Presented is the manual which resulted from a project to develop a program of relief or respite care for families with developmentally disabled members. Background on the respite care approach in Montgomery County (Maryland) is reviewed, and a long range and immediate goals of the project are outlined. Noted among results of a survey to determine current relief care practices of families are that the demand for vacation care is heard more frequently from parents of adults than from parents of younger children and that most families do not want to exchange sitting with other families. Reviewed are meetings held concerning survey results, directions to take in addition to training of home care services caregivers, and plans of action. Presented are a working paper on the home and community resource program (which includes sections on funding sources, definitions, and implementation of service areas) and a mock bill requiring that a percentage of beds in state institutions be reserved for respite care. Listed among staff observations is that providing respite care alternatives need not be expensive. Appended materials include a list of coalition members, a copy of the child care survey, survey results, training session agendas and a copy of the respite care coalition evaluation questionnaire. (SBH)