Center for Family Services provides a variety of respite services in order to give families a break from parenting youth with special needs. We provide ongoing, planned and emergency respite to foster parents serving youth within our treatment foster care program. In addition, through the Family to Family Respite Program we provide respite to families parenting their own special needs children.

FAMILY TO FAMILY RESPITE PROGRAM

The Family to Family Respite Program is designed to provide relief for those caregivers who face the challenge of raising a child or adolescent with emotional or behavioral problems.

The goal of the program is to provide a safe, appropriate environment for children, allowing parents time for their own needs. The secondary goal is to provide children with a structured and secure setting that will reinforce and support their treatment.

Eligibility

Families with children who have emotional or behavioral problems and are approved by Maryland Health Partners are eligible for this service. Each County's Core Service Agency will determine how often and for how long respite services will be authorized. Youth who receive this service must be involved in ongoing treatment as respite is a supportive service and is not a replacement for therapy.

Referral process

Center for Family Services makes every effort to match children with respite families that will best meet their needs. Families will have the opportunity to meet their potential respite provider prior to the beginning of services. At that time, the parent(s) and child will meet with a representative of the program for an assessment of the child and family's strengths and needs. We will also develop an initial respite plan that includes:

• When services will begin;
• How often respite will occur;
• Contact information for the family and the respite provider, including emergency information;
• Interventions needed to facilitate your child's progress and success during the respite experience;
• A tentative schedule of planned activities.

Families seeking respite services will need to get a referral from their County's Core Service Agency. The child's therapist can assist in this effort. Once the referral is approved, it will be forwarded to the Center for Family Services.

You may call our office at (410)685-2363 for an information packet or download it by clicking here.