If I Need Help Agency Program Web: ifineedhelp.org, PO Box 803356, Santa Clarita, CA. 91380 Tel. 661.524.6732 Bruce@ifineedhelp.org

Objective 

To provide all people with Special Needs, who may wander or not be able to self advocate in a critical moment, with practical, affordable hope and potentially life-saving identification and information. 

Executive Summary 

If I Need Help is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization working to reunite those who are lost, disoriented or can’t self-advocate with their loved ones and Caregivers. We use QR Code Technology that can be accessed by computer or smartphone to provide emergency identification and peace of mind through a free online member profile. Our customizable iD products include iD cards and wearables such as shoe/dog tags, patches, pins/clips, temporary tattoos, seat belt alerts, key chains & apparel. Our custom alerts include car magnets, bumper stickers, keychains and window clings.  Founders Bruce and Erin Wilson were inspired to create If I Need Help by their son Jay, a low-verbal boy with Autism who went missing in the past. They know first hand the constant terror Caregivers have that their loved ones will go missing and never come home. Bruce and Erin created a system for Jay that works and are making it available to all people in need.  How does If I Need Help work?  When a caregiver signs up for a free membership for their charge, it establishes a profile and emergency questions/answers within their own caregiver controlled Special Needs Registry. The Registry captures vital information about the person with special needs, such as current medications, communication preferences, and caregiver contact information. In a crisis situation, the Registry provides a quick data sheet by email or print for first responders, the media, and search teams. The wearable iD includes unique QR Codes that when scanned, directs to the member’s online profile page allowing the finder to help the wearer and get them home safely.   Who are we working with currently? We have a growing member-base of nearly 15,000 people. If I Need Help is an approved vendor for 35,000 consumers of the State of California’s Inland Regional Center, with other Regional Centers being added. We are creating bespoke programs with Police departments nationally while being considered for adoption by multiple other law enforcement agencies throughout the country.  Additionally, clients include Caregivers, school districts, social service agencies, hospitals, support groups, and camps across the nation. 

Agency Program!  

The Agency program consists of welcoming new and existing community members with appropriate wearable ID & alerts based on their needs. Our product line is diverse due to the wide variety of individual needs in the community. For example someone with epilepsy in a wheelchair might be best served by a custom keychain attached to their wheelchair, and a custom car magnet on the back of their car near the license plate. Whereas a deaf child with communication issues might benefit the most from a custom shoe tag, a QR code patch on their backpack and a custom window cling on their front door. In addition to individual safety products, safety kits (combinations of products) are also offered and can be put together to order. The average price of custom products typically ranges from $10 to $15 plus shipping. These products will be offered as an affordable proactive safety solution that shows your agency cares in a real and immediate way. All free memberships include access to the IINH International caregiver controlled special needs registry, and printable/emailable emergency Q&A’s. The Caregiver has total control of all Special Needs Registry/Emergency Q&A information and only enters or updates what they are comfortable entering. If they need extra help or if you would like to help set up their account or their orders, with their permission you can do so with company back end access. Methods of integration:  

1. Use our system as is with front end access, or access our system with direct backend company access. Both methods includes free memberships, access to the public and private special needs registries, and products purchased utilizing various methods such as direct purchase, agency budget, donations, and grants. Direct company access would allow 911 access along with different levels of agency access enabling you to set up and administer your clients accounts. 

2. API Access to integrate our database with your website. 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions FAQs What is your solution...

● If I Need Help wearable iD: ○ Is very sturdy and reliable. Our son has a patch on every shirt. He always wears shirts. If he were to be lost

he would be able to be iD’d from this wearable iD. We have a wide array of products for people with different sensory needs. Many people do not want to stick out when at school or in everyday settings so our shoe tag would be more subtle and helpful for them. Other people might not wear clothing and run away when naked. Our temporary tattoos can help them. We also have things for high functioning people such as dog tags, keychains, and iD cards that they would choose to show only when they are having communication issues such as being pulled over by the police or getting on the wrong bus and not being able to communicate from the unexpected real world situation.

○ Our products are very affordable. Average cost for wearable id is typically only $10 to $15 with no fees. ○ All information can be updated in real time by the caregivers as the situation changes.

What about client confidentiality: ● There are two parts to our free registry. The public profile, and the confidential question and answers section. ● Public profile: This is the part of the registry that would be visible when scanned or entered on the website. We tell

people to not use last names or addresses, and to only put the information they would be comfortable with having a finder know to help their loved one in a critical situation. This can be updated in the moment.

● Confidential question and answers: This is the personal information of the user. It is caregiver controlled and not seen when the wearable code is scanned or entered on the website. This is the type of information that first responders would need to know in a critical missing, and can be updated in real time by the caregiver. The caregiver would have to either print or email to whomever they decide to share it with in an emergency. This information could also be shared with our growing national police network if the caregiver chooses to opt in.

Can predators use information obtained by scanning the wearable iD or entering the unique code on the website

● It would be very difficult. To scan a stranger would be very visible and stand out like a sore thumb. They would need to get within inches of the code on the wearable iD. Most of the people that are vulnerable to this would be low functioning and would always be with a family member or aide. If not with an aide the wearer is lost, in danger, and needs a finder to have the information to help them and get them home safely. As a parent of a child with autism the chance of my child being helped in an emergency by having this information available far outweighs the very low likelihood of it falling into the wrong hands.

Do we need affordable wearable iD and a free caregiver controlled special needs registry? We already fund Behavioral Therapy… Yes. Our 15 year old son Jay has been receiving ABA for almost 11 years. Even though he has always improved with therapy it took almost this whole time for his elopement risk to greatly diminish, but not be extinguished. He or others like him could die or be greatly harmed while waiting for the behavioral elopment goals to be met without wearable iD. Also, what if they are in the community and get separated from their caregiver by accident. This can happen to anyone, but can be devastating to someone with communication issues.

● With intense speech therapy Jay has gone from nonverbal to low verbal while this is life changing in itself he still cannot really communicate in an emergency. The main time he was lost he was not trying to elope. At 6 years old after drop off at school his aide forgot to bring him inside with the class. He was standing by the fence scared to death. Anything could have happened to him. A mom passing him knew who he was and brought him inside. We were lucky and as a result started If I Need Help.

Who can use this system Anyone can use our system. Most of our members though, have communication issues such as with people with Autism, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Diabetes, PTSD, Dementia, Alzheimer's, and other issues that hinder them from being able to self advocate during a critical moment.

 

         

 

 

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Success Stories!

 

         

 

 

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