June
Edition of PA CASSP Newsletter Focuses on Respite
The June
2008 edition of the PA CASSP Newsletter, the quarterly
publication of the Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health
Services, is on “Providing Respite Services for Families
of Children with Special Needs.”
The need for respite services for families that have children
with serious emotional disturbance is well documented. Research
shows that respite services enable children to remain with their
families thereby avoiding expensive residential services. Respite
service has also been demonstrated to reduce the risk of abuse
or neglect and improve family stabilization. Respite care is defined
as temporary short-term care that helps a family take a break
from the daily routine and stress associated with caring for a
child with serious emotional and/or behavioral disorders.
In an effort to support counties in their desire to provide
respite services to families, the Children’s Bureau requested
and received $500,000 in the state budget for FY 2007/08. The
funds were distributed to counties and each county received a
portion, ranging from $5,000 to more than $112,000. The newsletter
features programs offering respite services, some family stories,
and an update on the state’s respite initiative.
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