Crisis Nursery Care: Respite for Children at Risk of Abuse and/or Neglect

Definition of crisis nursery services, information about six program models, and listing of resources and references for further information. [FS1]

Respite for Children with Disabilities, & Chronic or Terminal Illness

Definition of respite, information about seven program models, and listing of resources and references for further information. [FS2]

Crisis Nursery Care for Infants and Children Who Are Medically Fragile

Facts and issues around staffing, training, and medical services for crisis nursery care for infants and children who are medically fragile written by Jeanne Landdeck-Sisco, Executive Director, Casa de los Niños. [FS3]

Respite Care for Children with Developmental and/or Physical Disabilities: a Parent's Perspective

Parent's perspective on keys to a successful repite program, written by Scott Miller, FSC Coordinator for West Virginia, and parent of a child with Down's Syndrome. [FS4]

Respite Care for Children with HIV-Related Conditions

Program considerations such as training, provider support and supervision, use of volunteers, and medical services, written by Jane Weiler, Director, Pediatric AIDS Respite Program, New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center. [FS5]

Some General Principles of Charitable Nonprofit Fundraising

Examination of funding basics and the role of boards; long range and strategic market plans; different funding strategies; and funding goals. Written by Beverly R. Hoffman, President, National Deferred Giving Trust. [FS6]

Marketing for Charitable Nonprofit Organizations

Discussion of how marketing principles apply to nonprofit organizations. Emphasis that effective marketing helps in the competitive search for funding sources. Written by Beverly R. Hoffman, President, National Deferred Giving Trust. [FS7]

How Fundraising Flows From Strategic Planning

Explanation of the interrelationship between strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Includes a step-by-step strategic planning process. Written by Beverly R. Hoffman, President, National Deferred Giving Trust. [FS8]

Respite Care for Children with Autism

Description of the characteristics of children with autism with suggestions about provider training and child care provision. Written by Marie Taras, Director, Autism Support Center. [FS9]

Creative Fundraising Activities

Seventeen creative fundraising activities described with estimates of planning time, cost, and personnel required. [FS10]

Respite Care for Children Who Are Medically Fragile

Respite program options: general partnerships and resources; community and family needs assessment; licensing and standards; staffing; training; medical services and collaboration; innovative community-based respite support programs; resources and references, by Jennifer Cernoch, Director of the Texas Respite Resource Network. [FS11]

Local Program Evaluation

The basics of program, not outcome, evaluation. Provides step-by-step process including how to determine the scope of the evaluation, select appropriate evaluation methods, collect and analyze information, and report findings. Written by David B. Langmeyer, evaluation consultant and Gail S. Huntington, former ARCH Director of Research/Evaluation. [FS12]

Developing Evaluation Questions

Explanation of how to develop process, structural, activity, and outcome questions for effective evaluation of a program. Written by David B. Langmeyer, evaluation consultant and Gail S. Huntington, former ARCH Director of Research/Evaluation. [FS13]

Evaluation Measures

Explanation of the importance of carefully selecting measures for evaluation questions. Covers the question of how activities will be measured, who will complete the measure, selecting the measure, and ensuring confidentiality. Written by David B. Langmeyer, evaluation consultant and Gail S. Huntington, former ARCH Director of Research/Evaluation. [FS14]

Developing the Evaluation Report

Discussion of how to most effectively present evaluation data in written and verbal reports. Includes information about developing charts and graphs for visual presentation of numerical data. Written by David B. Langmeyer, evaluation consultant and Gail S. Huntington, former ARCH Director of Research/Evaluation. [FS15]

Volunteers

Discussion of the issues pertaining to workers' compensation, personal liability, and vehicle liability for organizations employing volunteers. Excerpted from Lai, M., Chapman, T., & Steinbeck, E. (1992). Am I Covered for...? A Comprehensive Guide to Insuring Your Nonprofit Organization (2nd ed.). [FS16]

Risk Management

Details the liability risk to programs and provides five steps for managing those risks. Points out the value of sound agency structure as a risk management tool, the need for a risk management policy statement, and ways to address parental concerns and confidentiality. Written by Becky Montgomery, planner, consultant, and trainer in child abuse and neglect issues. [FS17]

Volunteers: a Valuable Resource

How-to's of screening, selecting, placing, and training volunteers. Outlines various ways that volunteers can be utilized and provides tips for retaining volunteers over time. Written by Becky Montgomery planner, consultant, and trainer in child abuse and neglect issues and Nancy Smith, ARCH Associate Director. [FS18]

The Child Care and Development Block Grant Program

Provides a detailed description of this block grant program including eligibility, planning, payment, collaboration, and other considerations. Written by Kerry K. Healy, ARCH consultant, and Belinda Hardin, former ARCH Director. [FS19]

Crisis Nursery Services: Responding to Parental Concerns

Discussion of parental concerns and how programs can respond effectively to those concerns, thus building trust between the organization and parents. Written by Becky Montgomery, planner, consultant, and trainer in child abuse and neglect issues; Nancy Smith, ARCH Associate Director; and Belinda Hardin, former ARCH Director. [FS20]

Families and the Grief Process

Examination of grief and the emotions associated with it. Offers healing strategies for families and staff working with them. Written by Kathleen Braza, bereavement consultant. [FS21]

Family Support Services

Definition of family support, description of typical components of family support programs, in general, and specific to crisis nursery and respite programs. Written by Paul Deane, Director of Information Services, National Resource Center for Family Support Programs. [FS22]

Siblings of Children with Special Health and Developmental Needs

Discussion of the typical concerns of sisters and brothers and how to create programs that address their specific needs. Provides a checklist for organizations to assess their inclusion of sisters and brothers. Written by Donald Meyer, Director, Sibling Support Project. [FS23]

Advisory Boards and Boards of Directors

Distinguishes between the roles and responsibilities of advisory boards and boards of directors. Offers tips on the recruitment, training, and retention of board members. Written by Sue McKinney-Cull, ARCH Regional Coordinator and Nancy Smith, Associate Director of ARCH. [FS24]

Helping Each Other Help Others: Principles and Practices of Collaboration

Definition of collaboration and other shared resource efforts. Discusses the characteristics of effective collaborative efforts. Written by Arthur T. Himmelman, consultant. [FS25]

Crisis Nursery Services: Responding to Ongoing Family Crises

Discussion of the need for planned crisis nursery services to assist families with chronic or ongoing crises. Points out programmatic and staffing considerations for such service as well as the need to build a relationship with child protective services. Written by Jeanne Landdeck-Sisco, Executive Director, Casa de los Niños. [FS26]

Sticky Figures: Using a Needs Assessment

A thorough examination of the process of developing, implementing, and documenting a needs assessment. Various data collecting methods are examined in detail. Written by David B. Langmeyer, evaluation consultant. [FS27]

Summary Report of 1992 Program Survey for Services Provided by Crisis Nurseries and Respite Care Programs During 1991

Documents results of the ARCH survey of programs offering services in calendar year 1991. Includes written and graphic documentation of sixteen survey questions, including family-types served, primary problems addressed, and family substance abuse status. Written by Kris Huntington, former ARCH Director, Research and Evaluation, and David B. Langmeyer, evaluation consultant. [FS28]

Summary of 1992 Site Visits to Crisis and Respite Care Programs

Report summarizing data collected on fifteen site visits in 1992. Includes discussion of six family assessment measures used on the site visits. Written by Kris Huntington, former ARCH Director, Research and Evaluation, and David B. Langmeyer, evaluation consultant. [FS30]

Understanding the Temporary Child Care Act

Provides legislative background for the Temporary Child Care for Children with Disabilities and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986 (as amended). Describes programmatic impact of the act and details chronology of the legislation. Written by Jennifer Cernoch, Director of the Texas Respite Resource Network, Jill Kagan, Chairperson, National Respite Coalition, and Nancy Smith, Associate Director of ARCH. [FS31]

Respite for Foster Parents

Discusses value of respite services for maintaining and enhancing foster family placements. Offers unique program considerations, foster parent concerns, and tips for respite provider recruitment, screening, training, and retention. Written by Marilyn Barney, Director, Project HARP, Judy Levin, Program Supervisor for Family Support Services of the Bay Area, and Nancy Smith, Associate Director of ARCH. [FS32]

Respite as a Support Service for Adoptive Families

Highlights eight core issues affecting all adoptive families. Presents information to help respite programs address the unique needs of children who are adopted, their adoptive families, and respite workers serving this population. Written by Brenda Goldsmith, Director of Adopt-A-Rest at La Hacienda Foster Care Resource Center.[FS33]

Respite for Families with Children Experiencing a Serious Emotional Disturbance

Finding respite services for a child with challenging behavioral issues, can be difficult for families. This fact sheet discusses the definition and characteristics of emotional disturbance, issues for families, program considerations including the referral process, the matching of respite providers and families, liability, training, and evaluation, as well as the need for state involvement in program planning. Written by Judith Sturtevant, Director of Vermont Federation of Families, and Sandra Elliott, former Director of Family Respite Services of Overlook Center, Inc. [FS34]

Developing and Implementing Rural Respite and Crisis Nursery Programs

Respite programs in rural locations have unique issues and challenges. Sandra Morris, a Training and Development Specialist at the Montana University Affiliated Rural Institute on Disabilities, discusses the unique qualities and challenges of rural programs, the recruitment and training of local respite providers, the search for funds, transportation issues, and the building of community trust. Written by Sandra L. Morris, a training and development specialist at the Montana University Affiliated Rural Institute on Disabilities. [FS35]

Abuse and Neglect of Children with Disabilities

Over 10,000 copies of this factsheet have been distributed nationally. Nationally known author, Nora Baladerian, makes clear the interrelationship between child abuse and neglect and disabilities. Pointing out that not only are children with disabilities at high risk for abuse and neglect, but that children can become disabled through abuse and neglect. She looks at methods of prevention and challenges to effective intervention, and makes strong recommendations for anyone working in the field with children. [FS36]

Family Preservation and Support Services

An in-depth examination of this new legislation contained in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, P.L. 103-66. An overview of the legislation is provided as is a thorough discussion of the nature of family preservation and family support services. In addition, the steps involved in accessing the funding available through this legislation is provided. [FS37]

Providing Respite at Conferences for Children with Special Needs

More and more conference planners are understanding the value of offering respite services to families attending their conferences. Written by Susan Bridges Robertson, who has direct experience in offering respite at a large national conference, this comprehensive factsheet covers logistical concerns, liability issues, staffing questions, meals, registration basics, budget issues, and evaluation. [FS38]

Respite Services for Families with Adolescents at Risk of Abuse or Neglect

An often forgotten population in the field of respite, teens and their families in crisis can greatly benefit from temporary relief. Program design, services for parents, and services for adolescents are discussed. Written by Jill Edwards-Sutton, Child and Family Services Director with Mid-Michigan Community Action Agency. [FS39]

Caregivers Grieve, Too!

Respite providers can experience all levels of grief when working with families under extreme stress. Bereavement Consultant, Kathleen Braza, discusses how to recognize grief, what to do with "unfinished business," rituals that can help when someone dies, and healing strategies for everyone working in this field. [FS40]

Soothing Those Jangled Nerves: Stress Management

Discussion of the impact of stress on individuals, the symptoms of stress, myths about stress, and strategies for living with stress. Written by Nita Norphlet Thompson, Coordinator for the Head Start Region IV Resource Access Project, and Sue McKinney-Cull, Product Development Specialist for ARCH. [FS41]

Preventing the Spread of Disease: Tips for Providers

A thorough discussion of universal health precautions from the perspective of those providing direct care to children. Specific strategies are addressed for preventing the spread of infectious disease, including HIV/ AIDS. Written by Maggie Edgar, ARCH Regional Coordinator. [FS42]

Protecting Staff and Children from the Spread of Disease: a Guide for Program Directors and Managers

This fact sheet provides program administrators with information and guidance related to the spread of infectious diseases in programs serving children. Issues relating to training, universal precautions, and confidentiality are covered. Specific strategies are addressed for preventing the spread of infectious disease, including HIV/AIDS. Written by Maggie Edgar, ARCH Regional Coordinator. [FS43]

Recruiting and Retaining Respite Providers

Finding and keeping care providers is a challenge for all respite programs. This concise fact sheet offers strategies for both. Written by Susan Workman, Director of the Family Tree Crisis Nursery project at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico, and Kerri Bates, coordinator of the program. [FS44]

Respite Services to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Many of the challenges facing grandparents who have become the primary caregivers for their grandchildren are unique. This fact sheet, written by staff of the AARP Grandparent Information Center, covers these unique considerations and offers suggestions for support. Written by Renee S. Woodworth, Acting Director of the AARP Grandparent Information Center in Washington, DC, and Holly Dabelko, a graduate student intern at the Center. [FS45]

Children with AD/HD and Their Families

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is the most commonly diagnosed child psychiatric disorder in the United States and accounts for at least half of all referrals to child counseling centers. Written by Marissa Lewis, former Information Specialist for the ARCH National Resource Center. [FS47]

Organizational Survival After Federal Funding for Children’s Crisis Care and Planned Respite Programs

Planning to continue program activities after federal funding ends needs to begin as soon as the grant is received. Several case studies are reviewed for the lessons they offer. Written by Marissa Lewis, former ARCH Information Specialist. [FS48]

Children with Prenatal Drug and/or Alcohol Exposure

Dealing with the problems of these medically fragile children poses a challenge for respite and crisis care providers. Jeanne Landdeck-Sisco, Executive Director of the Casa de los Niños, the first crisis nursery in the U.S., talks about the health conditions of drug-exposed infants, their developmental patterns, and techniques for working with these children. [FS49]

Cultural Responsiveness in Family Services

To fully achieve the goals of respite and crisis care and other family support services, it is essential that all aspects of program operations, staff development and training incorporate and support cultural responsiveness. The shift to cultural responsiveness and multicultural programming will require change, risk-taking, training, courage, and coordinating a variety of new and different resources. Written by Shirley Pinder Cook, M.Ed., a private consultant with more than twenty years of experience providing educational and social services to diverse populations in a variety of work settings across the country. [FS50]

Respite, Crisis Care, and Family Resource Services: Partners in Family Support

This fact sheet is intended to encourage collaboration among respite, crisis care, and family resource services. Collaboration among these services broadens and diversifies their funding base. In 1996, the Temporary Child Care Act (TCCA) and the Community Based Family Resource Program (CBFRP) were consolidated into the Community Based Family Resource and Support (CBFRS) program (the TCCA had provided start-up funding for respite and crisis care services, and the CBFRP had provided funding for family resource services). The newly formed CBFRS program promotes the development of statewide networks and provides funding for family resource centers, respite and crisis care services and other related family support services. [FS51]

Finding Federal Funds for Respite and Crisis Care Services

This fact sheet provides basic information about each of the federal programs that provide funding to states which they could, if they chose to, use to fund respite and/or crisis care programs. [FS52]

Historically, faith communities have been vital in supporting the community of which they are a part. In the early years of our nation, faith communities often provided the only existing social services, such as education and healthcare. Over time, however, this social involvement slowly diminished. As government increasingly met society’s social and economic needs, faith communities began to limit their focus to society’s spiritual needs. Today that focus is changing again, as a growing number of faith communities seek to serve not only the spiritual needs of their congregations but also the many different social needs in the larger community. [FS53]

Adult day care centers, also known as adult day services, have been providing a form of respite for caregivers for more than twenty years. In 1978 there were only 300 centers nationwide. By the 1980s there were 2,100 centers, and today there are about 4,000 centers nationwide, according to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA). NADSA reports that the need for such centers has "jumped sharply to keep pace with the mushrooming demand for home and community based services." [FS54]

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder, a distinct disease, that results in progressive failure of the person to remember, think, reason, perceive, and make judgments. Eventually the brain shuts down all vital functions, and death occurs. At present, there is no cure. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia. [FS55]

From an historical perspective, planned and crisis respite are relatively new services for families caring for a dependent family member. Although respite programs were developed in the 1960s, most States still report a serious shortage of respite for families in need. This nationwide shortage of respite programs, coupled with the realization that there is strength in numbers, planted the seed that has lead to the growth of State respite coalitions. [FS56]