Sharing The Care An Innovative Model for Building Respite Awareness and Capacity within Communities.

Sharing The CareAn Innovative Model for Building Respite Awareness and

Capacity within Communities

Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network (Alabama Respite) began as a

project of United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley, Inc.

(UCP) in 2000. Alabama Respite is now a statewide program whose mission is

“to increase access to and availability of high quality respite resources for all

caregivers in Alabama.”

Who Is Alabama Respite?

Why Develop Sharing the Care?

The

Goal

•Become a Lifespan Respite State

The Challeng

e

•Not Enough Funding

The Solution

•Sharing the Care

Sharing The Care

Identifies gaps and barriers to local respite care

Provides education and public awareness about respite

Develops new or expands existing services

Acts as a grassroots advocacy group to educate federal, state and local legislators

Led by group of volunteer community stakeholders whose goal is to strengthen caregivers by increasing

availability and accessibility to local respite resources.

Funding an STC- Federal Lifespan Grant- Alabama Council for

Developmental Disabilities

- Local Community Foundations

- Business Foundations

Started as pilot project in Limestone County.

Successfully replicated in Jefferson and Shelby Counties

ACDD Grant to Reach

4 New Target Areas by March

2012

1. Montgomery2. Selma3. Dothan4. Mobile

Information and Organizational

Meeting

Begin Strategic Planning Process

Using Analysis and 4 Objectives as Starting

Point

Development and Implementation of

Strategic Plan to Meet Goals of Local Area

STC Group

Starting a STC Group

Who Do You Invite?• Caregivers• Current Respite Providers• Local Faith Communities• State Agencies that Fund Respite• Organizations that provide services to persons with disabilities

and/or chronic illnesses• Policy-Makers• Home Health Agencies• Hospital Social Workers• School System Special Education Coordinators• Caregiver Support Groups• Adoptive and Foster Care Agencies• Hospice• Early Intervention Coordinators• Volunteer Centers• Case Management Agencies• Other ideas?

Holding An Organizational Meeting

• Find a meeting space and set a date• Send out invitational flyers, e-mails, and make

personal invitations whenever possible• Set the agenda/ provide good information• Be ready to get people motivated• Door prizes and refreshments never hurt• Be ready with your action points and schedule

the next meeting

Publi

c Awareness

•Educate and Inform the Community About the Benefits of Respite, When and How to Access Services and What is Currently Available in the Area

Reso

urc

es

•Identify Gaps and Barriers to Local Respite Care•Provide Technical Assistance and Information About Developing and Funding New Resources•Train Volunteer and Paid Providers

Advoca

cy

•Act as a Grassroots Advocacy Group to Educate Federal, State, and Local Legislators About the Need for Quality Respite Care Services•Assist with Efforts in Systems Change

The Strategic Planning Process

- Community Analysis using SWOC tool

- (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges)

- How do you use a SWOC to develop your strategic plan?

- Examples

Top Ten Tips for Coordinating a STC

1. One size does not fit all.2. Be patient! 3. Never stop recruiting. 4. Keep everyone in the loop.5. Give thought to your meeting schedule.6. Good leadership and coordination are essential to the success of any group. 7. Groups like “homework”.8. Watch the clock and keep things moving.9. Be prepared.10.Give positive feedback.

Thank You for Coming

We Look Forward to Working With You!

Contact:[email protected]

[email protected]@ucphuntsville.org

QUESTIONS