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Overview of the Iowa Respite and Crisis Care Coalition
History
The Iowa Respite Coalition was formed in 1993 by a group of concerned parents and respite providers. The goal was to improve the respite system throughout Iowa. In 1997, an alliance with Iowa Crisis Child Care was developed to form the Iowa Respite and Crisis Care Coalition.
The group that originally formed in 1993 focused on children's issues, regarding physical and mental disabilities. Since the alliance in 1997, the Coalition has broadened its focus to include crisis care (for children who do not necessarily have a disability - essentially emergency respite care), and adults, including elderly consumers of respite.
Today the coalition provides respite breaks for families caring for loved ones at home, crisis child care grants for local communities, online education to improve care provider skills and is working to help design an improved single point of entry system that easily links families and providers. Furthermore the coalition advocates for improvements in all health care systems to make respite care services better, and works with providers to identify grass root issues that affect the workforce and providers of service.
The coalition is a member based organization and is dependant on its members to continue developing services for families. If you are not already a member, please consider joining us in helping to meet the needs of families across Iowa.
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