The needs of families of autistic children are discussed and a program designed to prevent unnecessary institutionalization by providing comprehensive services and reducing the stress in the child's family is described. Parents participate through voluntary, program related, and support activities. The family services include respite care and…

Describes respite care, a temporary relief service for families with developmentally disabled members at home, as an essential element in preventing institutionalization of disabled persons. Major approaches for providing respite care are identified. The advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches are discussed. (Author/JAC)

The Family Support Project in Lansing, Michigan, provides a variety of family support services to help maintain severely mentally and severely multiply impaired children in their own communities, and whenever possible, in their own homes. Services offered include case management, family therapy, respite services, special needs purchases,…

This special issue of a periodical focuses on building support and resources for families of children with special needs. It contains 13 articles in addition to descriptions of 10 programs serving special needs families at the local level, a list of 15 resource organizations and 10 publications/audiovisual aids, and a message from the coalition's…

Providing cost-effective services in 15 counties of Southeast Kansas, the Infant and Early Childhood Intervention Program (IECIP) teaches parents to provide daily one-to-one therapy in gross and fine perceptual motor development, speech and language development, social adjustment, and behavior management for developmentally delayed children from…