Respite Care Program
Hi from the Respite Care 
Program! We are a group of 21 individuals (a coordinator and 20 respite workers) and our goal is to provide children and youth with special needs with safe, loving care in a home environment. Family members can then relax and have a break or “respite” from parenting responsibilities.
Respite care is a very popular program and we would love to offer it to everyone. However, we have spaces for 30 families only and MCFD (CLBC) determines who is eligible. (Please, contact the coordinator for information.) Once on the program, it is long term (birth to 18) until your child grows up to be a young person and moves onto adult services.
Care is provided either in your home or in the home of a respite worker. We aim to be flexible and responsive to you and your family’s needs. We come to your home and plan with you for your child or youth’s needs and we make changes when you want changes. You chose if you want a short break once a week or a longer break less often. We can provide transportation of your child to and from respite and to community activities.
The respite team consists of a coordinator, who has a background in education and social work, and respite workers, 18 women and three men, who all have experience working with children or youth with special needs. Most respite workers have another main job usually as education assistants in the schools or special needs workers in community homes.
Our team also includes respite workers’ family members as volunteers – dads, moms, kids and pets and sometimes grandparents too. We all enjoy and value kids and are sensitive to our very special role in caring for your child or teen.