SAN Insights (please see SAN Insights to view the award)

The Special Assistance Network (SAN) thought this news was important to many of our families we serve.  

The Special Assistance Network (SAN) was notified today that it has received an award for the second (2nd) year in a row for outstanding service to the public and it was a complete and pleasant surprise to the SAN staff and all those who help and assist us on a regular basis.  It was all because we serve clients like you that make us work harder every day to help all of those with Special Needs and their families that we interact with daily.

SAN was advised that various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2024 Apopka Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Apopka Award Program and data provided by third parties both locally and nationwide.

The Apopka Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of businesses throughout the area. Recognition is given to those companies and organizations that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value to those they serve.

The Special Assistance Network is pleased to share this exciting news with you.  

You can also see the 2023 Award that the Special Assistance Network received by looking at our website in the “News” section and in the “SAN Insights” section on October 3, 2023. 

Again, thank you for being a part of the Special Assistance Network.  We value you as a client and our work together.

 SAN Insights (please see SAN Insights to view the award)

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Special Assistance Network Receives 2024 Best of Apopka Award

Apopka Award Program Honors the Achievement

APOPKA November 1, 2024 -- Special Assistance Network has been selected for the 2024 Best of Apopka Award in the Non-Profit Organization category by the Apopka Award Program.

Each year, the Apopka Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the State of Florida a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2024 Apopka Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Apopka Award Program and data provided by third parties both locally and nationwide.

About Apopka Award Program

The Apopka Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of businesses throughout the area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Apopka Award Program was established to recognize the best of businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Apopka Award Program

CONTACT:
Apopka Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@accoladelocalcompanies.com
URL: http://www.accoladelocalcompanies.com

Apopka Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@cities-recognition.com
URL: http://www.cities-recognition.com

Distribution to local, state, and national news sources

The Special Assistance Network attended a seminar on “Tax Planning and Asset Protection” geared towards families of all types including families with Special Needs family members. The nationwide seminar was sponsored by the Foster Boughman Law Firm in Orlando, Florida. There was discussion of current tax policy in the United States, protective legal formats, insulating strategies for families, as well as the limits on IRS power. The seminar was informative and gave much information that the Special Assistance Network can utilize in assisting its clients.

The Special Assistance Network attended a seminar on Guardianships titled “When Guardianships Go Bad” presented by the Forster Boughman Law Firm in Orlando, Florida. This nationwide seminar explored the complexities of guardianship law, focusing on potential pitfalls and strategies for prevention of costly issues by guardians not following the rules. The seminar covered everything from proper initiation of guardianship proceedings, to guardianship paperwork, to identifying and addressing guardianship abuse, and to dealing with in-state and out-of-state guardianships. The seminar discussed the filing of the annual guardianship report each year with the court and the adverse costly results of failing to file such annual guardianship report (even though many guardians don’t believe they have to file such a report with the court for various inaccurate reasons).

The Special Assistance Network attended a training seminar on medical health insurance for Special Needs clients sponsored by United Healthcare. Since 2018, the Special Assistance Network has had staff authorized as licensed agents to provide UnitedHealthcare medical insurance to special needs individuals of any age. The Special Assistance Network can offer and sign up special needs individuals that are on Medicare and Medicaid for the medical supplemental plans they need and have requested: the UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete LP (HMO SNP) in Florida and the UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete RP (PPO SNP) in Florida. This is another continuing added benefit available through the Special Assistance Network.

The Special Assistance Network was pleased to attend the State of Florida Governor’s Summit on Disabilities 26th Annual Family Café in Orlando, Florida. This Annual Family Café brings people together with all types of disabilities for three days of information, training sessions, and networking with public and private resources. Although intensive at times, it was packed with valuable information that the Special Assistance Network can use to assist its clientele with the many different issues that Special Needs families face on a daily basis.

The Special Assistance Network has been honored and requested to join the Governor’s Faith and Community Initiative for the State of Florida. This is an initiative to coordinate with churches, faith institutions, non profit organizations, and social service agencies in serving the care and comfort of families throughout the State of Florida. The Special Assistance Network is proud to be asked to be part of this initiative and serve the families of special needs individuals, not only in Florida but nationwide.

The Special Assistance Network participated in the “MAKE’m SMILE Orlando” event sponsored by Nathaniel’s Hope. It was a day of special events, education, and interactions with families and adults with Special Needs. The Special Assistance Network assists in educating families on the need for Special Needs Trusts and how to protect their loved ones during their lifetime.

The Special Assistance Network attended a seminar on “Navigating Tax Challenges of ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts” sponsored by LawPracticeCLE in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. This presentation reviewed the basic rules and tax ramifications of ABLE Accounts, 3rd Party Special Needs Trusts, and 1st Party Special Needs Trusts. There was a comparison and contrast of each of these types of accounts, when each should or should not be used, and how they interact with one another. There was also discussion into public benefits and income tax planning regarding the use of these available accounts. The seminar provided updated information to the Special Assistance Network in helping its clients on a day-to-day basis in making valuable and important decisions.

The Special Assistance Network attended the “2024 31st Statewide Center for Autism & Related Disabilities Conference” in Orlando, Florida on January 12-14, 2024, sponsored by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD). CARD is one of the world’s largest and most experienced applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment providers operating in the United States. This conference is one of the largest autism-related conferences in the State of Florida and is rapidly gaining recognition throughout the United States for its presentations, research, and treatment approaches. The conference covered the latest information on autism research and autism intervention, along with other gainful insights into many other disabilities and disorders that families deal with on a daily basis. The information gained from this conference will be helpful in assisting the clients of the Special Assistance Network in their daily activities.

Staff from the Special Assistance Network attended the “58th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning” on January 8-12, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. The Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning is the premier Estate Planning conference sponsored by the University of Miami School of Law in the United States. Staff from the Special Assistance Network learned all the latest case law and latest developments regarding the drafting, usage, and administration of various estate planning documents including Special Needs Trusts. The exposure of this information from the leading experts in the United States allows for the Special Assistance Network to be helpful and have greater ability to benefit its clients throughout the country. Regular specialized training like this is just another reason why people choose the Special Assistance Network to assist them with third-party trust administration of their Special Needs Trusts.

The Special Assistance Network attended a seminar on “10 Tips to Help Your Negotiations: In Healthcare, In Mediation, and In Life” sponsored by FosterBroughman law firm in Orlando, Florida. The seminar provided helpful strategies to assist clients of the Special Assistance Network in dealing with healthcare issues, in mediation issues with such agencies such as the Social Security Administration, and in dealing with various life issues that arise when assisting their Special Needs family member.

The Special Assistance Network attended a course on Mental Health and Wellness sponsored by Law Practice CLE-Innovative Digital Education. The course discussed the understanding of the connection between nutrition and mental health, how vitamin deficiencies impact depression, how the immune system affects mental health, how to identify various toxic influences that may threaten mental wellness, and helpful strategies for supporting mental health. This information was helpful in advising our clients with Special Needs and the individual dynamics that occur in many families that the Special Assistance Network advises.

The Special Assistance Network attended a training seminar on medical health insurance for Special Needs clients sponsored by United Healthcare. Since 2018, the Special Assistance Network has had staff authorized as licensed agents to provide UnitedHealthcare medical insurance to special needs individuals of any age. The Special Assistance Network can offer and sign up special needs individuals that are on Medicare and Medicaid for the medical supplemental plans they need and have requested: the UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete LP (HMO SNP) in Florida and the UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete RP (PPO SNP) in Florida. This is another continuing added benefit available through the Special Assistance Network.

SAN Insights (please see SAN Insights to view the award)

 The Special Assistance Network (SAN) thought this news was important to many of our families we serve.  SAN received an award yesterday and it was a complete and pleasant surprise.  It was all because we serve clients like you that make us work harder every day to help all of those with Special Needs.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Special Assistance Network Receives 2023 Best of Apopka Award

Apopka Award Program Honors the Achievement

APOPKA October 2, 2023 -- Special Assistance Network has been selected for the 2023 Best of Apopka Award in the Non-Profit Organization category by the Apopka Award Program.

Each year, the Apopka Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Apopka area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2023 Apopka Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Apopka Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Apopka Award Program

The Apopka Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Apopka area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Apopka Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Apopka Award Program

Apopka Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@cities-recognition.com
URL: http://www.cities-recognition.com

Distribution to local, state, and national news sources

The Special Assistance Network attended a special session presented by the Downs Syndrome of Florida Foundation. This session discussed and gave options for homeschooling resources that are available to those with Special Needs and specifically those with Downs Syndrome. All ages and all grade levels were discussed on how parents can obtain the proper resources for this valuable need when other options are not available.

The Special Assistance Network attended the Special Needs Conference in Orlando, Florida sponsored by the Hoyt & Bryan Law Firm. The conference focused on families with Special Needs and how to plan for providing and protecting the many benefits that may or may not become available to them during their lifetime. Special Needs planning is a form of estate planning and financial planning designed to provide for and to protect a beneficiary with Special Needs while preserving entitlement to various needs-based public assistance programs when available.

The Special Assistance Network was pleased to attend a course on Qualitative Estate Planning sponsored by Law Practice CLE-Innovative Digital Education. The course discussed the core concepts of a qualitative estate plan such as family wealth and keeping and protecting such wealth in the family. It was a guide for Trustees, Beneficiaries, Advisors and Protectors. There was much discussion on the various types of trusts that can be beneficial for individuals in a family that may need protection from outsiders and adverse family members. This information was helpful in advising our clients with Special Needs and the individual dynamics that occur in many families that the Special Assistance Network advises.

The Special Assistance Network attended a teleconference on the updates on “Special Needs Trusts” sponsored by Law Practice CLE-Innovation Digital Education. This teleconference covered the recent updates on Special Needs Trusts and when they should be used including an overview of important asset-tested government benefit programs. The teleconference dealt with the enhanced advantages of third-party Special Needs Trusts and how they have positive impact on beneficiaries. The information gained through this educational legal seminar will be valuable in serving clients of the Special Assistance Network.

The Special Assistance Network attended a teleconference on “Estate Planning for the Disabled” sponsored by Cannon Financial Institute. This teleconference dealt with the various issues facing those Special Needs individuals with various techniques for estate planning for those individuals that are disabled and for those individuals who may be approaching some form of disability. Topics covered included financial abuse to capacity to understand various estate planning documents to the usage of Special Needs Trusts. The teleconference was very informative to assist the clientele of the Special Assistance Network.

The Special Assistance Network was pleased to attend a seminar on “Mediation from a Different Angle.” This seminar included tools for dispute resolution utilizing mediation tactics and strategies for dealing with conflict resolution when dealing with governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies, social welfare organizations, interested parties, and other parties that are in conflict with what you desire to happen. The Special Assistance Network attended this seminar in order to assist our clients with parties that “on first sight” are refusing to assist our clients. As always, the Special Assistance Network is always attempting to find additional skills and resources to assist its clients.