Question 1

What does it mean to be a non-profit organization?

Accepted Answer

A nonprofit organization or not-for-profit organization (NPO) is an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals rather than distributing them as profits or dividends. Nonprofit is not synonymous with free, nonprofits are permitted to generate surplus revenue, but they must be retained by the organization for its self-preservation, expansion, or plans. NPOs have controlling members or boards. Nonprofits also have paid staff including management, while others employ unpaid volunteers and even executives who work with or without compensation.

Question 2

Is Seahorse Institute a non-profit organization?

Accepted Answer

Seahorse Institute is a registered Bahamian non-profit. Seahorse Institute has a voluntary Board of Directors who provides governance and resources. Seahorse Institute receives no government funding and relies upon tuition and donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Seahorse Institute partners with Seahorse Children’s Foundation, a registered 501c3 in the US.

Question 3

Does Seahorse Institute Accept Donations?

Accepted Answer

Seahorse Institute relies upon financial contributions from Individuals, Corporations and Foundations to support scholarships, specialized educational equipment and other costs associated with the clinical treatment of the children. Based on need, Seahorse Institute also accepts donations of equipment and technical expertise. To make a donation to support Seahorse Institute you can use the banking details below or send a check to P.O. Box SS19407, Nassau, Bahamas. For more information please contact us at 242-676- 6780.

Donate Today
Seahorse Institute
First Caribbean Bank 
Chequing
Account #201619583
Branch #09706
Shirley Street

Question 4

Is Seahorse Institute only for children with Autism?

Accepted Answer

No specific diagnosis is required for enrollment at Seahorse Institute. We have children with a variety of developmental disabilities attending Seahorse Institute. The label of the diagnosis is far less important to us in comparison to meeting the individual needs of the child.

Question 5

Is Seahorse Institute a residential facility?

Accepted Answer

No, Seahorse Institute only provides day programs.

Question 6

Why does Seahorse Institute charge tuition?

Accepted Answer

Tuition is charged because each child has an individualized program provided in a one-to-one or three-to-one environment. The majority of our operating budget goes directly towards our staff salaries and related staffing costs. The actual cost to provide our intensive individualized programs exceeds the amount of tuition.

Question 7

Are there scholarships available?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Seahorse Institute does provide scholarships. All scholarships are provided on a need basis and are only available based on funding that has been privately raised.

Question 8

Does a child need to be verbal to attend?

Accepted Answer

No, Seahorse Institute children have a range of communication abilities.

Question 9

Do children interact with one another or other children their age?

Accepted Answer

Yes, social interaction is a goal in each of our programs. We aim to raise our children to a level where they can interact with each other as well as other children. Through this program our children are engaged by and encouraged to interact with kids different from them.

Question 10

Are there speech-language, occupational or physical therapists on staff or available for consultation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, speech therapy services are available to all of our students through The Caribbean Center for Child Development. Staff at Seahorse Institute implement recommendations and strategies of OT and SLT throughout the day.

Question 11

What are Seahorse Institute hours?

Accepted Answer

Seahorse Institute programs begin at 9:00am. The Hope Intensive program has 2 sessions per day, 9:00am – 12:00noon and 1:00pm – 4:00pm. The Let’s Talk program runs from 9:00am - 12:30pm and the Spirit Program is from 12:30pm – 4:00pm.

Seahorse Institute is a year round institute with a two week break over Christmas and New Year.

Question 12

Is there a waiting list?

Accepted Answer

Seahorse Institute operates on a first come, first served basis. Enrollment openings depend on availability in the programs appropriate for the student. Should we not be able to accommodate you immediately, you will be added to a waiting list and receive services as soon as there is an opening in the program of choice.

Question 13

What are the entry requirements for new students?

Accepted Answer

Children are assessed based on their needs, current functioning level, and spaces available at the institute to meet their needs.

Question 14

What are the levels of qualifications for your Instructors?

Accepted Answer

Seahorse Institute recruits Instructors with a Bachelors Degree, preferably in education and/or psychology. All instructors are trained in the curriculums being used in their Programs as well as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Verbal Behavior (VB) and proven techniques. There are also regularly scheduled in-house training sessions to ensure ongoing Instructors development.

Question 15

How many years does a child stay at Seahorse Institute?

Accepted Answer

That depends on the child; a child may be enrolled at Seahorse Institute for as long as they need to be here, but some may be enrolled for one and others three years. We work to equip children with the skills that will make them more successful in a more typical learning environment. Most children will not have one-to- one instruction for their entire educational career. Our goal is to give children the intensive individualized instruction that can heighten their ability to gain skills and become good learners.

Question 16

What is the relationship between Seahorse Institute and Caribbean Center for Child Development?

Accepted Answer

Seahorse Institute was established to meet the growing academic, clinical and social needs of children living with developmental delays and disabilities in the Bahamas. Seahorse Institute was originally established as a division of the Caribbean Center for Child Development. As of 2012 both organizations operate as separate entities. Seahorse Institute has its own governing board and is a registered Bahamian nonprofit. Caribbean Center for Child Development is a for profit organization. Each organization runs separately, though Caribbean Center for Child Development does donate a percentage of their profits to Seahorse Institute. Also, Seahorse Institute shares clinical resources with Caribbean Center, such as psychiatrists, speech and language therapists and behavior analysts.