THE DFX DIFFERENCE
DFX is a Denver-based nonprofit committed to a vision of changing care as usual to create a more inclusive world.
Our mission is to prepare children with developmental differences for a bright future of engaged belonging by equipping them, their families, therapists, and teachers via innovative programming in Colorado and around the world.
Our philosophy: Since our founding in 2003, we have taken our expertise in addressing the complex needs of children with Fragile X syndrome and applied those skills to serve youth affected by mental health issues, developmental disorders, social/emotional delays, autism, other genetically identified conditions, and any combination of these issues. DFX works to transform the lives of children who have neurodevelopmental needs and mental health challenges so that they can live to their fullest potential. Through our signature approach, Therapy that fits, we collaborate to identify the unique strengths and needs of each child and their family’s priorities to develop an individualized program of care. We serve as a resource to families, educators, clinicians, and others in the child’s ecosystem, offer them the tools to understand and administer to the complex, individual needs of each child, and share our knowledge to change the landscape of what transformative care looks like for children who are neurodiverse and their families – locally, nationally, and globally.
Why DFX is a nonprofit: We have structured the organization as a nonprofit because we envision a system of comprehensive multidisciplinary care provided within a child’s trusted community, in which the range and depth of services available to a family are not determined by their socio-economic situation but rather available to all. In the current U.S. healthcare system, not all families have equitable access to individualized, highly impactful care; funding from foundations and individual donors allows DFX to extend this high-quality multidisciplinary care to every child in need. Accountability to the greater good coupled with our philosophy of Therapy that fits ensures the integrity of our work in the clinic and as we share our models of inclusion through training and mentoring in Colorado and around the world. The children and families we reach are equipped with life-changing resources and ready to engage more fully in an ecosystem that is more aware and supportive of their needs.
Our leadership: DFX co-founder and executive director, Tracy Stackhouse, is a leading pediatric occupational therapist (OT) involved in clinical treatment, research, mentoring, and training regarding OT intervention for persons with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially Fragile X Syndrome and autism. Tracy is a member of the National Fragile X Foundation Clinical Research Consortium, the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Committee, and the NFXF Advisory Council, and an expert advisor to the CDC and RTI Fragile X Priorities Panel. In addition, she is a frequent presenter at conferences, leading courses on multidisciplinary models for OT, clinical reasoning, sensory integration, and polyvagal theory. The DFX board includes professionals from throughout the Denver community who are leaders in healthcare delivery and administration, education, and other areas of expertise pertinent to our work and the communities we serve. Our clinical team is trained to provide individualized care through a multidisciplinary lens, adhering to our Therapy that fits philosophy via occupational therapy, psychology, and speech language pathology.
Relationship-based models of care are at the center of our approaches and a reflection of our Pillars and Values.
We affirm that our Pillars and Values are woven into the fabric of our culture.
Our Pillars:
1. Highest Quality Multidisciplinary Care and Respectful Engagement
2. Empowering Leadership
3. Cross-systems Sustainability
4. Community and Culture
Our Values are our ‘terra firma’
passion, compassion, authenticity, uniqueness, clarity, commitment, joy/playfulness, communication, professionalism, responsibility, responsiveness, connection, courage/boldness, credible expertise, support, dignity, trust, generosity of spirit, what feeds soul/fills cup, and a space for grace
We scale our mission through four key programs:
- DFX Multidisciplinary Clinic in Denver – we scale deep for every child and family regardless of their ability to pay for the extra level of care needed to truly meet their needs. We cultivate and provide Therapy that fits through occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and psychology services for local families.
- Clinic in the Community – our services scale beyond the clinic through wraparound programming that extends into homes and communities. DFX Clinic in the Community has formal programs through our school and early learning program initiatives that bring Therapy that fits to programs and providers throughout the Denver area and virtually across Colorado through our DFXConnect initiative that serves early childhood care professionals.
- Learning Journeys – our virtual education program scales out our impact to therapists, educators, parents, and providers & expands our reach further through online courses, training, podcasts, and mentoring services that have a global reach. Our proprietary materials and training on the SpIRiT Model and the STEPPSI Clinical Reasoning Framework as well as our signature Therapy that fits approach are key offerings in our Learning Journeys program. In addition, our world-renowned expertise in Fragile X syndrome is featured in our offerings.
- Research, Innovation, & Advocacy catalyze our work and inform our Therapy that fits philosophy which is integral to our core mission-driven programs allowing us to scale up our impact. Our approach to program evaluation is offered to collaborators and is a key approach in scaling our impact.
DFX has a strategic vision of our future that focuses on:
Impact: expansion of our impact on the lives of all children in Colorado and around the world who have developmental needs and mental health challenges through our mission-driven programs in the Clinic, Clinic in the Community, and Learning Journeys, creating systemic change rooted in communities of understanding and belonging.
Innovation: exploration of innovative techniques related to providing comprehensive multidisciplinary care via Therapy that fits through research, elaboration, advocacy, and dissemination of best practices.
Infrastructure: investment in capacity building for leadership and clinical expertise as well as a state-of-the-art, expanded clinic space and increased staffing to scaffold every program area.
We are actively seeking individual, foundation, and corporate support to underwrite all areas of this critical and innovative work as we scale our activities to achieve this vision.