Respite Services

Respite Services

Respite services are planned or unplanned care for a child or adult with a special need in order to provide temporary relief to the family caregiver of that child or adult. Services are provided to children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are not enrolled in or receiving any Home and Community Based Waiver-funded services (HCBS) through any waivers operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (IDHS, DDD) or any other State Agency (Department on Aging, Division of Rehabilitation Services, Division of Specialized Care for Children, etc.).

Respite services provide relief and reduce the stress of the regular caregiver of an individual with I/DD and help to maintain the individual in their home and reduce the need for long-term services and supports. Services are provided for a portion of the day while the caregiver(s) takes time for routine or special activities (i.e., vacations, shopping, recreation, family events or celebrations, and regular or emergency medical care, to name a few).

IDHS funds many providers throughout Illinois who offer respite services in one or more of the following categories: Group, In-Home, Residential, Voucher Respite and the Lifespan Respite Program.

Group Respite Services

Group Respite occurs for a portion of the day in a community-based or site-based setting for two or more individuals and provides experiences of social interaction, inclusion and/or community exposure/integration.

In-Home Respite Services

In-Home Respite services are conducted by an IDHS-contracted agency's staff and provide individual support in the individual/family home or in the community. These services provide supervision, personal care, and staff supports to assist the individual with an I/DD in the home or on outings and community activities, consistent with the individual's needs and the direction of the primary caregiver.

Residential Respite Services

Residential Respite, also known as Out of Home respite, provides supervision and care (typically provided in such areas as eating, bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, and community integration) while in a licensed residential, community-based setting.

Voucher Respite Services

Through Voucher Respite, provider agencies issue a voucher to a family to purchase direct care support staff or special recreation programs. The direct care support staff are to be hired and paid by the family from the voucher. Voucher Respite may be utilized for an unplanned or pre-arranged situation, depending on the provider agency's offerings. The services may be provided in a family home or in the community.

Lifespan Respite Program

Through the Lifespan Respite Program*, caregivers of individuals of any age or disability can receive voucher support to cover the cost of care during a planned or unplanned emergency. A maximum of $500 is awarded to caregivers who do not receive HCBS Waiver support. After the provision of emergency funds, caregivers are linked to resources in their area for longer-term respite support.

*This project was supported, in part by grant number 90LRLI0046, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

In order to provide more service choice for our customers, the Division of Developmental Disabilities is providing the list of contracted respite providers below, including contact information. If you would like guidance finding the right respite provider for you, contact the Illinois Respite Coalition for help: (866) 455-7377, or email ilrespitecoalition@gmail.com.

Illinois County Map

Agency Name Respite Type Email Address Phone Number Counties Served
Abilities Plus In-Home/Residential laurie@abilitiesplus.org (309) 852-4626 Henry, Stark, Western Bureau
Association House of Chicago In-Home/Residential development@associationhouse.org (773) 772-7170 Chicago, Cook
Clearbrook In-Home/Residential mbosco@clearbrook.org (847) 385-5335 Lee, DeKalb, Stephenson, Winnebago, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Boone, Cook, Lake, Will, Kankakee, Grundy, Kendall, Kane, McHenry, DuPage
Clearbrook Voucher mbosco@clearbrook.org (847) 385-5335 Cook, DuPage, McHenry
Clearbrook Group mbosco@clearbrook.org (847) 385-5335 Cook, McHenry
Coleman Tri County Service In-Home/Residential, Group spayne@colemantricounty.org (618) 252-0275 Gallatin, Saline, White
Community Service Options Voucher info@cso1.org (773) 471-4740 Chicago, Cook
Community Support Services In-Home/Residential, Group, Voucher Respite@CSSservices.org (708) 354-4547 Cook, DuPage
Community Support Systems In-Home/Residential rwatkins@csscares.org (217) 717-8015 Clay, Effingham, Jasper, Fayette, Edwards, Wabash, Wayne, Richland, Crawford, Cumberland, Lawrence
El Valor In-Home/Residential info@elvalor.net (312) 666-4511 Chicago, Cook
Envision Unlimited In-Home/Residential respiteinfo@envisionunlimited.org (773) 899-6177 Chicago, Adams, Brown, Champaign, Cook, DeWitt, Fulton, Knox, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Mason, McLean, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Pike, Sangamon, Scott, Tazewell
Envision Unlimited Group respiteinfo@envisionunlimited.org (773) 899-6177 Cook and suburban Cook, Central Illinois
Glenkirk In-Home/Residential respite@glenkirk.org (847) 272-5111 Lake, Northern Cook
Good Shepherd Center In-Home/Residential mmcloughlin@gscenter.org (708) 985-3722 South Suburban Cook, Northern Will, Marrionette Park, Mt. Greenwood and Morgan Park neighborhoods of Chicago
Horizon House of Illinois Valley Voucher, Group bweitzel@hhperu.org
bmacchi@hhperu.org
(815) 223-4488 Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam
Human Resources Center of Edgar and Clark County Group Julia.kauffman@hrcec.org (217) 465-4118 Edgar, Clark, Vermillion, Douglas, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Jasper
Illinois Respite Coalition In-Home/Residential, Voucher, Lifespan ilrespitecoalition@gmail.com (866) 455-7377 Statewide
Jewish Child & Family Services Voucher, Group allisonrodenhouse@jcfs.org (773) 765-3160 Chicago, Northern Cook County
KCCDD (now Thrive Community Services) Group lhughs@thrivegalesburg.org (309) 344-2600 x 610 Knox, Warren
Kreider Services, Inc Voucher obrient@kreiderservices.org (815) 288-6691 Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Ogle, Stephenson, Jo Daviess
Libenu Group rivka@libenu.org
dina@libenu.org
(847) 213-0514 Chicago and surrounding suburbs
North Center for Handicapped Children In-Home/Residential (773) 777-4111 Chicago, Chicago suburbs, Cook County
Piatt County Mental Health Center In-Home/Residential adresback@piattmhc.org (217) 762-5371 Piatt
Specialized Training and Rehabilitation Group kendrawasham@startinc.org (618) 687-2378 Jackson
The Arc of the Quad Cities Area In-Home/Residential (309) 786-6474 Rock Island, Mercer, Henry
Trinity Services In-Home/Residential dknights@trinityservices.org
mlowe@trinityservices.org
(815) 485-8146 Will, Grundy, Madison, Bond, Clinton, Washington, Randolph
Warren Achievement Center In-Home/Residential, Group jwhite@warrenachievement.com (309) 734-3131 Monmouth