Northern Star Haven

A Long-Term Non-Profit Vision in Early Development

Building a Safer, Better Home for People with Autism & Intellectual Disabilities in Northeast Florida

Northern Star Haven is a nonprofit project to solve a problem many families quietly carry for years, when a teen or adult with autism or an intellectual disability needs long-term, high-support care, the options are often limited to “do it all at home” or accept placement in environments that don’t feel safe, enriched, or well-run.

Northern Star Haven exists to build a third option

What North Star is

Northern Star Haven is a planned residential campus-style community designed for people with autism and/or intellectual disabilities who cannot live independently and need consistent support to stay safe, healthy, and engaged in meaningful daily life.
This is not a warehouse. It’s not a place where days blend together. The goal is a home where residents are supported with structure, dignity, and real opportunities to build skills and enjoy life, while families can finally exhale because they know their loved one is safe.

Who we intend to serve

Phase 1 focus (planned):● Ages 16+● Individuals with autism and/or intellectual disabilities with moderate-to-severe support needs● Residents who may present high-risk behavior needs (elopement, aggression, self-injury, severe noncompliance), supported through strong training and behavior support systems.
Phase 1 exclusions (planned):● Individuals with significant medical complexity (this would require additional infrastructure and is a later-phase goal)● Long-term, the vision is a campus that can support residents across the lifespan, with living areas designed to fit different stages of adulthood.

What will make Northern Star Haven different

Most residential models struggle because they can’t consistently deliver staffing stability, training quality, and meaningful daily life.
Northern Star Haven is being designed around a few non-negotiables:● Safety-first operations: systems, supervision, and accountability built into the design● Superior staff training: onboarding that is competency-based, repeated, and coached, not “watch a video and good luck”● Higher staffing ratios and better retention: pay and culture designed to reduce turnover and improve continuity● Meaningful days: structured routines, enrichment, and community participation, no chronic idle time● Skill-building embedded in daily life: communication, daily living skills, leisure skills, tolerance, and independence where possible● Nutrition and functional health emphasis: high-quality food and forward-thinking wellness supports● Family transparency: clear communication and measurable outcomes families can trust● Nonprofit integrity: a model designed to reinvest back into people, training, and services, not extract value for leadership

What the campus may include

As the project develops, the campus is envisioned as a hybrid model, home-like residential living with shared campus resources. Potential features include:● sensory gym / regulation spaces● clinic suite● staff training institute space● family visiting area● gardens, chickens and walking loop● safety-by-design layout to reduce risk and support calm routines

How we’ll measure success

When Northern Star Haven exists, we will report outcomes that actually matter to families and staff, such as:● fewer crisis events and ER visits● improved functional communication and adaptive skills● more community participation and meaningful activity hours● higher family satisfaction and engagement● reduced staff injuries and lower turnover● medication stability reviews (with prescribers)
A simple definition of success will be that residents are safer, healthier, more engaged, and families feel confident in the care they receive.

Where we are today

Northern Star Haven is currently in the early concept and coalition-building stage. That means:● clarifying the program model and standards● identifying the right partners and advisors● learning the licensing and funding pathways in Florida● building a base of community support and early donors● planning a Phase 1 pilot that can scale into a campus within 5 years
This page will be updated as milestones are reached.

How you can be part of it

If you’re a parent, donor, community leader, clinician, or partner organization and you want Northeast Florida to have a better long-term option for families, We'd like to talk.
Ways to help:● connect us with families who want to support this vision● introductions to donors, real estate professionals, attorneys, and healthcare leaders● partnership conversations with schools, hospitals, and local organizations● early support for feasibility planning and pilot development

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