Volunteer respite models for disability populations

1. V O L U N T E E R R E S P I T E M O D E L S
A N D R E S O U R C E S
Volunteer Respite for Disability
Populations

2. Volunteer Respite
 Volunteers are a valuable and cost effective resource
for respite programs. So that volunteers can be
effectively used to support the respite experience,
programs must develop a clear vision of the role(s)
volunteer recruits play in their program. Depending
on their skills, education, and background,
volunteers can serve in a broad array of roles.
NATIONAL RESPITE GUIDELINES 2011

3. Defining Respite
 The Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 defines
respite care as “planned or emergency care
provided to a child or adult with a special need
in order to provide temporary relief to the family
caregiver of that child or adult.”
 Respite may be provided in a variety of settings…
and is not always called “respite”

4. Volunteer Respite Roles
 Volunteers are typically recruited to fulfill a specific
role, including:
 Providing direct care services
 Organizing or overseeing activities
 Providing extra support to staff during an event
 Caring for an individual who requires one-on-one support
 Providing administrative or clerical support
 Offering fundraising, marketing, or legal expertise

5. Volunteer Respite
 When working with volunteers in any setting it is
important to:
 Carefully match volunteers with respite program needs
 Be clear what you are asking them to do
 Consider setting a minimum number of hours
 Make sure you explain all expectations
 Let them know if you have training or orientation
requirements if they are providing direct care ~ and
plan to provide appropriate supervision and support
 Plan for ways to recognize volunteers and the services they
perform

6. Volunteer Respite Options
 Volunteer respite options often…
 Support an existing community program
 Ex. Volunteers that provide support for therapeutic recreation
community activities such as a kayaking day trip
 Are focused on a specific event or activity that offers respite
 Ex. Peer volunteers that work with staff to offer a monthly Friday
night youth program at a local church
 Are not advertised as “volunteer respite programs”
 Ex. Volunteers that work as part of an ongoing respite program,
such as a group home that has a respite bed for adults with
disabilities and uses volunteers to provide extra support

7. Volunteer Respite Models
 Faith-based or interfaith programs
 match volunteers with specific respite or caregiver needs
 collaborate with community programs to offer respite
 Activity or “event” respite programs may…
 provide respite breaks during the holidays
 involve community recreation activities
 offer weekend breaks (e.g., Saturday Parents’ Night Out)
 provide age specific programs (e.g., Preschool Play Group)
 offer vacation travel experiences

8. Volunteer Respite Models
 Cooperative respite programs (co-ops)
 Families helping families
 Can be organized by families or by a host agency
 If organized by families, they agree to provide respite for each
other and typically establish respite guidelines ~ related to
eligibility, child and family needs, ages of children, sibling
care, arranging care, and tracking hours
 If organized by an agency, families may bank respite hours by
volunteering for agency programs or events

9. Volunteer Respite Models
 College/university students as respite volunteers
 Involve students from various disciplines
 Physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, nursing,
psychology, rehabilitation, therapeutic recreation
 Incorporate caregiver activities into coursework
 Structured assignments to interview and spend time with families
of children with disabilities to understand caregiving needs
 May include option to provide a respite experience of a given
number of hours during a semester or year

10. Volunteer Respite Resources
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center
 ARCH Website www.archrespite.org
 Fact Sheets
 Volunteer Respite: Valuable Resources
 Are Your Volunteers Insured?
 Respite and the Faith Community

11. Volunteer Respite Resources
 Volunteer Respite Manual: Creating Valuable Options for Family
Caregivers, 2011
 Developed by Easter Seals, Inc. and ARCH
 Comprehensive manual covering all aspects of lifespan respite volunteer
programs and options
 Program Planning
 Volunteer Recruitment
 Orientation and Training
 Volunteer Management and Retention
 Policies and Procedures
 Liability and Insurance Issues
 Marketing
 Extensive Resources and Appendices

12. For more information
 Contact:
 Monica Uhl, M.A.
Partnership for People with Disabilities
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 843020
Richmond, VA 23284-3020
804-828-8587
muhl@vcu.edu