Respite / School Holiday Respite

Respite services provides temporary relief from the demands of daily care giving responsibilities, helping to reduce overall family stress. Care-givers face challenges caring for loved ones with developmental disabilities; they get overwhelmed and need a break. This often enables families to better meet the needs of their loved one with a
developmental disability. Respite can be provided in the home or out of the home, during the day, evenings or overnight. This program assists and strengthens the family as a unit.

The focus of the program is to provide much needed relief to families and caregivers of children and adults with developmental disabilities. While providing respite, trained Direct Support Professionals engage you or your family member in socialization and skill building  activities. Respite services enhances the quality of life for the entire
family. Our Our In-Home Respite program serves children and adults in Brooklyn and Queens who are diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Depending on your needs, as well as those of your family member, a respite care worker will come to your home for a few hours or even overnight.

The program is available to all children between the ages of 6-17, diagnosed with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. A holiday program for school-age children during their school breaks. School Holiday Respite is offered when New York City
Department of Education schools are closed. Applicants must live at home with a family member and must be eligible for Medicaid waiver services through the Home and Community Based waiver in order to receive services. Children are picked up from their
homes in the morning between 6:30am-8:00am and transported to the site where they are provided with fun activities indoors and outdoors. The children are returned to their homes in the afternoon between 2:30 pm-5:00pm.

The School Holiday Respite program is designed to provide families with some relief on the days when public schools are closed. It allows your child to enjoy activities out in the
community, such as going to the movies, bowling, indoor playground, park, etc. It’s a time to have fun with their peers. This program also provides them with opportunities to make friends in a fun and safe environment. The program also strives to enhance the independence of its participants by providing socialization and learning experiences either in the program or in the community.

The Benefits of School Holiday Respite

• Provide support to the parents by providing a few hours of relief
• We present fun activities for both indoor and outdoor
• We provide socialization and testing experiences in the community with their peers and Jewel Human Services family
• Movies!
• Parks!
• Recreation and Critical Thinking Games
• Museums
• And MUCH MUCH MORE!!!

After School Respite Program is funded by New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and home and Community Based Wavier Services. The After School Respite provide structural recreational activities in a supervised setting and  encouraged each participant individualized social interaction and physical activities.

The Respite After School Program offers a variety of recreation
options that encourage physical and social development.
Activities include:

• Assisting with homework
• Music and movies
• Reading
• Arts and crafts
• Accessible outdoor play
• Seasonal activities like decorating gingerbread houses,
  Halloween parties, and ice cream socials
• Basic computer skills