Building Inclusivity: A Non-Profit’s Mission to Support Individuals with Disabilities in Philadelphia and Surrounding Counties.
Executive Director, Carol Frangicetto and Program Director, Helen Falguera
There are no days off for Partnership. Partnership for Community Supports is a non-profit organization that provides Supports Coordination for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in Philadelphia and Supports Coordination in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and York Counties. Partnership also provides Early Intervention Service Coordination to select areas of Philadelphia County. Currently serving over 4,000 individuals in both programs. Partnership for Community Supports provides quality support and service coordination, ensuring individuals have an inclusive life in their community. Partnership connects resources and supports through individualized and family-centered planning.
The Non-Profit’s Need:
Our introduction came to Partnership when they had to downsize rapidly from a location they had been in for many years. After working from home during COVID-19, many of their employees remained remote or hybrid when appropriate. Their goal was to downsize and be more accessible to the staff and families they serve via public transportation and parking. Once Partnership secured their space, and as these things went, there was a need to pivot. While the new landlord provided temporary space, Horgan jumped in and utilized existing furniture left by a previous tenant and moved them to and from their swing space for six months while they remained operational. Staying fully functional during this transitional phase was imperative.
Horgan’s Collaboration:
Understanding the magnitude of its mission, the nonprofit reached out to Horgan with a proven track record of adaptability and creativity—the collaboration aimed to address several critical aspects of downsizing for the non-profit.
- Walls for Privacy and Flexibility:
Our furniture planning and configuration expertise allowed Partnership to utilize cubicles and furniture the previous tenant left flexibly. At any given time, Partnerships can house 40+ of their 150+ team. We also maximized a more intimate setting by building walls and creating a hallway to a more accessible restroom.
Our furniture planning and configuration expertise allowed Partnership to utilize cubicles and furniture the previous tenant left flexibly.
- Building a Records Room:
Next was an essential HIPAA file storage space. Program Director Helen Falguera told us, “When configuring our records room, we went through several drawings and renderings to get it right, and Mike at Horgan was so patient and helpful.” While Partnerships hopes to go digital in the future, working with the state requires them to keep essential and detailed records for those they support, and getting this room just right was a high priority.
- Enhanced Telecommunication Infrastructure:
As a leader in disability support and early intervention, Partnerships is at the forefront of education in their community and believes “through people working together and embracing teamwork, that powerful relationships can be developed.” Being able to telecommunicate with individuals, families, providers, Support & Service Coordinators, and the community is imperative to making positive things happen for the individuals and the families they serve. Horgan successfully designed the space to utilize as much of the existing infrastructure for Teledata and Electric as possible to keep them up and running throughout the move and continue to serve their families and communities.
Horgan successfully designed the space to utilize as much of the existing infrastructure for Teledata and Electric as possible to keep them up and running throughout the move and continue to serve their families and communities.
While there were a few iterations, Partnership’s perfect new home came down to fast delivery, budget-conscious design and implementation, flexibility, and adaptability. Horgan proudly worked with Partnerships to ensure a seamless transition for their staff and no interruptions to their commitment to disability support and early intervention in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas.
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