2003 Annual Report - Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

g
Collaborations
Support for Families actively collaborates with agencies and
service providers in San Francisco and throughout California
to improve the services and systems that affect families of
children with disabilities and special health care needs.
Open Gate Family Resource
Center Collaborative provides
family access to a wide range of
services and supports. Support for
Families is lead and fiscal agency.
access to health care for children
with special health care needs.
High Risk Infant Interagency
Council: Support for Families is
fiscal agent and active member of
Child Care Inclusion
Challenge Project: Support for
Families is a member of this
collaboration that helps insure
that families have access to
inclusive child care.
this effort to facilitate
coordination of services for
children birth to five at-risk for
developmental delays or other
disabilities. HRIIC staff and the
HRIIC Roundtable are housed at
Support for Families offices.
Parent Training and
Information Centers (PTI)
Region 4 Consortium: SFCD
works with other PTIs to
coordinate activities in a 12county region of Northern
California
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
2003 Financial Summary
2601 Mission Street, Suite 606
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 282-7494
FAX (415) 282-1226
Income $1,632,774.
Expenses $1,632,774.
Government
Grants
80%
Program
Services
83%
OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Complete audited financial statements are available at the Support for Families office.
January 1—December 31, 2003
Board of Directors*
Advisory Board*
Janet Green Babb, RPT
Mim Carlson
Liane Collins
Lucy Crain, MD
Mildred Crear, PHN
Carla Greenwald
Suzanne Graham, RN, PhD
Jack Hodges, Attorney
Nancy Hudgins, Attorney
Pat Jackson, RN
Jude Kaye
Betty Lituanio
Peter Mansfield
Dennak L. Murphy, MSW
Sally Spencer
Diana Tang Duffy, MD
Robert Verhoogen, MD
Support for Families
Staff*
Juno Duenas, Executive Director
Helen Rossini Co-Founder
Carolyn Adams, Community
Resource Parent
Foundations
11.5%
(includes
collaborations)
www.supportforfamilies.org
Bill Bivins, President
Billye Brown
Gretchen Hester, Vice President
Michele Levis, Treasurer
Allan Low, Esq.
Mary Phillips
David Rothman, DDS
Mimi Spier
Gina Vasiloudis MPT, Secretary
OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Family Resource Centers
Network of California: SFCD
is fiscal agent and participant in
this collaboration of 55 Early
Start Family Resource Centers
throughout the state.
Family Voices of California:
Support for Families coordinates
Family Voices activities statewide.
Family Voices works to improve
at Open Gate Family Resource Center:
2601 Mission Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 469-4518
FAX (415) 469-4786
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
Other
1.6%
January 1—December 31, 2003
Corporate
Contributions
Individuals .7%
6.2%
Nina Boyle, Community Resource
Parent Supervisor
Elaine Butler, Librarian
Emilio Crixell, Jr., Community
Resource Parent
Jo Cummins, Educational
Coordinator
Audrey deChadenèdes, Special
Events Coordinator
Mathilde Garnier-Tobar,
Administrative Assistnat
June Hew, Community Resource
Parent
Judy Janec, Information
Management Specialist
Bill Lewandowski, Director of
Operations
Patricia Mejia, Program Director/
Open Gate Coordinator
Kevin Mulligan, Systems
Administrator
Veronica Pacana, Community
Resource Parent
Peggy O’Grady, Mental Health
Coordinator
Jyoti Rao, Parent Health Liaison
Shelley Simpson, Information &
Resources Coordinator
Sonia Spisz, Parent Mentor
Coordinator
Linda Vossler-Swan, Family
Voices Coordinator
Jan Watson, Development
Director
David Witmer, Administrative
Assistant
Lisa Yee, Community Resource
Parent
Management
and General
11%
c
Fundraising
6%
High Risk Infant
Interagency
Council Staff
Annual Report 2003
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities is
a parent-run, San Francisco-based non-profit
organization founded by parents in 1982. We
support families of children with any kind of
disability or special health care need. We believe
that, with information, education, and peer
support, families can make informed choices to
help their children grow.
Patsy Hampton, HRIIC
Coordinator
Linda Thomas, RN, Public Health
Nurse/HRIIC Facilitator
California Family Resource
Centers Network Staff
Robin Melrose Berman, FRC
Network Coordinator
*as of 4/1/04
Support for Families offers a wide range of
information, education, and parent-to-parent
support services free of charge to thousands of
San Francisco families every year. Support for
Families also provides information and
educational services to professionals who work
with families, and actively collaborates with other
organizations to work towards a more
coordinated, family-friendly network of services.
Like all children, children who
have disabilities or special
health care needs deserve
opportunities to grow and
develop to their fullest ability.
To help their children, parents
and caretakers need both
knowledge and support.
g
Programs and Services 2003
All SFCD services are offered free of charge to families and professionals
“After attending
MANY workshops on
the topic of Special
Education, I can testify that this one
was among the
best. All three of
you that spoke provided excellent information in an organized format.”
-participant in a
Support for Families
workshop
Phone Line and Drop-In
Services: At the Open Gate
Family Resource Center
Community Resource Parents offer
families and professionals
information, resources, and
referrals in English, Spanish,
Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog and
American Sign Language.
741 new families used SFCD
services during the year.
Staff responded to 7,481 phone
requests from families and 4,948
requests from professionals in
2003.
222 people visited Open Gate
during drop-in hours.
Another 120 visited satellite
facilities in Bayview Hunters
Point, California Children’s
Services Medical Treatment Unit,
three area hospitals, and at the
Asian Perinatal Advocates center.
Support Groups offer peer
support, information, and
resources to parents, caretakers
and siblings of children with
disabilities.
During 2003, 14 different groups
helped meet individual needs. They
included two groups for Spanish
speaking families and two for
Cantonese speakers; a group
for Bayview Hunters Point
families; groups for siblings; a
group for families of children with
Prader-Willi Syndrome; the
Family Links to Mental
Health group; and Living
With Loss, among others.
222 parents, guardians and
siblings attended Support Groups
during 2003.
The Resource Library lends
books, catalogs, audio- and videotapes, and toys.
The Support for Families Resource
Coordinator and Librarian helped
109 families and 104 professionals
check out 427 books, videos, toys
and other materials this past year.
Volunteer Parent Mentors
are parents of children with
disabilities who complete training
and are matched with other
parents to offer support and
resources on an individualized
basis.
27 parents completed Parent
Mentor training in 2003.
101 matches of Parent Mentors
and families were made during the
year.
Workshops, Trainings, and
Clinics offer information to
families and professionals on
topics relating to disabilities and
special health care needs.
Offerings in English, Spanish, and
Cantonese included evening
workshops, all-day Saturday
trainings, and afternoon small
group clinics. More than 124
trainings were offered in 2003,
with 728 families and 599
Sue Crawford
Mildred Crear
Emilio Crixell
David Cronan
Hongha Crystal
Ida Cummins
Nora D'Acquisto
Dennis Dang
Mabel Dang
Jean Davis
Audrey deChadenedes
Edith deChadenedes
Susan Tomaro and Mark
Delucchi
Susan Taylor and Paul Demuro
Mary Slattery and Terence
Denery
Margaret and Z. Daniel Dever
Linda Dodge
Anne Donnelly
Rebecca and David Donohue
Carolyn Doyle
Nanette Dumas
Rebecca Duong
Diana Dusich
Jason Dusich
Joe Dusich
Mary Elliston
Judy Chan Eng
Deborah and William Ernser
Arlene Essex
Stacy Feliz
Ann Felldin
Vana Ferrari
Liana and Robert Figone
Beth and Al Finnell
Monique Fleming
Coley Florance
Daniel Flynn
Sheryl and Bob Foehn
Anita Fong
Genine Fong
Ben Fong-Torres
Sheridan Forbes
Jennifer and Erick Fortman
Suzanne and William Fortner
Julie Anne Todd and James
Foster
Alan Fox
Mauricio Gamez
Edgar Garcia
Elsa Garcia
Rose Gee
Gina Figone Casey and Vahid
Ghorbani
Patricia Giles
G. Gloria Gillogley
Mabel Gin
Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Eduardo Gomez
Elihu Gordis
Joy Libby and Bradley Gordon
Katherine Graham
Gail Neihaus Green
Gina Figone and Stephen
Gresh
Michelle Guevara
Rosaisela Rodriguez and
Rafael Gutierrez
Alice Wiley and Peter Hall
Mary Hamilton
Caryl and Mickey Hart
Siobhan and Matthew Haskell
Paula Heckler
Gayle and Josef Helwani
Harold Henry
Alberta Heuring
June Hew
Paula and Arnold Hider
Rachel Higgins
Sarah Carroll-Hirsch and
Kenneth Hirsch
Ruby Leigh and Clarence Guy
Hockett
Andres Hoelzl
Heidi Holzhauer
Catherine Hopman
Aine Howard
Mildred Hsi
Alison Huetter
Pollyu Hultquist
Karen Hunt
Pam Hunt
Zev Hymowitz
Laura Ingall
Gabrielle James
Susan and Dennis Jang
Patti and Jeff Jensen
Jeanie Joe
Rexanne Johannes
Mary Wood and Steven
Johnides
Betty Lou and Barnard
Johnson
Diane Susan Johnson
Nanine and Booker T Jones
Edwin Juarez
Eunice and Homer Jung
Valerie and Lester Jung
Vivian Wong and Lester Jung
O.D.
Jodi and John Kaelle
Alexis Smith and George
Kalikman
Betty and Si Kamen
Margaret and William Kaplan
Kathryn Kathman
April Katsura
Jude Kaye
Marian Keeler
Juliet Kelley
Roberta Lee and Neil Kelly
Tiffany Kendall
Adena Kershner
Bo-Kyung Kim
Judy and Dan Kleinman
Lori Kochiyama
Judy Kaneko and Wayne Kong
Melissa Kuwahara
Anna Ow and Randall C. Kwock
Lavinia and Louis Kwok
Beverly and Bik Fun Yeung
Lam
Blanche Le Tran and Phat
Truot Lam
Charlene Lam
Loretta and King Lau
Amy (Mrs. Leland) Lazarus
Cherese LeBlanc
Alana Lee
Anne Lee
Bernice W. Lee
Carole and Henry Lee
Edna and Clifford Lee
Lucille Chang and William Ming
Sing Lee
Martha Lee
Patricia and Ford Lee
Frances Lehn
Constance Leonard
Kate and Andrew Lesher
Joanne Higgins and John
Leslie
Charlotte and Sheldon Levin
Anna Lew
Irene Marie and Norman Lew
Lora and Gregory Ley
Carol Holland and Martin
Lifshitz
Sylvia and Martin Lifshitz
Bernadita Q Lim
Yali Lincroft
Linda and Gregory Long
Hazel Louie
Bradley Low
Mona and Jimmie Low
Jason and Gary Lowe
Lila and Edgar Lowe
Wesley Lowe
William Lowenberg
Lisa Lowrey
Lorraine and Martin Magid
Theresa Mak
Mary Ann Malinak
Shannon Manini
Gail and John Manson
Hengameh Maroufi
Vicki Martin
Beth Matesi
Julie Elizabeth Low, M.D. and
Keith Evans Matsuo
Catherine Belle and J. Ryan
McBride
Maureen and George McCarthy
Colleen and Christopher
McClure
Mary Anne McGuire-Hickey
Brian McKenna
Ellen Marie McKenna
Sherri McLaughlin
Robin and Brad McMillan
Patricia and Thomas McRae
Marianne Melby
Elsa Menjivar
Anna and Joseph Meyer
Janice Micha
Desiree and David Miles
Susan and Richard Mills
Madeline Minor
Elizabeth Moore
Rachel Shu and Michael
Moores
Kristine Erin Moser
Irene Mullin
Alice Nakahata
Julia and Peter Nanula
Lisa Neimeth
Nancy and Christopher Nelson
Helen Neumann
Peter Ng
Rachel and Timothy Norton
Houda and Joe Obegi
Kathleen and Henry O'Connor
Elizabeth Gee-Ogawa and
Danny Ogawa
Mary Gemma O'Keeffe
Joan O'Rourke
Mitch Paradise
Kadambari and Abhay Parekh
Kenneth Parker
John Pavloff
Stephanie Kendall and R Dean
Pearson
Kyra Minninger and Steve
Peletz
William Perell
Heidi Perez
Claire Iandoli and Cathy Perillo
Janet Perrnod
Mary-Ellen Kreher and David
Phillips
Thanh Thi La and Dieu Tho
Phu
Virginia and Edward Plant III
Janice Polizzi
Michael Meyers and Michael
Preston
Sylvie Quach
Scott Quinn
Jennifer Raike
Zenaida Relampagos
Donna Baird Rice
James Ricks
Stephen Rico
Deborah Rivard
Reynaldo Rodriguez
Barbara and Mark Rogers
Helen Rossini
David Rothman, D.D.S.
Diane Johnson and David
Ruport Sr.
Christina and David Ryan
Lauren Sacks
L. Joanne Sakai
Susan Sanders
Susan and Stanton Schonberg
Janese Schuenight
Steven Schurr
Helen Schwartz
Nancy and Andrew Scull
Erika and David Scully
Lisa and Maj John Sebastyn
Wendy Seiden
Keta Bill and Joel Selvin
Elly Sharpe
Christina Shea
Moira S. Shek
Ellen and John Shields
A. John Shimmon
Jackie Shinefield
Katsuto Shinohara, M.D. and
Beni Shinohara
Kathleen and Anthony Shuton
Tracy Green and Alan Siegel
Anna Cho Silva
Shelley Simpson
The Singer Family
Dorothy and Nicholas Skylor
Karna and David Slifer
Colleen Smith
Joanne Soraghan
Gloria Soto
Scott Sprague
Daniel Steckbeck
Ann Ohsawa and Steven
Stocker
Donna Stravinski
Yvonne Sullivan
Irma Sweeney
Joyce and Jerry Tang
Jan Tatarsky
Carol Ann Taylor
Li-Yung Lui and Homer Teng
Jeanette and Seymour Thaler
Nancy Thaler
Leslie Thompson
Bill Thomson
Deborah Fellini-Tishler and
Darryl Tishler
Julie Todd
Hedde Touze
Inga Townsend
Susan and Sean Tracy
Hiep Tran
Julie Traun
Ruby Tsang-Cheung
Dianne and Kenneth Tso
Linda Tywoniak
Mary Van Zomeren
Catherine Ryan and Brian Veit
Jayne and Jacques Veld
Judith Alex and Peter Vestal
Rosa Vicaragna
Rose and Erik Von Buchau
Gina Hassan Wallin
Jennifer Wanner
Tina Webb
Helaine Weinstein
Ellyn and Brett Weisel
Doris and Barry Wong
Lilly Chiang and John Wong
Lori and Steve Wong
Patty and Michael Wong
Rachel and Alan Wong
Yolanda and Henry Wong
Edward Yaffa
Pearl Wong Yee
Jeannine Yeomans
Anthony Yick
Jane and Andrew Yick
Sonia Yick
Steven Yick
Darrell S. Yim
Mee Kit Yip-Li
Sarah and Hae Yoon
Ken Yoshikawa, DDS
Yvonne Wah Ng and Derek
Yuen
Adele Hall and Carl Zachrisson
Roslyn Lifshitz and Bruce
Zangwill
Francisco Zepeda
Miguel Zepeda
Xiaogi Wu and Chuan Zhu
Arlyn Zones
WORKPLACE CAMPAIGN
GIFTS AND PLEDGES*
Nancy L. Nielsen
Cynthia Pitcher
Mildred and Joseph Rogers
Linda Seekins
Jorge Velado
Carol Whelan
Antonio Wise, Sr.
Angela Wong
Monica Yungert
* Some of the above workplace
campaign gifts and pledges were
made during 2002, but, due to
campaign processing, did not
reach SFCD until 2003.
FOUNDATIONS:
Ashbury Children’s Foundation
California HealthCare
Foundation
Callison Foundation
Five Bridges Foundation
Stanley S. Langendorf
Foundation
San Francisco Foundation
True North Foundation
Walter and Elise Haas Fund
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
AND CONTRACTS:
Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitation, U.S.
Dept. of Education.
Maternal and Child Health
Bureau, U. S. Department of
Health and Human Services
Administration on
Developmental Disabilities,
U.S. Dept. of Health and
Human Services
California Dept. of
Developmental Services
California Department of
Education
San Francisco First Five
San Francisco Dept. of
Children, Youth, and Their
Families
San Francisco Dept. of Human
Services
San Francisco Department of
Public Health
Anonymous
Eileen Attridge
Anthony Breslin
Colgate Palmolive employees
Jan Coplick
Quyen Duong
Jeffrey Garrison
Nancy Grejtak
Michael Hennessey
Hester Family
Janet and George Kelts
Beth Kendall
Gary Leong
Lorenzo Mallare
Methany Dempsay Binder Photography
Support for Families Annual Report 2003 Page 2
Support for Families Annual Report 2003 Page 7
Thank You…
ORGANIZATIONS,
BUSINESSES AND
CORPORATIONS
Gifts $5,000 and above
GATX Capital Corporation
Give Something Back
Luce, Forward, Hamilton &
Scripps LLP
...to the many individuals,
businesses, organizations, and
foundations supporting Support
for Families in 2003.
INDIVIDUALS
Gifts $2,000 and above
Virginia Kahn
Marjorie Lewisohn, M.D.
Barbara and Garry Marshall
Jo Cummins and Barry Milgrom
$1,000 - $1,999
Physicians Reimbursement
Fund
Redwood Day School
Safeway Store #592
Lynne Fuller and Bill Bivins
Jane LaPides and Murray
Cahen
Nancy Hudgins and Jack
Hodges
Kamilla Bren Hurley
Judith Janec
Kimberly Miller
Lisa and John Pritzker
Inyoung Pak and Phillip
Shamlian
Irma and Ralph Thaler
Lorie Verderame
$500 - $999
$500 - $999
$2,500 - $4,999
East West Communications
Group
Pamakid Runners
Zephyr Real Estate
$1,000 - $2,499
Anonymous
Kaiser Permanente
Lincoln Financial Group
Foundation
Physicians of Pan-Med
Enterprises
YMCA of San Francisco
$100 - $499
Bank of America Matching
Gifts
Calamari Club
Chinatown Community
Development Center
Farella, Braun & Martel
Glassblock Designs
Golden Gate Mothers Group
Hamlin School
Headsets.Com Inc
Levi Strauss Foundation Social
Benefits Program
National Title Insurance of
New York, Inc.
San Francisco Plumbing
Company
Weaver Design Group
to $100
ABC Jewelry Import, Inc.
Autodesk
Eldy's Beauty Salon
Glenborough Realty Trust Inc.
Jaime's Jewelry
Mannion & Lowe
Playwrite Therapy
Roxie Food Center
Sam's Gold Import
Space Systems/Loral
Texi's Jewelry
Audrey Carlson
Drs. Lucy and William Crain
Peggy and Millard Drexler
Elizabeth and Julian Eisenstein
Patricia and Joseph Ferrero
Shelley and Andy Forrest
Alison and Brock Fuller
Jeri and Van Hart, Jr.
Catherine and David
Hayashida, MD
Elizabeth Hester Joseph
Sheila Doyle Kiernan
Marjorie Shaw and David Kobe
Kit and George Lee, MD
Doreen and Larry Low
Linda McLaughlin
Kathleen and Stephen Meeker
Mary J. and Donald R. Miller
Blake Monson
Mary Houle and David Phillips
Jane Levy Reed
Kelli McLaughlin and Dan
Robinson
Laurel Kloomok and Ned Smith
Mimi and Marc Spier
Jan and Jim Watson
Dr. and Mrs. Glen Young
$250 - $499
Eileen Aicardi, M.D.
William I. Bernell
Tessa Callejo and William
Black
Joanna and Mark Cameron
Richard Carpeneti
Frank Caufield
Joan and David Crowell
Sue Decker
Sarah and Brooks Doggett
Michelle and Kevin Donaldson
Cecilia and Robert Enright
Yvel Flemming
Lori Marshall and Bill Fricker
Maryann Fricker
Linda and Robert Gilbert,MD
Sally Ann Sehring and William
Gonda
Dee and Robert Hayden
Beverly and Michael
Hennessey
W. Dean Henry
Ingrid Hester
Connie Hutchason
Nancy Iverson, MD
Violet Hsu and Wei-Tai Kwok
Annette and James Lee
Michele and Michael Levis
Betty and Nick Lituanio
Jane and Allan Low
Irene and Natalie Manfredi
Peter Mansfield
Candie Mattson
Sally and Steve McDonald
Helen McEvoy and K. Ira
Polcyn McEvoy
Judy Marrocco and Matt Miller
Norma and Albert Moisio
David Salopek
Antje Shadoan
Roxanne Fleming and David
Soward
Sally Spencer
Linda and Raymond Tung
William Waytena
$100 - $249
Rosa Agnost
Peggy O'Grady and John
Ahlbach
Anonymous
Leo Arnaudo
Janet Green Babb and Richard
Babb
Ann Marie Siu Yuan and Peter
Bacchetti
Pam and Larry Baer
Kathleen Tedrow and Brian
Bean
Nancy and Robert Bell
Lorraine and Frank Bien
Eleanor Bissell
William Bivins, Sr.
Camilla and Ronald Bixler
Sarah Blackstone
Georganne and John Boerger
Josh Boltfeld
Thomas Bliska, Jr. and Gray
Boyce
Charles and Kelly Boyd
Nina Boyle
Toni Brayer, MD
Barbara Tomash and Ed Bussa
Pat Camarena
Donna and Clifford Chan
Judy Chan and Henry Chan
The Family of Lily Chan
Alice Lee and Christopher
Chang
Allison and Clinton Chao
Chia-Chi Chen
Donna Chew and Gerald Chen
Janet Lee and Edward Chen
Ellen Kiyomizu and Gregory
Chew
Joyce Chisholm
Carolyn Cohn and Nathan Cohn
Cathy and Robert Croshaw
Mary Dang
Kathleen and David
deChadenedes
Denise and Jeffrey Dickson
Annette Dobbs
Laurie and Scott Dubin
Juno and Robert Duenas
Kelly and Richard Dyke
Support for Families gratefully acknowledges gifts received in 2003 from the donors listed here. We
apologize for any omissions , errors or misspellings. Please contact us if there is an error so we can
correct our records.
Support for Families Annual Report 2003 Page 6
Simone Echeguren
Ken Eggers
Janice Farley
Jeffrey Fillerup
Brenda and Michael Finney
Lucy Flanigan
Dorothy Fletcher
Julie and Gregory Flynn
Susan and Doug Galen
Marvin Gans
Adam Gifford
Gary Gin, MD
Suzanne and Lou Giraudo
Diane Josephson and Steven
Goldman, M.D.
Bernice Goldmark
David Golia
Anne and Randall Greene
Carla and Hank Greenwald
Vera Hagan
Patsy Hampton
Sandra and Louis Handler
Frances and Thomas Haney
Beth and Michael Hansen
Barbara Heller
Herbie Herbert
Patti and Roy Herstein
Stephanie and Michael Hoff
Barbara Figone-Hogan and
Clayton Hogan
Sean Hogan
William Horn
Tonia and Michael Hsieh
Claudette Hubbard
Irma and Bill Hund
Roselynn Fine and Steven
Itelson
Laura Jamieson
Ginger Karels
Karen Kelly
Darrah and Joseph Kenney
Karen Wong and Michael King
Barbara and Stephen Kirmse
Kathy Krusen and Randall
Kostek
Sandra and Timothy Kwan
Yoonhee and Victor Kwok
Gregory Landau
Ann Lanoie
Jim Lauderdale
Lynn and Ron Laupheimer
Thea and Samuel Leavitt, M.D.
Jonathan Leung
Nancy Lim Yee
Frances and Vincent Liu
Angela Wong and Howard
Louie
Mayling and Justice Harry Low
Marina and William Marcoux
M.A. and L. Markowitz
Patricia Marquez
Moira Walsh and Michael
McQuaid
Galena Miller
Carol Miller, MD
Pauline and Stan Moy
Kevin Mulligan
Nena and Jake Murdock
Miriam Nathanson
Carrie Niederer
Marcia and Rodney Omachi
Robin and Broderick Page
The Peichel Family
Frances Piazza
Valerie Pierce
Lynn and Edward Poole
Richard Quint, MD
Janet and Clinton Reilly
Louise Renne and Paul Renne
Deborah Reynolds and Roger
Reynolds
Louisa and Gregory Ritter
Sterling Ross, Jr., Robb and
Ross
Robena and Peter Roidmaier
Rony Rolnizky
Sue and Steve Rosen
Kathleen Enright and Henry
Salvia
Donn Schoenmann
Lisa Louis and Hitoshi Shigeta
Lisa Shirley
Kathleen Low and John
Skinner
Rocio and Carl Smith
Janet Stafford, M.D.
Thomas Stubbs
Rita Times
Edith and Joe Tobin
Maxine Torres
Christina and Jonathan Tunney
Luise Custer and Jules Tygiel
Gina Vasiloudis
Deborah and Fredric Warren,
DDS
Rona Weintraub
Margaret Wells
Carol and Stephen Whittaker
Stephanie and David Wickum
Judy and William Williams
Charlotte Williamson
Edith Ho and Garrett Lee
Wong
Kinley Wong
Susan Wong
Joan and Gerald Woods
Wendy and David Young
Benita Zimmerman
Phyllis and Philip Ziring, MD
to $100
Florence Abe
Diane and Lupton Abshire
Mutsukoi and Jeffrey Adachi
Gianna and Michael Alexander
David Alpert
Josefina Amaya
Meli Cook and Jeanne Ames
Kathleen Stewart and David
Anderson
Anonymous
Reza Arian
Sandra and Roger Arlen
Donald Arndy
Ann Itakura and Fabio Aversa
The Azzolino Family
Shelli Semler and Kyle Bach
Daphne Lefeaver and
Christopher Ball
Susan Barber and Kent Barber,
Jr MD
Margaret Barbieri
Colleen Beach
Patricia Beard
Mary and Eric Berg
Susan Berston
Nancy Casciani and Thomas
Bieri
Katherine and Stefano Bini
Ingrid Block-Krubisch, M.D.
Christina Bonner
Mary Jean Borrelli
Nancy Boughey
Nancy and Richard Bryan
Shawn Bui
Mary Burns
Ruth Burpee
Vicki and Barry Burstein
Elaine and William Bush
Elaine and Steve Butler
Barbara Callaway
Barbara Caltagirone
Joyce Cameron
Aracely Campos
Berta Campos
Francisco Campos
Joie Beck and Eudes Jose
Carvalho
Joyce and James Casey
Roxana Castellanos
Frank Cefalu
Jeanie Chan
Lily Chan
Charlene and Harrison Chang
Susan Ong and Audie Chang
Tina Chen
Teresa and Howard Cherman
Rodney Chew, D.D.S
Rose Chin
Holly Christman
Daniel Chu
Mary and Victor Chu
Sharon and Gordon Chun
Chris Chung
Jennielee Cinti
Rosamond Cobert
Carmel and Frank Coghlan
Paul Cohen
Marilyn and Larry Cohen M.D.
Paula Amerine and Robert
Conheim
Yvette Connolly
Ester Contreras
Jacqueline Cooper
Programs and Services 2003 g
professionals attending.
Topics during 2003 included
Individual Education Programs,
Early Intervention, Transition,
Behavior, Assessments, and
Assistive Technology.
At our annual Information and
Resource Conference more than 250
families and professionals obtained
information from 57 exhibitors and
13 workshops.
Community Education and
Outreach includes teams of
parents and staff who make
Of these, 251 families received the
Newsletter in Spanish; 141
received it in Chinese.
Online Resources, described
more fully on page 5 of this report,
include our website, bulletin
board, listserves, resource guide,
and links to resources and
legislative updates.
The Assistive Technology
Resource Center offers
families an opportunity to learn
about — and get hands-on
Following an extensive period of Strategic Planning during the past year, Support for Families of
Children with Disabilities developed a new mission statement:
The purpose of Support for Families is to ensure that families of children with any
kind of disability or special health care need have the knowledge and assistance
they need to make informed choices that support their child’s health, education,
and development. We provide peer support to families, and information and
education to families, professionals and the community at large.
presentations to classes, community
organizations, and professional
groups about disability issues and
the experiences of families. Medical
and nursing students are also
matched with families to help them
develop a better understanding of
family needs and concerns.
Newsletter: Our quarterly
newsletter keeps parents and
professionals updated on resources,
legislation, and services.
More than 5,400 individuals
received the Newsletter in 2003.
experience with — a wide variety
of adaptive equipment and toys
that can help their children learn
and communicate better.
Family Special Events
provide relaxing, fun opportunities
for families to get together and
enjoy themselves.
More than 1,000 parents, children
and enthusiastic volunteers
attended free family events during
2003, including a Spring Party,
Halloween Carnival, Walk & Roll
and Holiday Ice Skating Party.
Methany Dempsay Binder Photography
Support for Families Annual Report 2003 Page 3
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“I was trying to
find help for
two years; I got
nowhere until I
called you.
[Support for
Families]
opened doors
and options. It
was… like a big
burden was
lifted.”
- parent
Meeting an Increased Demand for Services
Telephone and in-person contacts with families and professionals increased
nearly 13% from 2002.
The number of new families who completed intake interviews increased
more than 17% from the previous year.
The number of family members participating in support groups was 85%
higher than in the previous year.
Attendance at workshops and clinics increased 27% from 2002.
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Assessing Our Impact
At a follow-up interview two months after their intake, families are asked to
assess the impact of the services they received from Support for Families.
Following is a summary compiled from responses obtained June through
December 2003 from more than 100 families:
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One Family
My son Emiliano was born in 2000 with Down
Syndrome. I had a little idea what it was, but
I never knew exactly. I looked in newspapers
and magazines and finally found a phone
number for Support for Families.
I talked to someone there who asked me
what help I needed. I needed support, information – everything!
I was connected to Sonia [Support for Families Parent Mentor Coordinator Sonia Spisz]
who has helped me find services, tell me
where I can go, help with problems, let me
know about therapies. She also gave me
ideas about books in the Open Gate library
that I could use.
After going to workshops and clinics, I knew
it was time for Emiliano’s first IEP. I was so
nervous! I sat with Sonia and she helped me
understand what we could do. By the time we
had the IEP meeting I felt sure of myself. The
IEP went very well, and Emiliano will be getting all the services he needs.
Now I am becoming a Parent Mentor to help
other parents and I go to Parent Mentor support groups. You feel like you’re helping
yourself and other families too. I still call
Sonia any time I have questions.
It’s been almost four years of calling! After
all the calls I made to ask for help, I wanted
to call back this time to say “Thank You.”
-Mayra Diaz, parent
95% stated that they were able to obtain at least some of the services they
felt their child needed because of the assistance they received from Support
for Families.
98% agreed or strongly agreed that Support for Families services helped
them better understand their children’s special needs or disability.
99% agreed or strongly agreed that the information they received helped
them become more knowledgeable about options, programs, services, or resources.
95% felt that Support for Families services helped them feel better prepared
to advocate for their children and family.
94% reported that they felt less isolated, less stressed, or better prepared to
solve problems.
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Who Are the Families We Serve?
Families of children with disabilities come from all walks of life and all income
levels. Because Support for Families does not have eligibility requirements, we
can assist families of children with any kind of disability or special health care
need, including learning disabilities, behavior disorders, and children at risk for
disabilities.
Unknown or
declined to state 14%
Latino 22%
Other 5%
Multiethnic 11%
Asian/Pac Isl 14%
Support for Families Annual Report 2003 Page 4
13-18 22%
African American 18%
Caucasian 16%
Ethnicity of families
18+ 7%
0-3 13%
4-5 17%
6-12 41%
Ages of children/youth
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Program Highlight:
Support for Families Online Resources
Think of it as a huge refrigerator
magnet holding announcements,
resources and reminders. And a
comprehensive research library
you can access from home. And a
neighborhood coffee shop where
you can share experiences with
members of the community while
still in your pajamas. And a news
service to keep you up to date on
topics you care about.
access updated information from
our Resource Guide or download
the latest Newsletter in their
choice of English, Spanish, or
Chinese. A new bulletin board
creates an online community
where families can share ideas, or
seek childcare, equipment, or
services. Three listserves keep
families and professionals up to
date on issues and legislation.
During the past year, Support for
Families has greatly expanded our
online services to help families
access services, find support, and
advocate for their children. Our
website now includes legislative
updates and provides opportunities
for families to make their voices
heard by policymakers. They can
Families who do not have a
computer or online access at home
can still take advantage of these
services by using the free family
computer available at the Open
Gate Family Resource Center.
Multilingual staff are available to
help families find information or
link them to online resources.
“I think your
services are
excellent.
Staff gave me
information and
listened to me.”
- parent
Support for Families Annual Report 2003 Page 5