Re: FW: PRESIDENT SIGNS CRITICAL RESPITE BILL FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

[Guest guest]

Just wondering..I'm new to the board and not a resident of texas yet ..does the

respite services there allow family members to be the provider? It does here in

CA so I'm just wondering.For a lot of families it's great because it can be some

one who is family or close friend of the family who knows and has a relationship

with the child and therefore the parent can feel comfortable while they're using

respite that the individual will take great care of their child.

Stacey

Date: 2006/12/21 Thu PM 02:16:17 CST

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

Subject: FW: PRESIDENT SIGNS CRITICAL RESPITE BILL FOR

FAMILY CAREGIVERS

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 21, 2007

Contact: Jill Kagan, Chair

National Respite Coalition

jbkagan@...

PRESIDENT SIGNS CRITICAL RESPITE BILL FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 (HR 3248)

Washington, DC (December 21, 2006) - The Lifespan Respite Task

Force, a coalition of over 170 national, state, and local organizations,

applauds the signing of The Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 (HR 3248)

into law. The bill was introduced and championed in the US House of

Representatives by Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) and Langevin (D-RI). A

companion bill in the Senate was cosponsored by Senator Hillary Clinton

(D-NY) and Senator Warner (R-VA). The Lifespan Respite Task Force

includes a diverse group of national and state organizations: state respite

and crisis care coalitions; health and community social services;

disability, mental health, education, faith, family caregiving and support

groups; groups from the child advocacy and the aging community; and abuse

and neglect prevention groups.

Family caregivers are providing 80% of long-term care in the US, a level of

care valued at $306 billion a year, more than what is spent on nursing home

and paid home care combined. Even though most families take great joy in

providing care to their loved ones so that they can remain at home, the

physical, emotional and financial consequences can be overwhelming without

some support, such as respite. Respite provides the much needed temporary

break from the often exhausting challenges imposed by constant caregiving.

The new law would authorize $289 million over five years for

state grants to develop Lifespan Respite Programs to help families access

quality, affordable respite care. Lifespan respite programs are defined in

the Act " as coordinated systems of accessible, community-based respite care

services for family caregivers of children and adults with special needs. "

Specifically, the law authorizes funds for:

* development of state and local lifespan respite programs;

* planned or emergency respite care services;

* training and recruitment of respite care workers and volunteers; and

* caregiver training.

When the bill passed the House, Rep. Ferguson, whose own father

was a caregiver for his ill mother for 6 years said, " Today's action by the

House of Representatives represents not only an important victory for family

caregivers nationwide, but it also sends America's caregivers a clear

message: Your selfless sacrifice is appreciated, and help is on the way. "

" On behalf of over nation's family caregivers who desire to keep

their loved ones at home despite limited support, we commend Rep. Ferguson,

Vice-chair of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce

Committee, Rep. Langevin, and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Senator

Warner (R-VA) for their leadership, and especially want to thank them, their

colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and the White House for taking

action to help the burgeoning numbers of family caregivers, " said Jill

Kagan, Chair of the National Respite Coalition, and facilitator of the

Lifespan Respite Task Force. " Relatively minimal investments in respite help

family caregivers provide this care at home and in the community. At a time

when federal and state fiscal resources are limited, this is the most

compassionate and fiscally responsible thing we can do, and a most welcome

gift in this holiday season. "