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This is a relatively new program developed by Clinton County C.C.S.I. (Coordinated Children Services Initiative) and BHSN to provide respite services to children/adolescents currently experiencing significant difficulty functioning in regular daily activities due to extreme family, emotional and/or behavioral problems or mental health issues.

Respite with a trained and supported respite family provides the child and the family with a much needed break from each other and many difficult circumstances. Respite can greatly reduce the need for emergency services and crisis interventions by being proactive and engaging the children/adolescents in positive and supportive ways that help kids build social skills and self-esteem.

Within the Respite Program, the child or adolescent is provided with the opportunity to develop positive external connections to stable, healthy families who want to spend time with them and help them to overcome some of their problems.

Respite Parents in many ways increase the coping skills of a Seriously Emotionally Disturbed child to better manage their crisis by role-modeling healthy social interactions and exposing them to new experiences, interests and opportunities to grow while providing them with short-term (2-3 days) care within the home and family. This also provides the child’s own very stressed parents and family a much needed break from the child’s needs and day-to-day problems.

Children and adolescents referred to the Child & Family Respite Program have a match made with Respite families based on several criteria including both the child’s particular behavioral problems and individual strengths. Most respite stays are planned and typically extend a weekend from Friday through Sunday. Upon occasion, longer respite stays are possible but are dependent upon transportation and school accessibility.

For more information contact: Frances Ryan at 518-561-8815 or email her at fmryan@bhsn.org