Through its 70-year history in serving Sarasota and Manatee counties, The Haven – also known as the Community Haven for Adults and Children with Disabilities Inc. – has been a resource for independence for adults and children with disabilities, and a champion of inclusion for those individuals.
It now serves 51 residents at its 32-acre DeSoto Road campus and more than 450 non-residents, providing services to people with developmental disabilities from birth through their senior years.
Over the past 10 years it has opened nine new buildings and a Venice campus.
Construction of two new group homes at the main campus of The Haven would boost residential capacity there to 75 people, though more than 350 are on a waiting list.
The nonprofit closed purchase in May on three acres at 5167 DeSoto Road as a site for The Haven Residences at UTC, which will offer residents a more independent style of living in easy walking distance from the main campus of The Haven, as well as University Town Center.
How did Sarasota's The Haven start?
Sunshine Day School, the nonprofit that would grow into The Haven, started by a group of parents in 1954, with four students at an airplane hangar, according to a timeline on its website.
The first fundraiser, in 1960, was a Claxton fruitcake sale. By 1964, the proceeds from the sale of 20,000 pounds of Claxton fruitcake went to buy the current 32-acre campus at 4405 DeSoto Road, Sarasota.
By 1968, construction on Selby Day School was completed on the campus, with 200 students.
By 1977, the nonprofit – then known as Children's Haven – announced plans to build a cafetorium and expand to serve 500 people.
Residential construction on group homes continued.
How big is The Haven?
By 1985, 48 adults were living on the campus – that grew to 60 by 1990, with 150 participating in workshops and 30 children in the day school.
In 2003, more than 200 people gathered for its first public fundraiser, hosted at the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.
In 2016, Marlene’s House opened at The Haven. It was believed to be the first in the state to offer single-room living.
In 2019 Judy’s Oasis, a pool and aquatic therapy center opened.
In January 2022, The Haven opened its Venice campus at the Gene Whipp Center, 910 Gulf Coast Boulevard, offering, among other things, Life Skills Development classes.
What does The Haven offer?
The Haven offers educational services, including Selby Preschool; the Haven Academy, offering functional life skills and educational programs for people aged 14-22; a Life Skills Development Program for people aged 22 and older.
Most recently, in April The Haven started “The Culinary Academy: Empowering Through Experience!” with support from the Gould Family Trust Foundation at Gulf Coast Community Foundation .
The four-week course gives participants a chance to learn skills while working alongside experienced food service professionals, including guest chefs to train for potential jobs in the food service industry.
For more about The Haven visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheHavenSRQ .
Chief Operating Officer Alison Thomas noted that a key element is The Haven's family-like culture, which works well with its offering of a lifetime of service and – when needed – 24/7 care.
“Our residential program isn’t a transient type of program where people stay for a few months,” Thomas noted. “We become their family and care for them for the duration of their life.
“This is the first generation of adults with developmental disabilities that are outliving their parents.”
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: After 70 years, The Haven in Sarasota grows to serve adults and children with disabilities
Most Popular
Comments / 0