Agency seeks respite care help CHCS to conduct informational meeting next week in Lincoln

LINCOLN – Community Health and Counseling Services is looking for people who are interested in providing short-term care for children and adolescents.

CHCS will hold an informational meeting about respite care from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at its regional office on the Enfield Road in Lincoln. CHCS staff will describe the program in detail, including the qualification process and compensation.

Stephanie Cote, a foster home coordinator with CHCS, said respite care in support of treatment of foster children is a concept with many rewards and has served a variety of purposes.

“For some, it has filled an empty nest void after their own children have moved on to their own adult lives,” said Cote. “For some, a more general love and respect for children has served as motivation to open their homes to help a youngster reach his or her potential.”

She said some people may not have the time to make a full-time commitment to a child, but still would like to help. Respite care is short-term care provided by adults for children and adolescents away from their foster family settings.

Respite care has provided other people or couples, who may be interested in becoming full-fledged foster parents, an opportunity to see if it is something they want to do on a full-time basis.

Cote said respite care also has produced significant benefits for foster parents and children. “The parents and child get a bit of a break from each other and the child is able to bond with additional adult figures,” she said. Foster parents can use the respite providers as an additional support mechanism as they work together in collaboration with the child’s professional treatment team for the benefit of all involved, particularly the child.

“It takes on the feel of an extended family,” said Cote. “It gives people who provide respite care the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the life of the child.”

She said there is an educational component to respite care that is beneficial to providers. It includes introductory training sessions with CHCS staff that evolve into ongoing support to enhance the relationships respite providers develop with the child and foster parents.

To become either a respite care provider or a foster parent, Cote said people need to have a genuine affection and respect for children. “You also need to have patience and a willingness to work in conjunction with others involved in the child’s care and the goals of that child,” said Cote.

For information about the respite care program, call 794-3554 or (800) 520-3554.