The Family Support Respite Program is a Medicaid covered service available to those who meet the criteria for the Community Mental Health Services Program (CMHSP).
Respite is most frequently identified as the primary need for families who have family members, children or adults requiring support services. Respite may assist the family with care in their own home, the home of a relative or family friend, or at a licensed respite facility, licensed foster home, or camp. Respite care cannot be provided by a parent, spouse, guardian, or a person under the age of 18.
Respite care may also support a person with disabilities in socializing with his or her peers, becoming more a part of the community…by simply getting out of the home. Respite care can be a welcomed break not only for the primary person providing care, and the person, but for family members as well. It may mean more time with other family members and a chance to have some time to one’s self.
Community Mental Health provides eligible families with a budget of money for respite care, that families can use to purchase respite care to meet their family needs.