This FREE online workshop, which can be completed at your own pace, will provide the information and building blocks needed to start a respite program in your community. There is assigned reading, outside websites to review, videos to watch, and an ongoing assignment throughout this workshop.
To receive a certificate of completion, you must complete the assignment (program plan) and schedule a meeting with Val Madsen, contracted workshop instructor, to discuss your program plan and ask any questions about designing your workshop.
BRYC Content
The Bringing Respite to Your Community (BRYC) Workshop is presented in weekly topics. When completing the online workshop, you are able to go at your own pace. It is still recommended that you take the time needed to watch the videos, complete the reading, and finish the assignments before going on to the next weekly topic.
- Week 1: Needs Assessment, Program Design, and Business Structure
- Week 2: Program Design and Licensing, Funding & Budgeting Intro
- Week 3: Insurance, legal information, accounting, and tax information
- Week 4: Policies and Procedures, Documentation, Marketing, Activity Design, Interviews with Respite Programs
- Week 5: Staffing & Volunteers, Recruitment & Hiring, Training, and Program Growth
- Week 6: Additional resources, grant writing, wrap-up assignments
To receive a certificate of completion, you must complete the assignment (program plan) and schedule a meeting with Val Madsen, contracted workshop instructor, to discuss your program plan and ask any questions about designing your workshop. BRYC is for Wisconsin Residents. If you have questions, please contact [email protected]
Unsure if you want to register for the course? Read what past workshop attendees had to say about BRYC HERE.
Respite can occur in various settings and be offered in many different ways. This workshop is specifically for people interested in creating a respite program. These programs can be volunteer-based programs or large businesses. A respite program has employees or volunteers that assist in providing respite services. The program could occur as little as a couple of times a year, once or twice a month, or as often as daily.
Here are a couple of examples of respite programs.
- Faith-based or Volunteer-based respite programs – these programs provide respite with volunteers for no to little charge to families. These programs may run as little as a couple times a year, or as often as weekly.
- In-home respite staffing agencies – these programs hire employees to provide respite in the client’s homes, staff’s home, or the community. This is often one-on-one care between the staff and the client. There is often a contract with a long-term care funding source, MCO, or private pay.
- Community-based respite programs – these are programs that take place in a community setting such as an adult day center, a child care center, an adult family home, a community center, a park, or other place outside of the home. Typically more than one individual attends the program at one time, and there is a use of staff or volunteers to support the respite program.
Please note this workshop is NOT geared toward individuals interested in becoming independent providers. An independent provider is an individual who is providing respite services for clients independently. They could be listed as a sole proprietor or an LLC and have a contract with a county, Managed Care Organization (MCO), or individual clients. Click here to learn more about becoming an independent provider.
Design a program that meets the needs of your community and your interests!
Once you have completed weeks 1-6 and your program plan, it’s time to schedule a 30-minute meeting with Val Madsen to present your project. Once you’ve done so, you can earn a BRYC certificate of completion and be eligible to apply for RCAW’s StartUP Grant.
Have questions?
RCAW has contracted with Val Madsen with Calm Horizon Consulting LLC to provide 1:1 sessions where you can discuss your program ideas, ask questions, and receive resources to help you wherever you are creating your respite program.
It would be best to start the online workshop before scheduling a meeting, as many of your questions will be answered there. Schedule a meeting with Val Madsen here.