DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATIONAL PRODUCTS TO ENHANCE THE SUPPLY AND USAGE OF RESPITE SERVICES

BPA HAS IDENTIFIED THREE POTENTIAL AUDIENCES FOR RESPITE GUIDE MATERIALS:1)THE FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY 2)RESPITE PROVIDERS, AND 3) REFERRAL SOURCES. IN THIS PROJ- ECT, WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE THE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT NEEDS OF THESE THREE GROUPS. WE'LL CLASSIFY THE MODELS OF RESPITE SERVICE CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE, FOCUSING PARTICULAR LY ON EFFECTIVE AND INNOVATIVE PRACTICES. THROUGH A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT LITERATURE AND DISCUSSIONS WITH A VARIETY OF REFERRAL AGENCIES, CONSUMERS, PROGRAM OPERATORS, AND FUNDERSWE WILL IDENTIFY THE RANGE OF RESPITE CARE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT NEEDS. FROM OUR FINDINGS, WE WILL SPECIFY THE INFORMATIONAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES DESIRED BY DIFFERENT AUDI- ENCES AND WE WILL EXPLORE THE COST OF DEVELOPING SUCH PROD- UCTS OR SERVICES. THOSE THAT APPEAR TO BE MOST BENEFICIAL INNOVATIVE AND ECONOMICAL WILL BE TARGETED FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN A PHASE II EFFORT.