PHP Strategic Goals
By June 2024 PHP will increase its local services to those most underserved in our region, build a disability advocacy network capable of reaching 100,000 families in order to improve the lives of those with disabilities, and will have expanded to establish itself as a hub for information for parents of transition-age youth and adults with disabilities in California and throughout the United States.
Strategic Direction #1: Become Both More Local and More National
Prepare to transition to a post-SIP world by significantly expanding local and national services to families with special needs.
Before March of 2020, approximately 2,500 people per year spent lengthy time driving in rush hour traffic in order to attend dozens of monthly training sessions at PHP offices. We anticipate that after 1-2 years of using Zoom (or other online services) for nearly all community engagement, technologically connected parents will expect access to trainings virtually, while those who struggle with technology and have digital divide issues will need services close to their community. Many of our virtual training will be relevant to a national or international audience.
Strategic Direction #2: In three years PHP will have grown an advocacy program capable of reaching 100,000 people through our parent center partners and our social media network to mobilize family members and create system change.
PHP Families need political power in order to create change in the systems of care that serve our children. Children and adults with special needs don’t have lobbyists. Without political power, services for those with disabilities are at risk for budget cuts, and existing systems of care become unresponsive to emerging community needs. A full-time advocacy manager could mobilize thousands of family members to be more politically active; their work alongside other organizations could change the direction of budget cuts and legislation.
Strategic Direction #3: PHP will lead the development of a statewide hub of information for all parents/caregivers of adults or young adults with disabilities.
When young adults with disabilities exit the public school system at age 18 or 22, their family members often need to take the lead role in locating resources, planning for and implementing all aspects of their child’s life, including employment, continuing education, housing, specialized services (e.g. speech therapy), recreation, financial planning, etc. Most family members have no background in facilitating a successful transition from schooling to adulthood for their young adult with a disability, and there is no robust, comprehensive local or statewide program in place to train them. Additionally, transition plans from school districts are frequently not person centered and often fail to provide the academic, vocational, social and independent living skills needed to successfully transition to adulthood. Therefore, young adults are leaving school unprepared for their next phase of life. This causes challenges during the early years after exiting school and can carry over for a lifetime.