Staff and volunteers with Jill’s House in Vienna, VA pose for a photo. An open house was held on Sunday, Oct. 5 for visitors to tour the 42,000-square-foot center. Photo by Ryan Dunn.
On Oct. 5, Jill’s House was open to visitors to tour the 42,000-square-foot center. A non-profit organization providing respite care for children with special needs, Jill’s House serves more than 500 families, primarily at the center near Tysons Corner, but increasingly through programs in Colorado Springs, Los Angeles, Austin and elsewhere. Approximately 700 people visited the building, many for the first time.
Jill’s House serves boys and girls, ages 6 through 17, with a physical, emotional or intellectual disability without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, gender or financial means. The organization provides short-term overnight care, social activities and a range of therapeutic activities for children with disabilities, providing the primary caregivers with the opportunity for respite.
The non-profit is named after Jill Solomon, daughter to McLean Bible Church Senior Pastor Lon Solomon and Brenda Solomon. Jill was born with a rare seizure disorder, and at 3 months old Jill began having multiple seizures every day. The family suffered stress and exhaustion and began to feel emotionally drained. This changed when a friend helped organize some caregivers for Jill so the Solomons could get some rest.
IN 1995 the Solomons began to think how they could give other parents a break and give children such as Jill an opportunity to have fun and enjoy activities many children take for granted. Lon Solomon toured a facility in Jerusalem named Shalva. Shalva means “peace of mind.” Shalva offers many services to children with intellectual disabilities, including overnight respite. He recognized it as a model for meeting a crucial need for overnight respite.
Overnight respite allows parents to take time away and focus on their marriages and allows families to devote more time to typical siblings. Some parents use the time to study for new degrees to improve their family’s quality of life. Others use the time to get ahead on work. In 2003, the Solomons co-founded Jill’s House and began planning and fundraising for this state-of-the-art facility to accommodate children with special needs. In October 2010, the facility welcomed six children as the first overnight guests.
“Both of my children have been attending here since it opened,” said Shannon McNeil, a resident of Fairfax. McNeil began taking her daughter to Jill’s House when she was 8 years old, and her son when he turned 6. “For me, I love getting to meet the families,” said McNeil. ”I think they appreciate speaking with another parent.” McNeil has served as a representative of Jill’s House to help support the staff.
“My experience has been very rewarding here,” said Claire Waldrop, an employee at Jill’s House. “It is incredible to meet the courageous families that we have the privilege of serving. The open house was an awesome chance to see the community support and interest in work done at Jill’s House.”
Jill’s House currently employs approximately 120 part-time and full-time staff. The organization also offers internship and fellowship programs for those who wish to develop or learn more about the childcare specialist profession. “I heard about this program through a friend,” said Danielle Whitty, an undergraduate of the University of Mary Washington. Whitty is one of nine people participating in the year-long fellowship program. “I would say Jill’s house is an incredible facility. There is so much demand for places like this. We accept anyone of any belief regardless of whatever background they come from.” On average Jill’s House staff serves 42 children per weekend.
JILL’S HOUSE was created and is maintained through individual donations and foundation grants and receives no direct state or federal funding. The facility was one of six finalists that recently won a $10,000 award from the Guaranteed Rate mortgage company’s “Ultimate Neighborhood Give Back Challenge,” a nationwide search for organizations that make significant contributions to their communities. Jill’s House was chosen out of a field of 320 national entries. At Jill’s house, staff members are trained in CPR and first aid, and a registered nurse is on duty at all times, with a physician always on call. The center includes an indoor pool, gym, playground, light and sound sensory rooms and more.
“Ninety percent of the families of Jill’s House are not affiliated with a church,” said Denise Daffron, vice president of advancement for Jill’s House. “We serve everyone and we respect where the parents are coming from.” Jill’s House is located at 9011 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, near Tysons Corner and is accessible via I-66; I-495 and Rt. 267 (the Dulles Toll Road). Learn more online at jillshouse.org or call 703-639-5660.