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Our Mission

Mission Statement

We are a Windsor-Essex community organization that works with families caring for children under the age of eighteen who have intellectual, physical and mental health disabilities. We facilitate the provision of respite services that contribute to:

  • The sustaining and enriching of a family's quality of life.
  • Seek the fullest participation of the child in the community.

Family Respite Services provides families who have children with disabilities a short break by providing a host family or an individual to care for their child. Host families take a child into their home for a weekend stay, while respite providers spend time with a child a few hours per week caring for the child and spending time together. Some children stay for a weekend or short period in either our Weekend with Friends or our Spago Cr. home.  Family Respite Services has trained staff that provide the care of the children in these two homes.  FRS also provides short breaks through supporting children in community settings such as day camps and the Our Time programs.

Family Respite Services began with the vision of families in Windsor and Essex County. The service is designed to provide individualized, flexible, family centered relief to families caring for children with developmental and/or physical disabilities. FRS provides respite care for children from the ages of 0-18 years in the Windsor and Essex County area.

We Believe

  • that each child has gifts, can contribute to and is a valued member of the community.
  • that respite strengthens both the family and the child.
  • in meeting a family's needs on an individual basis through the provision of responsive and flexible respite services.
  • that the use and involvement of caring community people creates positive relationships and opportunities that enhance the child's community participation.
  • that the family is an equal partner in the identification and delivery of respite services for their child.

Respite Care

Families who have children with disabilities often experience stress because of the extra demands they face as parents. Respite care is a time when someone else cares for the child to give the family a short break. Family Respite Services provides this service by matching trained caregivers with the child and family. Respite care can also be a time for the child with a disability to participate in community activities and make new friends. It is a time when the parents can spend time with their other children, rest, or catch up on errands.

Respite/short break care is a vital service for families, helping to reduce stress and support the family so that they can continue to care for their child at home. Respite support services are developed to enhance the quality of life for children with developmental and/or physical disabilities while facilitating their participation in the community.

Plans are developed to suit each family and child. FRS offers services in flexible ways. Respite services can be offered in the home of the family, the home of a respite provider or in a staffed home managed by FRS. Respite providers are carefully screened and matched with children suitable to their background, skills and experience. Families make the decision about who is best suited to care for their child. Families provide the training for the caregivers about the particular needs of their child.

Who Do We Serve?

Family Respite Services works with families in Windsor/Essex County who are caring for individuals 18 years and under who have intellectual, physical, or mental health challenges.

What Services Do We Provide?

We work with families to develop an individualized, flexible plan for respite, to establish in home or out of home respite through the use of volunteers, paid in home respite providers and associate families. We also provide information about community respite options such as Special Services at Home (SSAH) and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD).