Family To Family Network
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Family to Family Network is Houston's premier non-profit organization providing education, training, support and referrals on the Texas special education system. Their "Texas Project FIRST" website contains links to everything you would want or need to know about special education in Texas. As the parent of a child with autism, and newly-relocated to the Houston area, Family to Family provided me with a wealth of information to prepare for my child's IEP meeting. But most importantly, Family to Family produces a monthly e-newsletter about EVERYTHING happening in the Houston (and surrounding) area that might be of interest to families of children with disabilities [conferences, seminars, respite services, outings, support group meetings], as well as organizing a few social opportunities as well (holiday parties, picnics, Lil Rustlers).
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A lot
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Family to Family is THE BEST. The Seminars that they offer are most
informative and professionally given.
As far a personal help with my sons and their school; I cannot say
enough good things about the organization and all who are a part of
it.
I have struggled for years to get my son's high school to hear my
grievances and struggles with their system. F2F help me write complaints to TEC with examples and regulations violated. I now
feel I have a real chance of being heard and changing their system.
I am eternally grateful for all that F2F does to educate and inform
parents.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
seminars, issues at my son's school
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
get them a large grant to further their work
Family to Family Network has been my lifeline to accessing the support and information I need for my son with Down Syndrome. When my son was three, I attended his first ARD meeting at the school – the experience was so overwhelming, I left in tears. Soon afterwards, I found Family to Family Network and gained the tools and confidence I needed to successfully navigate the complex special education system and advocate for my child. That was 18 years ago, and I will attend his exit ARD from high school next week and prepare for graduation! I can honestly say that because of the guidance and information I received from F2F, I have been able to make informed decisions about my child’s educational programming that have enabled him to reach his potential. Today I continue to get help from F2F in figuring out his options for the future – which, thanks to all I have learned from F2F, will include living and working in the community. I know that I join so many other families who have benefitted from the free services they have received from F2F to build brighter futures for their children with disabilities.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
This has had a tremendous impact on my entire family. Instead of worrying about our child's future, we have learned to become proactive and take advantage of all the opportunities and services available.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
add more parent liaisons to help the many families who call the office for help on a daily basis.
Family to Family Network abruptly cancelled the Family Friends program as of November 1, 2010 so it no longer provides any respite for families and can no longer claim any credit for the reported 1800 hours of respite care or 540 hours of volunteer time. As a result, the organization now serves only the informational needs of parents who have one or more children with a disability. Family to Family Network no longer has any interest in or capability of providing one on one mentoring relationships. The former Family Friends program director is looking for a new sponsoring 501(c)(3) organization to serve the 48 plus families currently matched with their family volunteer.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the positive growth for families who received in the past the non judgmental nurturing and caring provided by the Family Friends program director and volunteers, and the positive effect on volunteers who get to know their families personally and reap the personal reward of their good and well guided family mentoring.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
either make fund raising part of the executive director's job or lower the salary of the executive director and/or cut corners elsewhere in order to provide personal support to families and children. Without those changes, in my opinion, it is wrong to solicit private donations on top of the governmental funding received for holding seminars on how to advocate for children with disabilities.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
No
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
Family to Family Network has helped my family become better aware of our rights within the school district. We are parents of two special needs children whom were struggling academically until Family to Family helped guide us in the right direction. Now, with the right modifications in place, our children are successful in their school environment. Thanks, Family to Family Network!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
watching my chidlren grow academically.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I really would not change a thing.
Family 2 Family Network has gone far and beyond the call of duty! If I need any advice when it comes to school meetings to therapies that would best suit my child, F2F network is there to lend a helping hand... FREE of charge! It's like having my own free legal advocate who does the research for me prior to school meetings and therapy sessions. Thank you, Family 2 Family Network!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
researching laws that can help a parent during the ARD meeting process.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
having my own free child advocate just a phone call away.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
parents of other children with disabilities that understand our lifestyle and what trials and tribulations we go through on an everyday basis.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
force school districts to uphold the Individual Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to it's highest degree of standards.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I have been involved with F2F since 1994. They do a great job of providing support to families with children who have disabilities all over Houston and beyond. F2F helps by providing information that is relevant to parents of kids with disabilities and by training them for the challenges they will face raising a child with disabilities. They are experts in the area of education and our family has personally benefitted from their advice. Recently, F2F has been developing training programs for families with adult with disabilities, so that F2F staff can continue to provide services as children with disabilities grow into adults. F2F is very good at what they do and are very encouraging to parents. Their services are invaluable.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
education information and adult services, SSI & Medicaid information
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
love to see them expand if the funds were provided.
We are so grateful to family to family organization for all parent training and classes to help us how become a good advocate for our son which could included him in resource and regular classes to raise with his peers. otherwise could be so hard without their support. I stongly recommend them for all parents with a disabled child.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have a son with CP which with the help and suport of family to family could make remarkeble progress.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I think they do best just please everybody support them.
It is very easy to become overwhelmed and frustrated when trying to find help raising a child with disabilities. The best part, for my family, about Family to Family Network, is being able to speak with other parents who have walked in our shoes. Their own personal experiences and advice they shared with us have been so valuable. We have learned the importance of planning ahead and visualizing what the future will look like for our son and then showing us the steps it takes to get there.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My son now has meaningful IEP goals & objectives and I'm more comfortable in my role as primary advocate for him when dealing with school issues, especially.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Like to see more parent-to-parent networking opportunities.
F2F newsletter serves as a lifeline for us. I look forward to receiving it to find out what opportunities are available in our area. As the parents of an autistic individual, we are always searching to gain more knowledge to enable him to reach his full potential. My only conpliant is I wish we had had it sooner.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Seminars attended that I might not have known of otherwise.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
have found it earlier.
After being pulled from public school and home schooled for several years. my son with autism was ready to integrate with the world again. F2F helped me with critical information about our rights, state and district policy and law in order to get him correctly and happily integrated into 12th grade, credits in check to graduate, and into the work based learning program he needed. They helped him with self advocacy training. They helped me with the IEP/ARD process. They have continued to help our family with important information about relevant issues we continually have to deal with, like Social Security, Gaurdianship, Medicaid Waiver programs and State Agencies. Because of the personal stakes they have in the outcome of their own children with disabilities, they are constantly tuned into the issues that will affect my childs outcome. I know I can trust the information they provide to us without worry of another agenda. They are an invaluable resource for empathetic and knowledgeable information and help.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Outcome planning for my adult child with autism, and with successful integration into the public school system. He is happy, we are happy and the school is happy. That's huge.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Make it larger with direct offices at the school district and state agencies level.
Family to Family Network has always been available,ready and beyond that, pro active in delivering helpful and often crucial information in our community to parents and families of children with special needs. They are personally invested and therefore understand the emotional, physical and financial stakes the people they serve have to deal with everyday. I have called them for information or advise on several occasions, and even when they didn't have the answers themselves they never set the phone down without specific names, phone numbers or suggestions on who to call next or where to look.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
helping educate parents aobut the rights of their children.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
More feedback...
Ways to make it better...
they had a special needs lawyer on staff to help parents with legal matters.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
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