Services discussed are directed toward providing relief to parents charged with full-time care of a retarded child. The manner in which this respite care can be provided are explored in areas in or out of the home, on a regular or intermittent basis, and involving additional services. Homemaker, nursing, and babysitter services, as well as foster,…

Examined the utilization patterns of caregivers (N=597) to dementia victims when services were available. Identified and examined factors influencing service utilization, including amount of burden experienced by the caregiver, the degree of involvement in the care of the patient, and the amount of resources available. Respite-oriented services…

The "support not supplant" theory of family support services is explained, and results of a national study of trends in family support are analyzed. Current efforts, state legislation, funding levels, respite services, financial assistance, and emerging issues are discussed. A directory of state family support programs is appended. (PB)

Reanalyzed data from a study on respite care's effects by focusing on the linear relationship between amount of respite use and probability of nursing home placement at the end of the treatment period. Results indicate a significant negative relationship between the amount of respite use and nursing home placement. (RJM)

Purpose: In response to concerns among policymakers and others that increases in the availability of publicly funded formal services will lead to reductions in self- and informal care, this study examines the relationship between the extent of formal in-home care received and levels of self- and informal care. Design and Methods: Two-stage least…

Respite care provides relief or backup emergency care for families of individuals who are developmentally disabled. In sparsely populated rural areas, center-based urban models for service delivery and provider recruitment and training may be inappropriate. Las Cumbres Learning Services has developed a model for provision of respite care services…

The paper describes the residential services provided by Washington County (Vermont) to people with developmental disabilities, especially "professional foster homes" and supervised apartments. The professional foster homes serve 40 clients with severe disabilities who live with families in the community. There are three support staff;…

The report describes the first national conference on temporary family supports and integrated respite services systems for the developmentally disabled held in 1978. Program planning information is presented along with evaluation feedback summarized from participant responses. Recommendations from the conference are discussed, including…

This paper proposes an expansion of respite care for families of handicapped children to include early intervention services and informal social supports. The experiences of the Delaware FIRST Program are described, focusing on using family day care as a respite service, training for family intervention, and emphasizing family-oriented resources.…

This issue of the "Early Childhood Bulletin" is a summary of information that was presented at a 1996 conference on autism sponsored by the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance System (NECTAS). Participants included Part H and Part B, Section 619 Program coordinators, individual program providers, and Interagency Coordinating…

This article describes an intervention designed to reduce the guilt of parents, experiencing marital difficulties, who had a child with profound physical and intellectual deficits. Following a formal assessment of their daughter, the emotional climate of the marriage was much improved and they felt more able to cope. (Contains references.) (CR)

Analyses involving 105 biological mothers of children (ages birth to adult) with mild/moderate or severe/profound retardation revealed a low level of use of respite care across groups and no significant difference between groups. The discrepancy between demonstrated need and service utilization is highlighted. (Author/JDD)

Surveyed 244 Michigan agencies providing geriatric information and referral (I&R) to determine service availability, families' needs, and problems providing I&R for persons with dementia and their families. Home-delivered meals, nursing, and social work assessments were considered most available. Medical assessment was considered "very available"…

This study examined effects of resource perceptions and respite use in a theoretical model of adaptation with 72 parents of children with developmental disabilities. Amount and quality of respite services indirectly affected parental depression. Both quality and respite use were related to helpfulness of the parent's social network. The strongest…

This article examines the issue of separation and its impact on military families, including on infants and toddlers. Deployments and unaccompanied tours of duty (temporary assignments and 12-24 month assignments, both without family members, respectively) take military personnel away from their loved ones for extended periods of time. …