Parents of children with special needs face many challenges and often feel alone as caregivers to their children. The extraordinary demands of raising a child with special needs has led to an 80 percent higher divorce rate in these families.

Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin offers volunteer respite care, the temporary care of a child with special needs by a volunteer, so parents and/or primary caregivers may have time for themselves at no cost to the family.

Ellen Anderson, coordinator of Volunteer Respite Program from the Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin appeared on Live at Noon to discuss the volunteer respite program.

Click on the video link to see the interview.

Respite can be provided as a one-time commitment or on an ongoing basis.

Children in respite care range in age from infant to 18 years old. They may have developmental delays and/or physical or emotional challenges.

What You Can Do

The need for regular respite care far exceeds the number of volunteers available. You can help by volunteering for a Saturday Respite event or become an ongoing respite caregiver.

Saturday Respite

A one-time commitment, one-to-one with a child at a group event. Events typically are held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Many creative, child-oriented activities are provided as well as food. Nursing staff take care of any diapering and/or bathroom, medicinal or medical needs the child may have.

The number of Saturday Respite events has greatly increased over the last few years due to the demand for care. Now the program holds at least 12 events a year.

Ongoing Volunteer Matches

Trained volunteers are matched with a child with special needs on an ongoing basis, either in the child’s home, the home of the respite care provider or on outings in the community.

Ongoing respite care volunteers:

•Provide a minimum of six hours of care each month at mutually agreed upon times.

•Participate in an introductory meeting with the family, child and Respite Care coordinator.

•Develop an understanding of the child’s needs and receive training from the family to meet those needs.

•Work with the family to ensure the best quality of care is being provided for the child.

For More Information

Call Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin at (414) 453-1400.