“Before staying at the Rotary Respite House, Nate had never stayed away from home with anyone other than his grandparents. As a mom, I was anxious as to how Nate would be, staying overnight in a place he had never been before, with people he had never met before. NATE LOVED IT! He had a great time at the Respite House and was excited when he got the chance to go back again.” ~ Christine (parent)
Who can stay at the Rotary Respite House?
Children/youth who have a developmental and/or physical disability are eligible for Family Services Perth-Huron’s short-term respite program at the Rotary Respite House. A child may have other emotional, behavioural or complex medical support needs as well. Children/youth are served from birth up to their eighteenth birthday, and they must be living in a family home in Perth County.
How do I access the service?
Families interested in accessing Rotary Respite House services may call the main office at 519-273-1020 and ask for the Respite Care Coordinator. An intake will be completed and the Respite Care Coordinator may arrange for the family to have a tour of the Rotary Respite House. If the respite program at the house is a good fit for the family, the Respite Care Coordinator will complete the paperwork and arrange the child’s first weekend visit.
What does it cost?
There is a fee of $25.00/day or $40.00/overnight for a child to attend the Rotary Respite House program. This assists in covering the cost of groceries, outings and craft supplies. This fee may be covered by Special Services At Home or other flexible respite funds available to the family. No family will be turned away due to an inability to pay.
What does a respite stay look like?
The Rotary Respite House is open on weekends from Friday at 4:30 to Sunday at 2:30, with the exception of holiday weekends. Day programs are available during the summer, March break and Christmas holidays. The staff may take the children/youth on occasional outings to the Stratford Lion’s Pool, playgrounds, walks and restaurants.
Food is provided for the children, and all food sensitivities, allergies and preferences are taken into consideration when planning the menus. Children/youth bring their own clothing and personal items, but all bedding and towels are provided.
Who works at Rotary Respite House?
All staff are required to have a degree or diploma in the human services field or be enrolled in a program related to the field, as per the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services licensing guidelines. The staff at the Rotary Respite House have diverse experience in developmental services, health care and education systems. During a respite stay, there are two staff supporting a maximum of three children/youth at a time.
