This past year, one volunteer parent was asked to connect with a young couple who had given birth to a baby with a disability. These parents were considering giving the child up for adoption as the uncertainty of the child's future was weighing heavily on them. The stress became too much to bear for the couple and the father left. The couple reached out to Community Options and were connected with a volunteer immediately. Through encouragement and understanding the couple reunited. The Mom states: "With the support of our new circle of friends and Community Options , we are facing the challenges of parenting our son who has a severe disability. Life is certainly not easy, but we have each other and a new set of people in our lives that really care , we both attend support groups and now have respite which has made things so much easier"

"I've learned a lot at the meetings, and I feel that I am beginning to establish some important friendships among these men. The group fills an important need in my life and I sincerely hope it can continue." Education, friendship and a place to enjoy themselves and their children immediately help the fathers eleviate stress and loneliness.

Statements taken directly from our evaluation tool: "Having the money to attend this specific Conference in the USA gave me a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet other parents who have children with the same life-threatening condition that my child has. I have talked "online" to these families, but being able to share a meal, (and a room with another Mom) and actually see their tears and their laughter, made me feel like I am not the only person in the world going through this challenging time in my life. Having heard first hand from experts in their field, I now have a huge resource base of information to draw upon. Thank you Community Options for giving me this opportunity. I am meeting another family at Children's Hospital next week who have just been given a similar diagnosis and I will pass on all of the written information I gathered at the conference and will be to offer them a lot more support than I got in the beginning."

Statement from a Mom who attended the Community Options Focus Group: "By attending the monthly Mom's Groups over the past few years I have had wonderful opportunities to learn more about communication, group dynamics and the importance of skilled facilitation. As a single Mom raising two sons with disabilities, making ends meet has been hard, but I am now attending school full time and am working towards the Community Support Worker Program. Spending time with this support group made me realize I do have what it takes to work in this field as a professional not just as a parent. I graduated in June 2005, have a job in the field, and have decided to go on and do a degree in Child and Youth Care."

Verbal information from a parent who attended a Community Options focus group for agency stakeholders: "We were very close to putting our child into foster care, we could no longer look after all his needs ourselves, then we were connected to Jenn and Peter. (not their real names). They worked out an arrangement with MDFD for individualized funding to be able to get respite and extra support time for their own child. Jenn and Peter spent countless hours explaining the process and even helped us advocate for funds to create the same type of situation for our own teenage son. For the first time in years, I feel like our family is not living in crisis. My husband and I are actually able to spend time together as a couple - for the first time in 15 years, since our son was born."

"There was no way I could afford to attend this workshop, thank you for funding me to attend the whole thing! Being able to attend the Autism Intervention Workshop means I can now train my daughter's caregivers by giving them specific ideas and strategies that actually work. Yes, I will be pleased to pass what I learned onto other caregivers as well. Just let me know the date of the meeting."

"Community Options provided qualified nurturing respite caregivers to our youngest son, now 21 years of age, from the time he was 17, with a balanced and consistent service."

"Respite is the best thing that has happened to us since we moved here nine years ago. Our daughter can't wait until the weekend she goes for respite. She really enjoys getting out into the community, being active, meeting new people and making new friends."

"Respite is knowing my child has other people in her life who care for her the way I do. This gives me the piece of mind to enjoy my time away from her. I feel like our respite caregiver is a member of our family."

(Caregiver says) "I have watched a little girl turn into a young woman. I teach her about life and more importantly she teaches me."

When my child was first diagnosed we began looking at services and programs. It was suggested that I connect with Community Options and check out the services and programs that they provided. It was about getting connected to the help I needed even if I thought I didn't need it.

It was explained to me that respite means a temporary, short-term care and is used in different ways by each family. I was reluctant to use the respite care services. My hesitation was based on the fact that I didn't feel that I needed the help. I felt that I was taking away from someone else that needed it. How was respite care relevant to my family?

It was suggested as a way to do special things with my other children, time alone with my husband and providing a break from parenting. How was this going to be responsive to my family's individual and changing needs?

I signed up and for the longest time I didn't use the services. I finally gave myself permission for my child to bond with another adult and create a relationship. I started with baby steps and now I find myself using the program on a regular basis.

Respite care has enabled my child, our family and care provider to build a relationship, and has become an additional means of addressing social needs and so much more!

Penny
Mother to Ally