Loving Abused and Neglected Children, Helping Families with Children with Special Needs
An Interview with Executive Director Roxanne Jacobs
By Krista Martinelli
How long has Grandma’s Place existed and how long have you been with them?
RJ: Grandma’s Place started in 1997. Grandma’s Place moved in 2004 to Royal Palm Beach; it was specifically built for kids in foster care – with 6 bedrooms (originally). There are now 3 bedrooms for the respite program and 3 for the shelter program. I joined in February of 2014.
What’s the best thing (for you) about Grandma’s Place?
Tell us about your emergency shelter in Royal Palm Beach. How many children can you accommodate?
RJ: As for the total children both programs, we are licensed for 16 children. We get these children when the police are called in – usually in the middle of the night. It’s often a case of violence or drug abuse, and we are sort of the last resort. What they really try to do is get a family member to take the children. Or find a foster family. But if not, they come to us. We have kids that leave the next day, and we’ve also had kids as long as 18 months. To be reunited with their families, parents have to go through home checks/ parenting classes. Most of the time we get sibling groups or children with behavioral issues. Because it’s harder to place them. We accept children up to the age of 12.
The first thing we do is get them enrolled in school here at our local elementary school (Cypress Trails).
Tell us about your respite care. How does it work?
RJ: There are 3 criteria: must live in Palm Beach County, children must be 12 or under and the children have a documented special needs diagnosis. FAU’s Little Owl program refers clients to us, when the child is diagnosed. Kids with autism aren’t usually diagnosed until age 2, but the earlier the better.
Parents talk to our family support coordinator. Our staff evaluates the child and assesses the level of disability. We find that we get mostly boys with autism. There’s, of course, a whole range from a minor speech delay to being totally non-verbal. We have kids who come in and never sit down the whole time; they just walk around the house.
The best thing is we are giving these families a much-needed break. Some of them are grandparents who are raising these little kids.
We receive wonderful emails and letters from some of these parents about what a difference it has made in their lives. Getting 4 to 5 hours just for themselves is a Godsend.
In our After School program, the kids do homework, first thing. Then they do some kind of arts related program after homework like yoga, music or art therapy. Our staff interacts with the children instead of plopping them in front of a TV. It’s very educational.
What are some things you include in your parent trainings?
RJ: Potty training, behavioral modification and also, we ask the parents what they need. We get different responses like a recent one – how to deal with temper tantrums.
What’s important to know about caring for children with special needs? What percentage of your kids are with special needs?
RJ: They are all different. You have to change the way you deal with different kids. What works on one doesn’t work on another one. Our staff are all trained in this, 40 hours of education per year. If it doesn’t work, try another method. We do time out – and that works with some, not with others. Mostly, it works to redirect the child.
Every child in the respite program has special needs. We provide services to approximately 125 kids per year.
Our shelter program is different though and not all of the children have special needs.
Childnet in Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale send us a lot of kids. All of the children go through DCF program.
Tell us about your 11th Annual Holiday Luncheon on Nov. 17th. How much are tickets? How many people do you plan on for the luncheon? How effective is it as a fundraiser for Grandma’s Place?
RJ: It’s absolutely fabulous. It takes place Nov. 17 from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the private Sailfish Club of Florida. We have a cocktail reception and big silent auction with 200 items. For the meal, we offer filets or vegetarian options. We also have a small live auction (with 8-10 items). These items include a rental house in North Carolina, a flight simulator ride, Sheriff for a day, a fabulous watch, an opal bracelet.
Tickets are $250. People can also reserve tables of 10. We have some sponsors. Danielle McDonald is our big sponsor every year. We expect about 220 people. It’s a wonderful afternoon, and you get to look at all the huge ships as you’re eating lunch. The event nets over $100,000 for our nonprofit organization.
Tell us about the name Grandma’s Place, named after Grandma Bessie and the origins of the organization.
RJ: Personally, I didn’t know her but heard stories. She lived here Monday thru Friday. All the kids called her Grandma Bessie. Now, we have 3 shifts throughout the day now, so no one is here Monday thru Friday like that anymore.
As for me, I should be retired but I love it here.
We have many long-term employees (26 years, 22 years). It’s a calling. There’s one little girl that says, “Good morning, sunshine!” to me every morning. I love that.
It all began with children with Downs Syndrome – unfortunately, none of the foster parents wanted to take them. So, they got a house in Loxahatchee and started Grandma’s Place.
Where does most of your funding come from?
RJ: Most of the funding comes from Childnet through DCF. Also, funding comes from the Palm Beach County Youth Services program, United Way of Palm Beach County and the Children’s Services Council. And then a mix of area foundations, corporations and individuals. We depend on the community so much. We have a 1.3-million-dollar budget.
How do people volunteer with you? Donate?
RJ: We have a volunteer application online. People can call Jackie; she will set up an interview. We invite you to come in and take a tour. Then we have to require background checks and fingerprinting. We probably have 5 regular volunteers. We lost some volunteers during Covid. Our volunteers read to the kids, play games with them, interact with them, help fold clothes.
You can donate online. Grandma’s Guardian Angels program helps us with sustainable, monthly giving. https://grandmasplacepb.org/guardian-angels/
Tell us about your background.
RJ: I’ve been in fundraising over 40 years. I have a degree in Business Administration from Barry University. I had always been a Development Director. After about 6 months at Grandma’s Place, they decided to promote me to Executive Director. I think I lost 3 nights of sleep over it. But it has worked out so well.
For anyone with a child with special needs or if you can think of a program you need, please call us and let us know. If you don’t grow and change, you die. We’re here to listen to and to serve the community.
This is the children’s house. They just let us work here and they let us know it. There was one little girl who wrote a note on her door, “Stay out. That means staff.” I’m still laughing about that.
Anything else?
RJ: We offer summer camp for respite kids (beginning the Monday after school gets out. It includes 2 field trips a week. We offer yoga, music, art and other programs. This runs for the whole summer. We take them to the movies. We don’t charge for these programs. Parents pay nothing, we raise money for programs like this. Due to the generosity of our community, we are able to provide our services to some of the most vulnerable children and families in our community… all at no cost to the parents. I just want to thank all of our donors for the trust that they have placed in Grandma’s Place. Their support means the world to us!
Grandma’s Place
184 Sparrow Drive
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 753-2226
