Respite Grants for Disabled Children

Respite care is as simple as giving the parents of a disabled child an opportunity to have some time away from their daily responsibility of providing care. It has become an important part of the strategy of managing the best care for the entire family. According to a 2004 report from the University of Portland, ̶0;respite care is frequently identified as one of the most needed and least available services for families̶1; of children with serious emotional disorders


Unfortunately, respite care is very labor intensive and quite expensive over time. Without funding from outside sources, both respite organizations and families would have a very difficult time continuing the services.

  1. General Federal Government Grants

    • The federal government provides funding for disabled children respite care through a variety of grant sources. The Children̵7;s Mental Health Services Demonstration Projects are available to states to develop a system of care within communities. Respite care may be part of this. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act allows states to use part of the money for early intervention respite care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services̵7; Administration on Developmental Disabilities helps create full-service care centers with respite support as part of their Family Support 360 grants.

    Federal Medicaid Grants

    • According to the National Respite Network, the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver Program allows individuals with ̶0;autism, developmental disabilities, or traumatic brain injury̶1; to apply for a grant to cover respite costs. Medicaid also has two programs, Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration and the Community-Based Alternatives to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities Demonstration. Both are designed to transition children from institutions back into the community. Part of the funding may be used for respite care.

    State Grants

    • Funding at the local state level comes from a variety of sources and may be available for both institutions who run respite programs and individual families who need it. Community foundations, which are set up in local or regional areas, provide funding within their geographical area.

      Alabama, for example, provides respite funding through the Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation and the Department of Human Resources. Non-governmental sources in Alabama include churches and foundations concerned with specific types of disabilities.

    Private Grants

    • Some programs, such as MBCH Children and Family Ministries in Missouri, help foster families with funding and respite care. Many of the children being cared for have some have special medical, emotional or developmental needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics provides grants for clinical reports that touch on the need for respite care for families with children who need special at-home health care. These reports are designed so that local pediatricians can help their patients find the right information.

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