My Nonprofit Reviews
jagshaw
Review for Family to Family Network, Houston, TX, USA
Motivated non-profit; really want to help families. Really appreciate the annual conference and resource fair they hold.
Review for Family to Family Network, Houston, TX, USA
I have served on the board for several years, and continue to be impressed with the passion brought by this organization to serve its base. With limited funding, it works to find new ways to increase its effectiveness in assisting Greater Houston-area families with children with disabilities, whether through technology or through partnerships with other organizations throughout the state. To me, there are the #1 resource for these families for information and support.
Thank you so much! Board members are so key to helping the organization continue doing what it does so well.
Review for Family to Family Network, Houston, TX, USA
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).
More Feedback
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
Review for The Westview School Inc, Houston, TX, USA
When we first moved to the Houston area, we were especially concerned with finding the "right" school for our child with autism, where he would thrive and not stand out for the wrong reasons. The Westview School fit the bill. Their sole focus is on children with autism. The administration and staff, without exception, love our children, and we felt completely confident and comfortable having our son attend the school. They have an excellent teacher-student ratio (in our case, 1 to 4 one year and 1 to 3 the next), allowing for individual attention as necessary. They also provide specialist therapists (speech, occupational) to provide the children with the additional support they may need.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The confidence our child developed at Westview. Every day he looked forward to going to school; never once did he say he didn't want to go. We feel that his experience at Westview prepared him for attending a mainstream school, which he does now.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
My only feedback would be that the school do a better job describing their teaching philosophy, to allow parents to have a better idea how the school intends to work with the children.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the devotion they have to providing the best education experience they can to children with autism.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
focused on providing the best opportunities they can for the children
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Expand the school, hire more teachers and other support staff, and better fill the educational needs of the growing number of children with autism.
Ways to make it better...
somehow the school could provide transport to and from the school. Dropping off and picking up our child every day was a bit of a hassle.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
costs increasing faster than revenues. The school tries to keep tuition costs low, to allow those who most need the school to attend. It relies to a great extend on donations to supplement revenues.
One thing I'd also say is that...
the school needs to stay open to other therapies that the children may need (eg, ABA, special diets). Most programs for children with autism think theirs is the best, and do not always consider how other methods may provide additional help.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
