Respite for Children

ARKANSAS

Grant Information

Name of Grantee

Arkansas Department of Human Services

Title of Grant

Arkansas' Respite for Children Project

Type of Grant

Respite for Children

Amount of Grant

$75,000

Year Original Funding Received

2003

Contact Information*

Bruce Whitten, Project Supervisor
PO Box 1437, Slot S380
Little Rock, AR 72203
501–682–8207
bruce.whitten@mail.state.ar.us

David Deere, Primary Contact
Pershing Circle Suite 300
North Little Rock, AR 72114
501–682–9917
DeereGlenD@uams.edu

Subcontractor(s)

University of Arkansas Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities, Partners for Inclusive Communities

Target Population(s)

Caregivers of children with special health care needs.

Goals

The goal of this study is to expand the number of participants in Arkansas' respite program for children with special health care needs from 132 to 275, and to increase self-reported consumer satisfaction with the program.

Activities

  • Assess the need for respite care and barriers to obtaining respite services by (1) reviewing data from the current program; (2) conducting surveys and focus groups about the perceptions of the program, the need for respite, and barriers encountered; and (3) interviewing respite program administrators.
  • Develop projected use rates, cost projections, and cost savings resulting from program revisions.
  • Identify sources of funding for providing respite services (either private foundations or Medicaid).
  • Revise policies and procedures of the current respite program.
  • Evaluate the revised plan by using focus groups followed by a mail survey.
  • Develop recommendations for further modifications based on an evaluation of the project.

Abstract

Children's Medical Services (ChMS), the Arkansas Title V program for children with special health care needs, is located in the Arkansas Department of Human Services. ChMS will conduct a feasibility study to determine how to increase participation in a State Medicaid respite project targeted to caregivers of children with special health care needs.

The goal of this project is to expand participation in the respite care program for children and adolescents with special health care needs. Another goal is to increase self-reported consumer satisfaction with the program and to reduce caregivers' stress.

ChMS operates two 1915(c) waivers that have combined funding to allow caregivers of 275 children not receiving waiver services to receive respite services. Eligible children must be under age 19 and eligible for either SSI or TEFRA. Out of 315 applications for the 275 slots, only 228 met eligibility requirements. Of the 228, only 132 caregivers have met Medicaid billing requirements. The remainder failed to send in required information—particularly a Plan of Care naming a registered nurse who will certify that the caregiver is qualified to take care of the child and can appropriately carry out nurse delegated duties.

Through a subgrant, Partners for Inclusive Communities will undertake the following major activities: (1) assess the existing needs for respite and barriers to program participation, (2) develop one or more proposals for additional funding for respite services, (3) implement a revised plan for the respite program, (4) evaluate the revised plan, and (5) recommend further modifications to the revised plan.

The Steering Committee, comprising consumers and family members and key stakeholders, will be involved in all aspects of the project, including analyzing the problem, planning changes to the current program, overseeing implementation of the revised program, and evaluating the program's activities and impact.

*Grantee did not provide any updates to contact information for this edition.