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Reaching out to troubled youth and helping families.

What is a Respite Parent?

Respite Parents are needed to provide short-term stays in their home to children being served in The Family Corner or HCBS Waiver programs. The average stay is a weekend but some flexibility is necessary. A rate of about $45 per day is paid to the Respite Parents for each day a child is in their care.

Respite Parents provide a much needed break to Seriously Emotionally Disturbed children and the families caring for them. Respite is an opportunity for each child to relax and enjoy another family’s healthy home life. The child can learn and grow to feel safe with the help of the respite family. It also provides relief to the family caring for the Special Needs child on a day-to-day basis.

Who Can Become a Respite Parent?

You can apply to become a Respite Parent if you...

• are 21 years of age or older in good health


• are married or single


• are willing and able to care for a Special Needs child in your home for short periods of time


• have some time to give and a spare bedroom


• are able to communicate and work with program staff around the needs of the children in care


• care about children/youth and believe that all children deserve unconditional love and attention as well as firm, safe and reasonable limits


• would like to be a resource to a child with special emotional, behavioral and/or medical needs


• would like to make a personal difference in a troubled child’s life


• want to help build positive connections and help develop the coping skills of a child who is experiencing a significant amount of difficulty within this/her life and family


• want to help your community

Respite Parents work under which Programs?

In serving Seriously Emotionally Disturbed Children and their Families in our community (Clinton, Essex & Franklin Counties in NYS), Respite Parents work through BHSN's Family-Based Treatment Program (The Family Corner) and the Home & Community-Based Services Waiver Program (HCBS) and the Child & Family Respite Services Program (CFRS)

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