Respite ; We’re Here When You Need Us Respite care is designed to give families a break from the day-to-day care involved in raising a child with special healthcare needs. ChildServe’s respite service allows parents to attend events for their other children, schedule appointments for themselves, or simply take time to recharge. Meanwhile, our caretakers help kids safely do the things they love in individual or group settings. We offer many types of respite care that can take place in the comfort of the family’s home, in the community, or even in a group setting. All options provide children with safe, quality care while families recharge. From having sleepovers with friends, swimming, and bowling, to playing adaptive sports and videogames, the list of fun activities to do at ChildServe Respite keeps growing! Why choose ChildServe? Specially Trained Caregivers Our specially trained caregivers have education and experience in serving children with special healthcare needs. Family & Friends We hire family members or friends of each child to provide respite care when possible. Potential caregivers must pass ChildServe background checks, requirements, and training. CARF-Accredited We hold CARF accreditations in pediatrics, brain injury, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Who We Serve Respite care is available to children with special healthcare needs (infant through 21 years old) who qualify for the Brain Injury (BI), Intellectual Disability (ID), or Health Disability (HD) Medicaid Waivers. Each family receives a set number of hours per year or month as determined by their child’s needs and waiver type. Program Features Individual Respite Individual Respite offers one-on-one time with a caretaker in the family’s home or community. We provide this service in the communities surrounding our Ames, Iowa City, and Johnston locations. Specialized Respite Specialized Respite offers one-on-one time with a licensed nurse in the family’s home. We provide this service in the communities surrounding our Ames, Iowa City and Johnston locations. Group Respite Group Respite offers a one-to-three staff/child ratio in a variety of activities. All Group Respite programs take place at our Johnston, Iowa City, or Ames locations. Adaptive equipment, nursing support, and kid-friendly activities are available to children who attend Group Respite. Special Programs Special programs are available based on need. ChildServe’s healthcare professionals can help parents assess which respite services may be the best fit for their child. Group Respite weekends are hosted most Friday through Sunday evenings. Some weekends include nursing support, while others are staffed by trained caregivers. Monthly sleepovers provide time to socialize with peers, play games, have birthday parties, or go to movies. Kids Club and Super Saturdays offer weekend group daytime activities. Teen Night and Teen Day Respite provide opportunities for socialization and community involvement. Camp ChildServe offers summer programs for school-aged children or young adults. Some children attend our weeklong camps, while others attend for the entire summer. Group Respite is also available in a family’s home for families with multiple children who have special healthcare needs. Accreditation ChildServe’s Respite program is accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities), ensuring that the program meets rigorous guidelines for service and quality, and conforms to nationally and internationally recognized standards. ChildServe‘s Respite program was recognized by the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, as a 2020 Innovative and Exemplary Respite Service. ARCH recognizes ChildServe’s ability to serve to inspire and inform the respite field and the public, and help to build and promote greater respite opportunities for caregivers across the network and nation. Camp ChildServe is American Camp Association accredited, assuring our compliance with up to 300 health, safety, and program quality standards. The American Camp Association is industry-established and backed by over 100 years of parent trust. Frequently Asked Questions How can I refer someone to the ChildServe Respite program? How many hours of respite care can I use each month? Where do services take place? Is there a daily limit for respite care? Can my child receive respite care while I am at work? Can my Respite caregiver also keep an eye on my other children? How do I schedule Respite services? Are there limits on when respite care can be scheduled? View our Annual Outcomes ChildServe regularly gathers child and family satisfaction feedback, quality reports, and census data to monitor our services and continuously improve the care and services we provide. Download Outcomes Contact Us! ChildServe – Ames 1915 Philadelphia Street, Ames, IA 50010 515-817-2231 ChildServe – Iowa City 2350 Oakdale Blvd., Coralville, IA 52241 319-665-3216 ChildServe – Johnston 5406 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, IA 50131 515-251-5533 If you would like to make a referral, or if you have questions for our team, please email communications@childserve.org. Be sure to include which location you are interested in so we can connect you with the right team member. About ChildServe improves the health and well-being of 5,200 children each year through specialized clinical, home, and community-based programs and services. We serve children with developmental delays, disabilities, injuries, and other special healthcare needs. 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