March, 2019 - The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center is pleased to announce the recognition of thirteen innovative and exemplary respite services from across the country. Each respite service met a stringent set of criteria for selection and all have outstanding programs that address the needs of family caregivers of children, adults or older adult family members. Gio’s Garden was one of the thirteen.
In the award letter, Jill Kagan, Director of ARCH, said, "Your provision of therapeutic respite, emphasizing enriching experiences for children, along with date nights with care for siblings, and parent-to-parent support using social media are wonderful examples of person- and family-centered respite services that build natural supports. It is notable that you seek to include all children - especially those who slip through the service system cracks-, and that you include parents in training staff members so that they can have confidence that their child's unique needs are being met, while honoring parents' unique knowledge and love for their child."
By recognizing high quality respite services across the country, ARCH hopes to encourage the expansion and replication of such services.
The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, a project of the Chapel Hill Training-Outreach Project, Inc., assists and promotes the development of quality respite and crisis care programs; helps families locate respite and crisis care services in their communities; and serves as a strong voice for respite in all forums. The ARCH National Respite Network includes the National Respite Locator, the National Respite Coalition that advocates for preserving and promoting respite in policy and programs at the national, state, and local levels, and the Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance Center that provides respite training and technical assistance to Lifespan Respite grantees, State Respite Coalitions, ARCH’s membership, and the general public.
