Family Wellness & Respite Support Program for Neurodiverse & Special Needs Youth

The Pura Vida Foundation proposes the Family Wellness & Respite Support Program, a healing-centered initiative supporting caregivers of neurodiverse and special-needs youth. Many families raising autistic or developmentally delayed children face chronic exhaustion, isolation, limited services, and overwhelming caregiving demands. This program fills a critical gap by offering weekly structured respite sessions for children and wellness, emotional support, and cultural healing spaces for caregivers. Children participate in sensory-sensitive, supervised activities led by trained staff and behavioral-support specialists, creating safe opportunities for social engagement and emotional regulation. At the same time, caregivers join monthly wellness circles, mental-health workshops, mindfulness practices, and cultural-healing sessions that strengthen resilience and reduce burnout. Families receive resource navigation, including IEP support, benefits guidance, therapy referrals, and advocacy assistance. The program also hosts family wellness events, cultural gatherings, and restorative community days that reinforce bonding, connection, and stability within the home. Overall, this project strengthens family wellness, reduces crisis risk, improves emotional stability, and builds a supportive network for households who often feel overlooked. (Reference: Pura Vida PDF )

Caregivers raising special-needs youth often experience high stress, emotional exhaustion, and little to no safe respite options. Many face: • long waitlists for services • cultural and language barriers • overwhelming IEP and medical demands • limited mental-health support • 24/7 caregiving without breaks • financial strain and isolation Families consistently report feeling invisible and unsupported by traditional systems. This project directly addresses these gaps by providing free respite, wellness support, emotional healing spaces, and advocacy guidance for households navigating neurodiversity, trauma, and daily challenges. This program is equity-focused and serves neighborhoods with high numbers of families with special-needs youth, low-income households, and underserved communities requiring trauma-informed care. (Reference: Family Need Statement from PDF ) The Family Wellness & Respite Program improves the community by: • reducing caregiver burnout • preventing household crises • improving children’s emotional regulation • strengthening family stability • providing high-quality respite in underserved neighborhoods • lowering emergency incidents involving youth with special needs • increasing access to mental-health and disability resources • fostering cultural healing and community connection By supporting caregivers, we strengthen entire households. When families feel connected, safe, and supported, neighborhoods become healthier, calmer, and more resilient.

Youth (under 24)