WILMINGTON\u00a0\u2014 The Down Syndrome Association of Delaware (DSA of DE) and the Delaware County Down Syndrome Interest Group are now one organization. Thanks to the support of several area foundations, the organizations were able to evaluate feasibility of this relationship and formally engage together.<\/p>\n
Together, the organization now serves nearly 1,000 families across Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, making it one of the most comprehensive organizations serving people with Down syndrome and their families on the east coast.<\/p>\n
The two groups have worked side by side for years, reaching out to families after a new diagnosis and co-hosting events. Both boards approved the agreement, which took effect in August. A grant from the Delaware Community Foundation\u2019s Fund for Delaware Collaboration, in partnership with the Longwood Foundation and SeaChange, helped make it possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thrilled by this partnership because it allows us to do more for more families by building on the strong foundation that already exists in Delaware County. Nonprofits have a responsibility to use their resources as effectively as possible, and that means working together, sharing expertise, and strengthening what is already working rather than recreating the wheel. By bringing our organizations together, we can reduce duplication, expand access to programs and services, and reach more families across our region without losing the local connections that make our community so special. Ultimately, this is about making sure more people with Down syndrome and their families have the support, resources, and opportunities they deserve throughout their lives.\u201d Lauren Camp Gates, executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, said.<\/p>\n
Across all regions it serves, DSA of DE provides support to families from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood, including specialized support for expectant and new parents, Spanish-language outreach, educational webinars, and adult services coordination. For families navigating the transition from school to adulthood, DSA of DE helps individuals and their families explore options as individuals age and make transitions throughout their life. Many of these resources and services are available virtually, helping families connect with support regardless of where they live.<\/p>\n
DSA of DE also plans to bring popular programs, including cooking classes, Friday Night Friends and summer camps to Delaware County so families can take part closer to home. Membership dues have been eliminated for all families.<\/p>\n
Delaware County will retain its local events and its local leadership. Lauren DiPasquale, a former Delaware County board member, has joined the DSA of DE staff with a focus on Delaware County. In addition, two other former Delaware County board members will remain involved: Kelsey Mango as a member of the DSA of DE Board of Directors and Christa Ventura as chair of the newly formed Delaware County Advisory Committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re excited that our families will still have that local connection and the community they\u2019ve always had, but now with the added support, resources, and programming that come with being part of DSA of Delaware,\u201d Ventura said. \u201cI\u2019m really excited about what this means for our families, all that we\u2019ll be able to offer them, and the possibilities that lie ahead. I truly believe this partnership opens the door to an exciting future for our Delaware families.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Delaware County Chapter Launch will take place Tuesday, October 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Aston Fire Department, 2900 Dutton Mill Road, Aston Township, Pa. The event will bring together families from Delaware and Delaware County for a celebration and Q&A about the organization\u2019s expanded reach and plans for the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WILMINGTON\u00a0\u2014 The Down Syndrome Association of Delaware (DSA of DE) and the Delaware County Down Syndrome Interest Group…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":310093,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":["post-310092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania-headlines","tag-pennsylvania-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310092\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}