Professional Services in Boca Raton

Since its founding in 1967, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (CCFA) has sought the cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The National Institutes of Health commended the CCFA for its work "uniting the research community and strengthening IBD research." The CCFA established the precedent for research in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by forming its own scientific journal and educational symposiums and funding cutting-edge studies at major medical institutions. It has helped discover chromosomal regions with IBD-related genes and NOD2, the first gene for Crohn’s disease.

In addition to medical research, the CCFA runs a wide range of educational programs and support services to improve the quality of life for people affected by IBD. With awareness campaigns, webcasts, and periodicals, such as Take Charge and Under the Microscope, the organization reaches out to more than one million patients and caregivers. Nationwide chapters further this work by conducting more than 300 support groups for patients and summer camps for children every year.

SOS Children's Villages - Florida nurtures youth in foster care through a neighborhood built exclusively for them. The street's 12 houses buzz with the activity of the 75 resident boys and girls, who were removed from their homes due to abandonment, abuse, and neglect. They spend their childhood with foster families selected by a caseworker and have access to an array of social and mental-health services. Most children stay at the Village for about two years until they are found a permanent adoptive home or reunited with their biological families. The Village places a high priority on maintaining family connections among siblings, generally placing them in the same house.

SOS Children’s Villages sustains a connection with all its youth after they turn 18 through the After Care program, which helps them transition into adulthood and self-sufficiency. SOS boasts incredible success with this program: 83% of its alumni have graduated high school—33% higher than the national average for foster children—and 47% have gone on to pursue higher education.