Anyone looking to learn or enhance skills to provide respite care is welcome to attend an upcoming REST (Respite Education & Support Tools) training session, April 28-29, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute, Room 3016, 444 S. 44th St. in Omaha. Those who complete the two-day interactive Train-the-Trainer program can then teach an eight-hour respite training class in their own communities.
Respite care is the provision of short-term relief to primary caregivers from the demands of ongoing care for an individual with special needs. In Nebraska, respite is funded through a variety of programs. Families and advocates may call a Respite Network Coordinator in their area at 1-866-RESPITE for help with respite resources. Respite information also is available at the DHHS supported website “Nebraska Resource and Referral System” at https://nrrs.ne.gov/respitesearch/. This free service will assist 24/7 in finding network-approved respite providers and supportive services throughout Nebraska that best fit individual needs and location.
REST training is made possible in part by a federal IDEA Part C grant awarded to the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services from the Nebraska Department of Education, Office of Special Education (99-9999-248-1C05-15), in collaboration with UNMC/Munroe-Meyer Institute. To register, visit http://restprogram.org/register/.
For more information on REST, contact Lisa Esposito, REST administrative assistant, at (630) 397-5656, via email at lesposito@restprogram.org, or visit www.restprogram.org.