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Family Support Services
The Arc Family Support Department provides advocacy, information and referral, and education. Our After School Program offers support to 20 families, five days a week by extending the school day. Play Connections, a Saturday program for children with autism offers a high ratio of staff to respond to the special needs of the participants. We also provide alternating Saturday programming for children and adults with multiple challenges including special feeding techniques, diapering and tactile stimulation. Activities include music, art and adapted games.
Respite Care
Respite Care is the largest component of the Family Support Department. The Arc’s Respite Program began as a pilot project in New Jersey in 1980 and has developed into the largest, most comprehensive delivery of respite services in the state.
Individuals of all ages and varying developmental disabilities are served in their own homes or in the home of licensed Community Care Providers. Respite care enables families to spend quality time with other siblings, take a class, enjoy a movie, attend a wedding or just relax. Respite can be provided for a few hours, a weekend or several weeks at a time. This vital service strengthens the family and promotes unity by reducing burnout, stress and fatigue while offering the individual with a developmental disability the opportunity to develop social relationships outside the home and move toward greater independence.
Respite providers are responsible adults of all ages and backgrounds. They are students, homemakers, teachers, professionals, retirees and others who have opened their hearts and homes to individuals with special needs. Respite providers are carefully screened and are required to attend The Arc's Respite Provider training program.
Our Respite Cash Option program gives families the opportunity to utilize individuals in their own support network to provide respite for their family members. Families may choose their neighbor, friend, member of their church, neighborhood teenager, extended family member or other person with who they feel most comfortable to providing services. Families are pre-approved for a set amount of respite hours by the funding source and are then reimbursed after the respite takes place.
Respite is the most cost effective means of providing support to families.
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