainings

At Unicorn Children’s Foundation, we are dedicated to support families and individuals challenged by special needs. That is why we have a REST (Respite Education and Support Tools) certified trainer to train Companions and Trainers. One of our volunteers, Lachyn, was inspired to start a club after she completed a REST Training course with our Program Operations Coordinator, Ivonne Rodriguez! Here's her story in her own words...

High school is the time in our lives when we meet new people, create the biggest friendships, build the strongest connections with each other, and just enjoy our teen lives that are fulfilled with happiness and joy brought by loved people around us. However, we all have had moments in our lives when we felt lonely, as if we had no friends at all, and the only ones we could have relied on, were our family. In my experience, having a language barrier during my first years in America, made creating new friends, or even completely understand what was going on around me, extremely difficult, so most of the times, my only company was my family. These circumstances made me feel isolated from the rest of society, leading to a reduced self-esteem, and even ability to start a conversation.

Now, four years later, I went back to being social, as I realized that not understanding people because of not being able to speak the same language was normal; however, I started noticing that I was not the only one experiencing this problem. I was shocked by how many people would isolate themselves from everyone else, which I thought was wrong, so with a help of Ivonne Rodriguez, who I volunteer for at the Unicorn Children's Foundation, as well as a person who gave me an incredible opportunity to learn more about the Respite Care, I decided to start the Best Buddies Chapter at my school, West Boca Raton High School. I thought that children that have the most difficulty creating new friends, should have an opportunity to have the same high school experience as everyone else. Therefore, with a help of our amazing faculty advisor, Nancy Rademacker, club’s crew, and of course, Chrissy Reynoso, who made this all happen, we are on the way to our journey, consisting of wonderful new friendships.

Make a change now, join our mission to put an end to loneliness in our society.

Family Caregiver Lifespan Respite Summit 2018

The Respite Taskforce of the Palm Beach County Special Needs Advisory Coalition held a Statewide Respite Conference: Family Caregiver Lifespan Respite Summit 2018 at FAU Jupiter Campus on Thursday, November 15, 2018. Unicorn Children’s Foundation’s Program Operations Coordinator, Ivonne Rodriguez, participated in the panel: “What's Going on Around the State with Respite?”

Sign Up for the FREE Statewide Respite Conference: Family Caregiver Lifespan Respite Summit

Please join us for our FREE Statewide Respite Conference: Family Caregiver Lifespan Respite Summit on Thursday, November 15, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at FAU Jupiter Campus!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-statewide-respite-conference-family-caregiver-lifespan-respite-summit-tickets-47562519777

Make a Difference Day with REST

In honor of #MakeADifferenceDay, Unicorn Children’s Foundation's Program Operations Coordinator, Ivonne Rodriguez, along with Monica Sanchez, co-hosted a training today at The Arc of Palm Beach Countyto increase the availability of high quality respite care providers in Palm Beach and Broward County. Respite provides temporary relief for families from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual with special needs.

Congratulations to the 20 new REST Program Companions!!!

REST Training at Unicorn Village Academy Today!

Unicorn Children’s Foundation's Program Operations Coordinator, Ivonne Rodriguez, hosted a training today at Unicorn Village Academy to increase the availability of high quality respite care providers in Palm Beach and Broward County. Respite provides temporary relief for families from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual with special needs.

Become a REST companion!

Join us on Saturday, September 8th for a free training!

Wondering what REST is? Click here for a quick overview: http://bit.ly/2JemOuL

Register here: http://UnicornChildrensFoundation.org/REST

REST Around the Nation

Unicorn Children's Foundation was featured in the August issue of REST Around the Nation!

Read Here

REST Master Training

REST “Master Training” is an evidence based training to provide quality respite care. Unicorn Children’s Foundation’s Program Operations Coordinator, Ivonne Rodriguez, is now one of two trainers in the state of Florida. Unicorn Children’s Foundation is always on the vanguard for better opportunities to serve families and individuals challenged with special needs. 

BREAKING NEWS: Become a REST Companion

At Unicorn Children’s Foundation, we are dedicated to support families and individuals challenged by special needs. That is why we have a REST (Respite Education and Support Tools) certified trainer to train Companions and Trainers.

Become a REST companion and make a difference in someone’s life.

https://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/respite.html

REST Training Saturday

Help us welcome these new REST Companions!! Ivonne Rodriguez of Unicorn Children's Foundation and Monica Sanchez of The Arc of Palm Beach County held a Training on Saturday at The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter.

Become a REST companion!

Join us TOMORROW at The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter for a free training, organized by Unicorn Children's Foundation.

Wondering what REST is? Click here for a quick overview: http://bit.ly/2JemOuL

Register here: http://bit.ly/2L8w0y4

REST Training at the Unicorn Children's Foundation

REST (Respite Education and Support Tools) Trainer Ivonne Rodriguez, Program Operations Coordinator of the Unicorn Children's Foundation, provides an overview of the REST Program and the benefits of respite care.

REST Training Today

Unicorn Children’s Foundation's Program Operations Coordinator, Ivonne Rodriguez, hosted a training today at the Boca Raton Children’s Museum to increase the availability of high quality respite care providers in Palm Beach and Broward County. Respite provides temporary relief for families from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual with special needs.

These REST Companions finished the training saying they are excited to give respite to some families and they feel like champions!

REST National Newsletter

Unicorn Children’s Foundation was mentioned in the REST National Newsletter!

A Mother's Testimony: Become a Companion

We believe that everyone has the opportunity to help someone else, whether they directly have Special Needs, or if they know someone, we believe that by providing this FREE training to YOU, then you will be able to make an impact.

The Unicorn Children’s Foundation will be hosting a training on Saturday, April 7, 2018 from 9am to 5pm at the Boca Raton Children’s Museum to increase the availability of high quality respite care providers in Palm Beach and Broward County. Respite provides temporary relief for families from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual with special needs.

This 8 hour workshop is based on a national evidence-based model from REST to provide care companions with the tools necessary to help them build confidence and provide high-quality respite care to adults and children. No prior experience is required to attend this very interactive training program, only a desire to help strengthen families and our community.

One mom shared, “I struggled a lot as a parent of 3 children with special needs. The diagnoses initially were overwhelming. Because of my profession as a therapist, I found myself feeling incompetent as a mother AND therapist, feeling I should be able to handle the circumstances. However, respite made space available for me to do my own therapy as well as continue my studies; I was able to release those limiting beliefs and learn how to be really present for my children...and husband. Our family has strengthened as a result. This has been a life changing support for me. I will forever be in gratitude!”

Do you have what it takes to give caregivers the break they need to refresh and recharge so they can keep up caring for their loved ones without burning out? A $10 registration fee is required to reserve your spot but is refundable upon completion of the course. Contact Ivonne Rodriguez, certified REST Companion Trainer at (561) 620-9377 ext. 306 for more information. Interested parties may also register online at UnicornChildrensFoundation.org/Companion.

Unicorn Children’s Foundation Offers REST Companion Training

The Unicorn Children’s Foundation will be hosting a training on Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 9am to 5pm at the Boca Raton Children’s Museum to increase the availability of high quality respite care providers in Palm Beach and Broward County.  Respite provides temporary relief for families from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual with special needs.
​
This 8 hour workshop is based on a national evidence-based model from REST to provide care companions with the tools necessary to help them build confidence and provide high-quality respite care to adults and children. No prior experience is required to attend this very interactive training program, only a desire to help strengthen families and our community.

​One mom shared, “I struggled a lot as a parent of 3 children with special needs. The diagnoses initially were overwhelming. Because of my profession as a therapist, I found myself feeling incompetent as a mother AND therapist, feeling I should be able to handle the circumstances. However, respite made space available for me to do my own therapy as well as continue my studies; I was able to release those limiting beliefs and learn how to be really present for my children...and husband. Our family has strengthened as a result. This has been a life changing support for me. I will forever be in gratitude!”

Do you have what it takes to give caregivers the break they need to refresh and recharge so they can keep up caring for their loved ones without burning out?  A $10 registration fee is required to reserve your spot but is refundable upon completion of the course.  Contact Ivonne Rodriguez, certified REST Companion Trainer at (561) 620-9377 ext. 306 for more information.  Interested parties may also register online at UnicornChildrensFoundation.org/Companion.

Become a REST Companion

Full time caregivers can burn out. Refresh and recharge time is so important for physical and mental health. The person that needs full time care also enjoys new faces and activities.

The ultimate goal of this training course is to assist individuals to become effective companions by learning the three key steps of support:

PREPARE • CARE • CONNECT

When you're a REST Companion (volunteer or paid), you give the gift of your time to provide a valuable service. You will spend one-on-one time with a child, adult or senior, giving only as much time as you are willing and able to give.

http://unicornchildrensfoundation.org/companion

REST program study to appear in national health care journal

Congratulations to our Program Operations Coordinator, Ivonne Rodriguez, who was 1 of 16 individuals who completed a REST training event at the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County. Currently, REST has 526 Trainers and 5,480 Companions in 29 states!!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/community/chi-ugc-article-rest-program-study-to-appear-in-national-heal-2018-01-26-story.html

First Florida Class of REST Certified Respite Trainers