Described is Wisconsin's boarding home program for seven deaf-blind children. (CL)

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)

Examines issues and special problems of older women caring for disabled spouses. Describes a multiservice project designed to provide support and respite for this high-risk group of caregivers. Implications for policy and practice are discussed with recommendations for further study. (RC)

This report describes the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver to section 1915 (c) of the Federal Social Security Act that was obtained by the New York State Office of Mental Health. The HCBS Waiver affects the services provided to children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances. Three statutory requirements are included in…

Visits were made to selected respite care and crisis nursery programs in order to describe the programs and services they offered to families of young children with special needs and to learn more about the families who used the services and the staff who provided them. The visits to 10 crisis nurseries and 24 respite care programs resulted in…

These two fact sheets, written for crisis nurseries and respite care programs serving children with disabilities, provide information on the value of volunteers and the importance of insurance coverage for program volunteers. "Volunteers: A Valuable Resource" (Becky Montgomery, Nancy Smith) gives guidelines on screening, selecting,…

This hearing addresses issues in the reauthorization of the Child Abuse Challenge Grant Program, which provides federal funds to match state funding for child abuse prevention programs, and reauthorization of the Temporary Child Care for Handicapped Children and Crisis Nurseries Act, which provides respite care for families with children with…

This report focuses on positive practices in providing support services to families of children with severe disabilities and chronic illnesses, based on visits to three sites in Maryland: the Family Support Program at the Kennedy Institute in Baltimore, the Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, and Sick Kids Need Involved People (SKIP).…

The author suggests three major factors which tend to influence stress on parents and potential marital problems associated with rearing a handicapped child: (1) Support received from family or significant others, (2) Periodic respite care, and (3) Counseling service sought early in the traumatic experience. Cited are studies showing parental…

The New Jersey State Department of Health, Gerontology Program, awarded grants to 32 adult day care centers statewide for the provision of specialized service for victims of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and their caregivers. The primary goals of the programs were to reduce caregiver burden through providing social supports and to…

Two newsletters focus on alternatives for community living and approaches to teaching social skills to children and youth with disabilities. The first issue provides information on some family support services and community-based living arrangements that are currently available for children with severe and profound handicaps or chronic illnesses.…

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,…

Proceedings are presented from a 1980 conference on community based services for families of developmentaly disabled children. The following ten papers are included: "Leading Edge Services to Families of Persons with Developmental Disabilities" (R. Perske); "Family Resource Services and Support Systems for Families with Handicapped…

Four papers presented at an all-day workshop at Ohio State University focus on stimulating the physical development of mentally retarded children. Noted in the introduction is importance of cooperation between university training programs and facilities serving the mentally handicapped. Julian Stein discusses the physical and motor development of…

Home economists could and should design and manage services for families who must care for handicapped and elderly members, says a home economist with personal knowledge of the need for caretaker survival support. She discusses some of the problems and mentions several specific areas for development. (MF)