FAQ

On July 28, 2009, the revised 2009/2010 California State Budget was signed, enacting Trailer Bill Language which modified many Regional Center services, including respite care. Below are the most frequently asked questions and answers available as of Sept. 1, 2009.

Q. What are the changes to in-home respite services?

• Respite (except for Early Start*) usage is now limited to a total of 90 hours in a quarter year, unless the consumer has an exemption. (W&I 4686.5)

Q. What is a quarter year?

• Quarters are grouped by three months within a fiscal year that starts July 1st  and ends June 30th. The four quarters in a fiscal year are; 1) July 1st - Sept 30th; 2) Oct 1st - Dec 31st; 3) Jan 1st - Mar 31st; and 4) Apr 1st - June 30th.

Q. What is an exemption?

• An exemption, under the new laws, is an authorization for respite of more than 30 hours per month.

Q. How do I get an exemption?

• There are two criteria for requesting an exemption – if the “intensity of the consumer’s care and supervision needs are such that additional respite hours are necessary to maintain the consumer in the family home, or there is an extraordinary event that impacts the family member’s ability to meet the care and supervision needs of the consumer.”

Q. What if I already have more than 30 hours of respite per month?

• Regional Centers have sent letters notifying families that their respite services will be decreased to no more than 30 hours per month, effective October 1, 2009.

Q. What if we need more than 30 hours of respite each month?

• If you believe you meet either of the criteria for an exemption, you should contact your Service Coordinator as soon as you receive your notification letter to discuss your family's needs. At TCRC, the Assistant Directors of Services and Supports will review and consider exemption requests. Usage per quarter under an exemption will be limited to a maximum of three months worth of hours and those not used cannot be added to another quarter.

Q. Our 24 respite hours per month are enough right now. Will these changes affect us?

• If your authorization is for no more than 30 hours each month these changes will have little to no impact to your family. However, usage can't exceed 90 hours in a quarter (listed above) without an exemption, leftover hours in a quarter can't be added to the next if the total is greater than 90 and hours not used by the end of the fiscal year (June 30th) do not transfer into the next fiscal year.

Q. We've always used most of our respite during school breaks and little in between.
    Can we still use our respite hours this way?

• Since the number of hours per quarter is limited to 90, saving up to have 90 hours for those times/quarters you use respite the most is the only option without an exemption. If a respite authorization is for less than 30 hours per month, respite agencies may allow no more than three months' worth of respite per quarter. (i.e.: 24/month=72/quarter) without prior approval.

Q. What about Family Voucher respite?

• These will have the same limitations AND they cannot be used to pay for camps or social recreation programs. Additional hours will no longer be approved by Regional Centers to cover the cost of these types of programs.

Q. What about respite for Early Start* children (ages birth to 3 years)?

• Unless it is later determined to be a federally mandated service, respite will no longer be available to infants and toddlers (ages birth to 3 years) in the Early Start program. The Regional Center can only pay for respite for a child under age 3 in Early Start if the respite is needed to help a family attend a class related to the child’s developmental delays or if the child under age 3 has been diagnosed with a qualifying condition and made “status 2 eligible”.

Q. What is respite?

• Respite is defined as an interval of rest or relief. Respite, Inc.'s program is designed to provide parent(s)/guardian(s) of eligible children the opportunity to take a break from their caregiver responsibilities.

Q. Who is eligible for services?

• Authorization for respite must be approved by Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC) on an individual (consumer) basis. Contact your TCRC service coordinator to confirm eligibility and program preferences.

Q. How do I use respite?

• Upon receiving authorization from TCRC for respite, you can:
  - Call your nearest Respite, Inc. office and request an on-call respite worker contact you.
  - Designate your own respite worker.

Q. How do I designate a respite worker?

• If there is someone you prefer (sibling, friend, relative or neighbor) to provide respite for your child contact Respite, Inc. to obtain the necessary sign-up forms or click on the Forms link above and print the forms as needed. Designated respite workers must be at least 16 years old and you can have more than one designated respite worker.

Q. Can potential on-call respite workers be interviewed?

• Yes. We highly recommend an orientation meeting between the family and any respite worker being considered. This allows everyone the opportunity to get acquainted and feel comfortable together, before actually scheduling respite service.

Q. Do I have to call Respite, Inc. to schedule a respite worker?

• Not necessarily. You can contact a respite worker directly to request respite, for a specific date and time. Contact Respite, Inc. if you need further assistance.

Q. How much notice is needed for on-call respite workers?

• As much as possible, but not less than three days. This should give enough time to also have an orientation before the respite worker provides services. The sooner a respite request is made, the higher the probability of finding an available respite worker for the date and time needed.

Q. Who are respite workers?

• Our staff is comprised of dedicated, caring individuals who understand each family's needs are unique. On-Call respite workers are at least 18 years old, CPR/First Aid certified, have special needs related experience/training and have passed a background (fingerprint) check. All respite workers must meet the requirements of the Responsibilities/Duty Statement in the Job Description. Several members of the staff have been providing respite services for years. Some may have a sibling or other relative with a disability. Others may be seeking a career in a related field or simply understand what a difference respite can make to a family.

Q. Who tracks hour usage?

• Respite, Inc. maintains usage records based on timesheets, as they are received from respite workers. You should also keep track of the dates and number of hours used each month. 

Q. How can I check in my hours?

• You can call Respite, Inc. anytime to find out how many hours have been used and/or a current balance. Remember, Respite, Inc. can not pay for time exceeding the total hours authorized. 

Q. How and when does a respite worker get paid?

• Each respite worker maintains a timesheet to log all dates and times for each family. Times are verified by the parent/guardian (signature) before leaving. Timesheets can be hand-delivered, mailed in or faxed. Timesheets are due by noon on the Monday (even on holidays) before pay days, which are every other Wednesday. Submitting timesheets within 30 days of service is important to efficiently process and pay in a timely manner. Respite workers can only be paid a maximum of 50 hours per consumer per payday. Timesheets can be printed from the Forms page as needed.

Q. Who do I contact if have other questions?

• For other questions about respite please contact Respite, Inc.

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