The Respite Program assists children and adolescents (up to age 18) who have special needs (behavioral, emotional, cognitive or physical) and/or their siblings. A trained respite provider gives families an opportunity for a breakfrom the intense on-going care for their child(ren) withspecial needs. Families who take advantage of these types of planned breaks may help avoid the need for specialized and expensive long-term care.
Respite Program providers have:
- education and experience working with children and their families
- the qualifications to make assessments of the environment and manage crisis situations
- knowledge of community resources to access for activities in a safe environment
- the ability to work with diverse populations
Respite providers work individually with the child and collaboratively with:
- parents/caregivers
- biological parents
- social workers
- therapists
- court appointed special advocates
- foster parents
- family relatives
- teachers
- referring agencies
Innovative Services NW respite providers follow each child's case plan by focusing on the goals of the referring therapist. The Respite provider will emphasize:
- life skills
- social interaction skills
- self-soothing strategies of self-calming talk while providing oversight to ensure safety and appropriate transportation to activity sites (if needed)
Respite referrals are accepted through:
- Division of Developmental Disabilities
- Clark County Regional Support Network (Mental Health agencies)
- Division of Children and Family Services
- Self-referrals for privately paying families
In addition to providing daytime respite, Innovative Services NW has the ability to offer respite services nights and weekends through our state Child Placing Agency Contract. Innovative Services NW recruits foster families, who are licensed by the state, to provide overnight and weekend respite services in a safe, nurturing, licensed foster home. If you are interested in opportunities for overnight respite, or would like to become a foster parent for Innovative Services NW, please call (360) 823-5140.
For more information about the Respite Program, please contact Innovative Services NW Youth & Family Services Program Specialist, Eva Halter, at (360) 823-5140.