Family Services/Respite

Respite provides support for parents of children ages 5-17 with severe mental illness. Respite providers are specially trained to work with children with emotional and behavioral challenges, both on a planned or emergency basis. Services are provided in a variety of locations, including a Center office, in the family’s home, or at residential facilities for emergency respite. Services range from an hour or more on a weekly basis, to 24-hour care for up to two weeks.

Group Respite
There are planned, structured activities both in a small group setting and individually. Activities can include organized games in the park, walks with a respite provider, playing board games, various craft activities and watching movies. Skills Building Trained respite providers provide support to parents and assistance in helping parents strengthen their parenting skills. Respite providers often focus on helping children improve their social skills and better manage behavior challenges through collaboration with the child, caregiver and child/family therapist.

Out-of-Home Respite
Respite can be offered from 24 hours up to two weeks at a residential treatment facility or therapeutic foster homes. This is often a time for a child and family to take a more extensive break from each other while intensive family therapy is put in place to keep the child at home and in the community in the least-restrictive setting possible.