Family Residences and Essential Enterprises
Family Residences and Essential Enterprises or FREE is a New York State organization based in Old Bethpage, New York, serving individuals on Long Island. It is a large agency which provides group therapy, group homes, service coordination among various other services to individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness or developmental disabilities of all functioning levels. Its primary goal is to help the individual function to the best and most independent extent in society.
Mission statement
"Our mission is to help individuals of all abilities to realize their full potential and prevail over life’s challenges. FREE’s broad spectrum of services encourages individuals to share their gifts and talents as contributing members of the community.[1]"
Vision Statement:
Together… Creating the right solution for any need.
Motto:
Reach High Achieve More
Services and programs
FREE provides Residential Services, Community Services, Adult Day Services, Vocational Programs, Respite Programs, and Medical Services, to over 3,000 persons with disabilities.
These disabilities include:
• Autism
Players
Started in 1993, a theater group of adults and children who have either an intellectual disability or a mental illness was formed. The group consists of over 80 skilled consumers, staff, and volunteers who work throughout the year, rehearsing to being a full musical production to the stage. Productions include “Guys and Dolls,” “Bye-Bye Birdie,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Pippin,” “Into the Woods,” “Tommy,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” "Grease," and "The Most Happy Fella." As well as the annual main stage show, The FREE Players also has a traveling troupe which performs "Dr. Jack Jawbone, D.D.S.," an original production that teaches school children a very special lesson about maintaining good oral hygiene and going to the dentist. They also perform at hotels, legislative breakfasts, and several conferences, where they are enthusiastically received and applauded.[2]