A Gift of Time: Respite Child Care

Application for Respite Care 2007-08

What is respite care?

Respite care is defined as "an interval of rest," a "system of temporary supports for families." All parents need time away from the responsibilities of caring for their children. For parents of children with special needs, respite care becomes a vital community service-a necessity, not a luxury. The Respite Child Care Program is here to assist parents in accessing formal/informal child care services within their communities to support the well-being of their families.

Who should apply for respite care through our private program?

Parents seeking help through us in order to get a break may have one or more children with special developmental or mental health needs, they may have special health needs of their own, or they may be experiencing elevated stress levels due to changes in family circumstance (such as divorce, loss of a loved one, loss of employment, homelessness, domestic abuse, etc.) Families in the Upper Valley with children ages birth to 21 are eligible for help through the Respite Child Care Program. Please note: the Respite Child Care Program is not funded or staffed to provide child care assistance for routine child care for working families or for parents pursuing education or job training. Respite care is part-time, and except in situations of extreme urgency, is usually limited to a maximum of 20 hours per month.

How does one apply for help through the Respite Child Care Program?

A paper application may be received by calling the program directly at 603-448-1268 or by calling the Special Needs Support Center's toll-free number+, 1-800-698-5465. Requests may also be made via e-mail sent to respitecare@valley.net. A printable version of this application is also available at this website. Once a completed application has been received, the Respite Child Care Program coordinator will call the parent to discuss setting up service.

What kind of support can be expected from the Respite Child Care program?	Our program has some limited funding to help parents pay for respite care. This funding is available to any family but is based on individual discussions regarding each family's need for care, the cost of care, and any personal or community resources that can contribute to the cost of care. Payments from the Respite Child Care Program are usually made to the parent, and it is the parent's responsibility to pay the provider; occasionally, arrangements are made for the program to pay the provider directly. The Respite Child Care coordinator drafts a contract that spells out the details of how much will be paid to whom, on what schedule, and for what time period. This contract is then signed by parent and provider and by the Respite Child Care coordinator, who then forwards copies to both parent and provider. Parents or providers are given a simple form that they may use to invoice the program. In addition, on a case-by-case basis, our program can help families decide on how best to find providers in their communities or to access licensed child care homes or programs. The Respite Child Care program can sometimes connect a family to a provider who is known to the program, again depending on each family's particular schedule needs and geographic area. Please note: the Respite Child Care Program does not employ providers. From time to time the program advertises for people interested in providing care, and maintains a short list of individuals who have been screened, interviewed and have had a criminal records check. It is very helpful to the coordinator if parents have already thought about some of the following issues when they contact the program for help: Where will respite care happen? Options may include in the family's home, in the provider's home, in a licensed child care setting, in the community, or possibly in a camp or other seasonal program for children. Often, children can receive good quality respite care through a licensed child care provider, and can benefit from social contact with other children. The respite care schedule plays a part in determining where the care will take place (see below). Which children in the family need care through the Respite Care Program? Again, this need has to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, along with the associated costs. What are the special needs of the child(ren) to be cared for? These needs may be significant or subtle, but are always important in considering the best possible care for each individual child. What sort of respite care schedule is needed? The scheduling of respite care is very flexible, and depends on the parents' and the children's schedules and on the providers' availability. Some families like to take a short break (an afternoon or evening) each week; others prefer a longer session once or twice a month, possibly including an overnight. The Respite Care Coordinator helps families think through the question of what sort of respite care schedule will work best for them, and can assist in discussions with providers as well. The Respite Care Program usually helps families on a part-time and time-limited basis. For some families, however, the need for respite care is on-going. The program requires that families who are receiving on-going respite care reapply each year.
	Things to keep in mind when selecting a respite care provider: Respite workers should be individuals who have had either life or work experience caring for children and can supply personal or employment references if they are not close acquaintances. Respite care workers, be they family, friends or licensed providers, should be easy to communicate with, able to follow instructions, and able to give good feedback. The respite care setting should be one that is clean, safe, comfortable and child-friendly. If necessary, parents need to be certain that their respite care worker is capable of and comfortable with training to manage special health care needs including medication.
	Things all respite care workers need from families: Courtesy in issues of scheduling; A list of emergency numbers, and relevant health and safety info; Specific info about the special needs of the children they will care for, and updates on any changes, also routine info about how a child is feeling on a given day; Clear information/rules about the a family's home if they provide care there; Clear guidelines about permissible activities and an upfront understanding of how costs for fun and food will be paid for or reimbursed; A friendly, respectful relationship with the parents they are assisting.

Benefits of Respite Care In addition to providing direct relief, respite has added benefits for families, including: Relaxation. Respite gives families peace of mind, helps them relax, and renew their humor and energy; Enjoyment. Respite allows families to enjoy favorite pastimes and pursue new activities; Stability. Respite improves the family's ability to cope with daily responsibilities and maintain stability during crises; Preservation. Respite helps preserve the family unit and lessens the pressures that might lead to institutionalization, divorce, neglect and child abuse; Involvement. Respite allows families to become involved in community activities and to feel less isolated; Time Off. Respite allows families to take that needed vacation, spend time together and time alone; Enrichment. Respite makes it possible for family members to establish individual identities and enrich their own growth and development.

Need Additional Information: Contact: The Respite Child Care Program Pam Blair, Program Coordinator 12 Flynn Street Lebanon, NH 03766 (603)448-1268 respitecare@valley.net

The Respite Child Care Program assists parents in securing quality respite child care, relieving them of the often-overwhelming task of recruiting, training and hiring a qualified respite worker. Program development funded by: United Way of the Upper Valley Upper Valley Community Foundation Program start-up funded by: Endowment for Health Grafton County Incentive Fund Anonymous Donor

Application for Respite Care 2007-08

Donations are welcomed. Assist in supporting and preserving families of the Upper Valley. Any amount is :"A Gift of Time" and appreciated beyond words.

The SNSC-UV homepage address is www.snsc-uv.org