Respite Guidelines

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National Respite Guidelines (Page 4)

IV. Community Involvement 4.1 Respite service options should be developed and provided within the context of the family's community and its unique characteristics. When planning and providing respite services, programs should conduct a survey of community resources and needs. This process serves to gather information, educate the community about respite service options, and foster collaborative relationships.
4.1.1	Programs should conduct outreach activities through phone calls, mailings, and meetings to determine what services are currently available within the community and what gaps and needs exist. A broad array of community agencies should be contacted. Examples of organizations that might be included are: human service agencies, parent groups, disability organizations, schools, health agencies, child care centers, family day care providers, recreation programs, summer camps, group homes, residential programs, local government, hospitals, clinics, shelters, substance abuse treatment programs, crisis intervention agencies, business, religious and community service organizations.
4.1.2	Generic community programs should be contacted to determine if they are currently providing services to families of children with disabilities and chronic or terminal illnesses and/or families in crisis. When necessary, generic programs should be educated about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and families in crisis, and provided with resource information and technical support.
4.1.3	Agencies already known to provide respite services to these populations should be contacted for updates and consultation regarding new programs.
4.2 Once it is clear what community services are available and what gaps exist, then respite programs should plan their service development to meet specific needs. Community service coordination and collaboration should be built into program development and service delivery plans. Communities should plan an array of respite service options to meet the changing and diverse needs of families.
4.2.1	Information should be maintained on all agencies providing respite services.
4.2.2	Information should be solicited and maintained on all agencies providing additional services to families of children with disabilities and chronic or terminal illnesses and/or families in crisis.
4.2.3	Each respite program should provide other community agencies with relevant information about their program, such as the population served, program description, and referral procedures.
4.3 When planning and providing services, respite programs should collaborate with other agencies and parent/family organizations to enhance service provision.
4.3.1	Service options should be developed which meet the needs of families who are unserved or underserved and which interface effectively with existing service systems, programs, and existing natural supports.
4.3.2	Programs should engage in interagency collaboration to enhance the array of respite services, thus providing families with appropriate choices and options.
4.3.3	Respite programs should consider collaboration on training, funding, sharing technical expertise and support, and the development of multiple community service options.
4.4 Programs should develop plans to include marketing and fundraising goals. The ability of an organization to continually adjust its services to meet consumer needs is key to its survival.
4.4.1	Programs should develop a mission statement.
4.4.2	Goals, objectives, and action plans should be established to determine the program's role in the community.
4.4.3	The respective needs of primary and secondary consumers should be analyzed continually and adjustments should be made accordingly.
4.4.3	Programs should have a well developed promotional campaign as a result of their marketing efforts.
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ARCH
"Access to Respite Care and Help"

ARCH is a National Network and Resource Center designed to create a nationwide system of respite options that provide temporary relief and support to families and caregivers. In order to meet the needs of this nationwide system, ARCH provides information, training, technical assistance, evaluation, and research activities to service providers, families, and states in developing and maintaining respite services. This work affords ARCH an opportunity to view a range of respite models and programs which subsequently brings knowledge of quality of respite services. With the large numbers of new programs springing up across the nation, ARCH believes it is important to establish some guiding principles for respite programs to follow.