Council awards $70K respite care services project

The Little Darling Child & Respite Care Inc. has won the contract award for $70,000 to initiate and provide respite care services to qualified families of children with developmental disabilities.

Respite care services is a temporary relief but a long-term care program that allows a caregiver to take a break and be able to attend other equally important personal matters such as attending a meeting, going shopping, going to church, relaxing at a park, spending quality time with other siblings or even for a short vacation.

In the CNMI, majority—if not all—children and adults with developmental disabilities live at home with their own families or extended families. Respite, if available, will prevent the CNMI from building institutions for persons with developmental disabilities.

“Respite care keeps families together,” said CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities executive director Thomas J. Camacho.

The seven benefits that spells RESPITE Care is 1) Relaxation; 2) Enjoyment; 3) Stability; 4) Preservation; 5) Involvement; 6) Time Off; and 7) Enrichment.

“Caring for a child with disabilities or severe health conditions can be a full-time job. It is easy to become overwhelmed with the care needs of a child with a disability or chronic illness,” said Camacho. “Often, families who would not hesitate to call for relief from the constant care of their child with a disability or special health care needs. That is why respite, as the word implies, is truly an interval of rest. Respite is our answer to renewed energies and a new perspective. For families or individuals as care takers for their children with developmental disabilities, respite care will give families and caregivers the gift of time. The end result or impact if such direct support to families will be unmanageable.”

This project is funded in part by the CNMI Choice Program and Family Support Alliance Project of the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities and is consistent with the Model Respite Care Program Reference Book developed by the disability council.

The committee that evaluated the proposers was made up of council staff members and executive committee members.

The contract scope of work includes:

* Initiating the implementation of a system of Respite Care Services in the CNMI using the CNMI Model Respite Care Program Booklet;

* Provide information on viability of longevity of providing services to families of people with disabilities;

* Provide information on service charges (the cost charged to the consumer for the service rendered);

* Provide information on what services will be offered;

* Provide information on determining eligibility of consumers;

* Provide information on how service will be delivered (i.e., at a center or a mobile service in people’s homes or both);

* Provide information on estimated costs of operations with an itemized budget detailing where expenditures are expected to go;

* Provide information how service provider personnel will be recruited and what qualifications will be sought; and

* Submit a quarterly data-driven program performance and financial report throughout the duration of the contract.

* The contract is a pilot project and shall end on Sept. 30, 2005.

As part of the contract, Little Darling Child & Respite Care Inc. propose to provide:

* Out of home respite care to 40 families within a two-year period at a day care setting with diversity to in-home care at a later date. Out of home respite care setting will also enable children with developmental disabilities to interact with other children with developmental disabilities and those without disabilities;

* Remove architectural and programmatic barriers in compliance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act;

* Eligibility will be primary caregivers in families of target dependents such as those children with developmental disabilities residing at home or are medically fragile. Priorities will be given based on need of the caregiver and the target dependent;

* Five families will selected to receive $400 voucher that will be used for respite care services fee for a period not to exceed 90 days or 3 months;

* Transportation to and from the respite care center will be provided through an arrangement with Saipan Call-a-Ride at no charge to the families;

* Other activities such as promotional campaign of the new direct support, personnel training, publication of vouchers, and personnel salaries, concluded Camacho.

Relatedly, there is a pending family support legislation at the Senate—House Bill 14-9, authored by Rep. Benjamin Seman—that will establish a system of respite care services and support in the CNMI.

The bill proposes to designate the council as the lead agency with authority to promulgate rules and regulations and regulate the system and facilitate the selection of a community-based organization to handle the voucher system that will provide direct financial support to families who need relief from providing direct care to their child or adult with developmental disabilities.

As soon as all the required work are complete to implement the service and all the details are worked out by the contractee, the Council and Little Darling Child & Respite Care Center will start the promotional campaign to recruit families.