Bringing Respite to Your Community Workshop
This FREE workshop will provide you with the information and building blocks needed to start a respite program in your community. You will have the opportunity to provide and receive feedback from others starting programs in their communities, allowing you to build a support system throughout the state of Wisconsin. This is a six-week course. The first, third, and fifth weeks will consist of online modules for you to complete on your own time. The second, fourth, and sixth weeks will be a virtual, face-to-face meeting at a scheduled time. Space is limited. A waitlist will be started once a workshop is full.
Two sessions are being offered in 2021 for Wisconsin Residents. Click for a pdf overview of workshop.
Participants are asked to commit to attending all three virtual face-to-face sessions.
Spring 2021 Session: April 10 – May 15, 2021
Face-to-Face Virtual Dates: Saturday, April 17, May 1, and May 15 from 8 am – 11 am
Spring 2021 Session is Full.
You can sign up for the fall session or request to be put on a waitlist by emailing Val Madsen at [email protected]
Fall 2021 Session: September 8 – October 13, 2021
Face-to-Face Virtual Dates: Wednesday, September 15, September 29, and October 13 from 6 pm – 9 pm
Start a Respite Program
There is a need for more respite programs in Wisconsin. Throughout the state, there is funding available to pay for respite care. But in most communities, there are very few, if any, providers. Respite care programs can look like a variety of models. Some use volunteers, and there is no fee to the participants. Other respite care services are paid through waiver funds that are provided by the state.
Respite Care Association of Wisconsin is offering a free six-week virtual workshop so that you can explore the idea of bringing respite to your community. You will walk through the steps with other like-minded individuals that want to build a respite program.
You design a program that meets the needs of your community and your interests!
Workshop Details
Questions or more information, please contact Val Madsen, Training and Development Specialist at [email protected] or 608-285-2440.
Tentative Syllabus
Week 1: Needs Assessment & Program Design (Online Course Module)
Week 2: Program Design Discussion, Licensing, & Funding (Virtual Face-to-Face); Budgeting (Online Course Module)
Week 3: Staffing & Volunteers, Documents, & Marketing (Online Course Modules)
Week 4: Professional Guest Speakers – Insurance, Accounting, & Marketing (Virtual Face-to-Face)
Week 5: Program Evaluation & Next Business Steps (Online Course Module)
Week 6: Project Presentations & Course Wrap-up (Virtual Face-to-Face)
Registration is limited to 10 people. This will allow for interactions and quality feedback about your specific program. The hope is that your workshop group will become a support for you throughout the process of building your respite program.
Successful Completion of the Workshop
Along with creating a respite program plan, RCAW wants to continue to support you in your respite program development. Upon completion of the workshop, you will receive:
- Access to the RCAW & Direct Course Partnership, giving you access to more than 45 online courses (over 500 hours of continuing education).
- Registration to the 2021 ISBA (International Short Break Association) Virtual Conference (www.isba.me) in June for spring participants.
- An opportunity to receive up to $4,000 for your business to provide respite care from an RCAW start-up business grant for underserved populations.
Course Instructor:
Your course instructor is Val Madsen, M.S., CTRS. Val has 20 years of experience working in community respite care programs with both children and adults. During her tenure, she grew existing programs and developed new programs to serve more clients in a high-quality setting while focusing on developing the skills of respite providers. Val’s love for training others grew over her career, as did her passion for helping caregivers and meeting the community’s needs.
Val earned a master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from UW-LaCrosse. She incorporates recreational therapy as often as possible in her interactions with care recipients, and training providers and staff to work with care recipients. With her focus on person-centered care and a unique model for respite, her program was recognized by ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center in 2019 as one of 13 nation-wide 2019 Innovative & Exemplary Respite Services (the only one in WI that year).