Getting Respite From Getting Respite From Your Regional Center Your Regional Center

What Is Respite?What Is Respite? Respite services are non-medical care and Respite services are non-medical care and

supervision provided in the clients’ own home for a supervision provided in the clients’ own home for a regional center client who resides with a family regional center client who resides with a family member.member.

The point of respite is to give you a break from caring The point of respite is to give you a break from caring for your child with disabilities.for your child with disabilities.

This is in recognition of the fact that caring for a This is in recognition of the fact that caring for a person with a disability is draining both physically and person with a disability is draining both physically and emotionally.emotionally.

What Does What Does The Respite Worker Do?The Respite Worker Do?

The job of the respite worker is to:The job of the respite worker is to:Assist family members in maintaining Assist family members in maintaining

the client at home,the client at home,Provide appropriate care and Provide appropriate care and

supervision to protect the clients’ safety,supervision to protect the clients’ safety,Relieve family members from the Relieve family members from the

continuous demanding responsibility of continuous demanding responsibility of caring for the client, andcaring for the client, and

Attend to the clients’ basic self-help Attend to the clients’ basic self-help needs and other activities of daily living.needs and other activities of daily living.

How Do Families Get Respite?How Do Families Get Respite?

Determine that they need Respite Determine that they need Respite services.services.

Request an Individualized Program Plan Request an Individualized Program Plan (IPP) meeting with Regional Center.(IPP) meeting with Regional Center. The meeting must be held within 30 days of The meeting must be held within 30 days of

your request. WIC § 4646.5(b)your request. WIC § 4646.5(b) Attend the IPP meeting and explain why Attend the IPP meeting and explain why

you need respite services and provide any you need respite services and provide any documentation that you have to support documentation that you have to support your request.your request.

What Is Good What Is Good Documentation?Documentation?

Keep a daily log for a Keep a daily log for a week (or two).week (or two).

Describe specific Describe specific incidents/reasons why you incidents/reasons why you need respite.need respite.

If you think there is any If you think there is any doubt as to your need, doubt as to your need, get other documentationget other documentation

Is respite free?Is respite free?

Effective 01/01/05, some families will have Effective 01/01/05, some families will have to pay a share of cost for respite services to pay a share of cost for respite services under the Family Cost Participation under the Family Cost Participation Program (FCPP). See Program (FCPP). See http://www.dds.cahwnet.gov/fcpp/index.cfhttp://www.dds.cahwnet.gov/fcpp/index.cfmm

Families subject to the FCPP are those with Families subject to the FCPP are those with children between 3 and 17 years old, who children between 3 and 17 years old, who live at home, are not eligible for Medi-Cal, live at home, are not eligible for Medi-Cal, and who met certain income guidelines and who met certain income guidelines (Income 4 times the FPL).(Income 4 times the FPL).

Can I choose my own respite Can I choose my own respite worker?worker?

You can either use an agency that You can either use an agency that the RC refers you to or you can get a the RC refers you to or you can get a “voucher” from the RC and hire your “voucher” from the RC and hire your own worker.own worker.

If you hire your own worker. You are If you hire your own worker. You are responsible for hiring, training, responsible for hiring, training, monitoring, and paying the worker.monitoring, and paying the worker.