The best experts, when raising a child/adult with a disability, are not those employed at various organizations such as Health & Human Services, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, etc., although those employees certainly play a valuable role. But THE EXPERTS are truly those who are on similar roads, navigating the same systems and figuring out how best to navigate those systems. Organizational employees don't sit up in the middle of the night trying to figure out how to fill out required paperwork, or how to qualify for needed services, or how to manage said services. FAMILIES WHO USE THOSE SERVICES are the ones who know, and can best advise others following in their footsteps. F2F's staff is filled with those experts. INVALUABLE!!!!!
F2F has always gone above and beyond to assist our family address the special needs of our family members. This organization actively supported our family with issues with our school district as well provide invaluable information during the process of applying for Supplemental Security Income. F2F members have a wealth of information and contacts in the Houston area to support their mission of supporting families of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
It is truly unfortunate that this outstanding organization will no longer be able to offer these critical services due to unsustainable funding shortages.
We are incredibly grateful for the wonderful support that Family to Family Network has graciously given our family. We have an adult daughter with special needs in which she has transitioned from various levels of supports. Leslie has given us valuable direction and guidance along the way. With her knowlege and support, we have been able to get through these changes with understanding and assurance of the steps taken. We have also been helped by Mary Jane in which we feel grateful that there has always been an advocate available when we required assistance. There is a great necessity for families of all different ages to have available to them this support and guidance that is desperately needed to navigate life for thses vulnaerable and special loved ones. We can't thank you all enough!
VERY RESOURCEFUL AND HELP UNDERSTAND OUR CHILDRENS NEEDS. HOW TO SEEK HELP FOR OUR CHILDREN AND HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR AN ARD MEETING.
I was contacted right away and the information was provided to assist in my search for advocate. Many resources provided to better understand the ARD process.
Navigating benefits without Family to Family is overwhelming. Very grateful for the resource and Leslie is amazing.
F2F has helped me learn how to advocate for my daughter. I also love that there are so many resources that they give and direct your way. I am new to being on the parent side of special education and feel as though I am more comfortable to go into meetings about my daughter! The advocates are also so helpful and only an email away.
MaryJane, Leslie and Judy are SUPERSTARS in our book. They are great listeners and will help you get past those frustrations and move into ACTION! They were able to get us connected with so many tell resources and tools to support us as we seek the best things for our child. We look forward to future events, trainings and helping out any we can to give back and say thanks!! You all are appreciated!!
Amazing non profit with a wealth of information. I have learned so much and would recommend everyone on this journey to this organization. Thank you
I can say without a doubt that anyone I've shared F2F with has had a stellar experience and goes on to refer this organization with others. They seek the best way to help clients and families achieve positive outcomes. They are professional and compassionate.
Since march 2015 I have been a target of LGBTQ and GLBT activists judges, District Attorney and Attorney general office of Harris county Texas all endorsing children abusers.
Jailed in Harris County on April 12th 2020 was in hunger strike for 7 days while request for a Bible , to talk to a chaplain and request for medical attention all ignored.
https://youtu.be/ABlE02fH5oE
F2F has provided tremendous support and is a source of information and advocacy to my family for numerous years. Every time we contact Family To Family Network, they have either had the answer or given us resources to get answers. They go above and beyond to assist the community to understand what services are available, what to do when rights are being suppressed, and how to further opportunities for people with disabilities. The staff is incredibly hard-working and dedicated, and we are always grateful for all they do!
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I have attended F2F conferences and trainings throughout the years, and their website Texas Project First, http://texasprojectfirst.org/, has INVALUABLE information about special education services, events, and resources. What I most appreciate about Family to Family Network is there personal attention and assistance! When I desperately needed guidance to keep my son with down syndrome included in the classroom and receiving the services he needed, they sat down and walked me through laws, made calls to district personnel, and encouraged me knowing that they had "been there done that!" Hard working, dedicated, and great asset to our community! VERY GRATEFUL for their services!!
Family to Family does so much to support people with disabilities and families of people with disabilities living in the Houston area! I have referred people to them for resources, information, advice, and help with advocacy. They even partnered with others to help people impacted by Harvey. While all of these obviously make a huge difference in the lives of people in that area of the state, they also offer advocacy training that increases the impact made of the services and systems across the state.
Family to Family has a perspective on family involvement and engagement that is comforting to families. I attended a conference and heard Mary Jane talk to educators about the very real side of what parents are going through. My doctoral dissertation topic is family involvement in a transition-focused education and her presentation stopped me hard. A wrench was thrown into my prospectus that I was not expecting. Family to Family has valuable information for families, educators, and community members alike.
Connecting with Family to Family Network was a wonderful experience For me and my Family! I really appreciate their help.
Special Thanks to Dear Judy Blake for her great advises and Supports. She is a good friend of me and my family now. Even I know she has a very busy schedule but she never hesitate to help. I never met such amazing person in my life! She is always ready to help and support families. I wish her all the Best in her life. I believe she is truly a right and perfect person for her job in Family to Family Network.
Family to Family Network is a wonderful nonprofit organization committed to educating families on how best to advocate for their special needs children as well as teaching self-advocacy skills for older Special Needs students. I am learning so much from their classes and appreciate everything this organization does!!!
Leslie was so very helpful in helping me get information on lawyers for Guardianship. She sent me a lot of helpful links and took the time to answer my questions. I am very thankful for all y’all do for the Autism community!
Family 2 Family has been an avenue for me to meet parents of children living with disabilities. Those relationships have been proven to be helpful in dealing with issues at School and social settings. These relationships have grown into friendships that are invaluable.
This is an amazing organization that helps and supports parents and kids to bring to a another higher level. My family had attended a lot of classes arranged free of cost by them that helped my family to understand better of the schools and benefits in Texas. Mary and Judy went out of their way to help us a lot. Thanks a lot to them and my salute to their dedicated services.
Ravi, Valli, Dhevi and Hari
Family to family has made me feel welcome and supported. So many times I felt alone in my journey trying to know how I can help my son reach his goal in life. Now I know I am not alone. Having the opportunity to meet so many other mom's and see what they gave done to support their children with disabilities, has inspired me to continue and never give up. Thank you Family to Family for giving me hope and showing me it's possible to make a difference. All the training you provide has open my eyes. Thank you for your support to the communityand everything you do.
My son moved to foreign country at age of 3, grew up there, just came back recently. He is 20 years old. He just got admitted to school, but the evaluation takes time, he won't be able to go to school until fall. We do not know what is the next and what we do can now. The presenter's personal experience game me a clear picture where to start and what we can do and where to find help. The seminar is very informative and helpful for us. Thank you very much!
Today's placement class from Ms. Mary Jane is very helpful, it helps me to understand the procedure to decide placement, i am looking forward to joining your future class!
Thanks and Best Regards,
Jenny
It is a great way to connect with other families and share ideas. I liked how professional the presentation was. I am looking forward to registering for more classes.
When I was completely lost and had no idea to help my family with our special needs, Family to Family was able to provide me with resources and advice. I can't say enough great things about the people and services there.
I contacted Family To Family on behalf of a family in need. Leslie Lawson provided great resources and options for the family to consider. Family To Family can always be counted on to help families and their children with disabilities. They have been supporting families for many years.
FamilytoFamilyNetwork 05/18/2016
Leslie is wonderful! Thank you!
Our family has a precious member who is a low functioning autistic child. As he approaches young adulthood, we began due diligence and therein connected with Family to Family Network. The contact was compassionate, an incredible listener and was also parenting an adult child with autism.
We learned about certain options which lead us to additional contacts. Through this research, we became aware of places within Texas that may be suitable for channeling energy and proper academic education environments to help our loved one excel in his world. It was the answer to many heart-felt conversations and prayers.
FamilytoFamilyNetwork 10/30/2015
Thank you so much!
I am very grateful for Family to Family Network. I learned so much from their workshops and the one on one support that I received from them, when I needed some direction in working with my son's school. I know that when I need information on a topic, I can just call and they will provide me with the resources and information that I need. The ladies are wonderful! We would not be where we are without their help.
The information that I learned in the first two days with family to family network, has been a life changer for my family. I was infused with a wealth of information on many subjects, my only hope is that I have learned and retained enough information , so that I too can be of help to other families in my community who are as lost as I was when I first walked into the family to family training class room. There is a quote that comes to mind when I think of all that Family to Family network and their associates have done for my family and myself, It reads something like this "together we can make a difference." I hope I have that one piece of information that will make the difference in some child, or adult with a disability's life in such a way that it will be changed for the better for a lifetime. Thank you all for everything you've done to bring about such a positive change in the life of my family.
There are not many places in Houston who support Special Needs children/familes that provide the time, knowledge and resources while genuinely caring like Family 2 Family. Whenever I am unsure of something going on with my daughter whether it has to do with her IEP, Accomodations, Modifications, etc they are they to help and I can always count on them to speak with me so I can discuss what I can do and what needs to be done. They are very informative and everytime I talk with someone there I learn something new I didn't before.
I learned about Family2Family from my niece. I know from my great nephew's care and opportunities in the Katy, Texas, area, that this organization is all about service. Family2Family serves parents, children, other family members, and also the public; this nonprofit enables all to understand and move forward with knowledge about available resources. People NEED Family2Family
Many kudos to Family2Family! Keep up this great work!
Family 2 Family Network has provided me with the power of knowledge. I understand my child's academic rights thanks to trainings, conferences and seminars that were sponsored by Family 2 Family Network. I also reference the Texas Project FIRST website to answer any of my further questions. I am proud to say that I am a Parent Advocate for my two girls and I always try to help others (the best to my knowledge) by educating new parents of children with disabilities. I have Family 2 Family Network to thank for making me a better and stronger person for my children.
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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!