Respite for Children

ALABAMA

Grant Information


Name of Grantee

Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation

Title of Grant

Alabama's Respite for Children Project

Type of Grant

Respite for Children

Amount of Grant

$100,000

Year Original Funding Received

2003

Contact Information


Kim Hammack, Principal Investigator
RSA Union Building
100 N. Union Street
PO Box 301410
Montgomery, AL 36130-1410
334-353-9144
kim.hammack@mh.alabama.gov

Debbie Tomblin, Project Coordinator
400 S. Union Street, Suite 270
Montgomery, AL 36140
334-240-8437 (b)
334-240-0907 (f)
dtomblin@alfamilyties.org

www.alfamilyties.org

Subcontractor(s)

Alabama Family Ties
Censeo Research, Inc.

Target Population(s)


Children and their families with serious emotional disturbance.

Goals


Activities


Abstract


The Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (DMH/MR) is undertaking this study to determine the feasibility of developing and implementing a statewide respite care system for children with serious emotional disturbance and their families. The Department will focus on a capacity- and infrastructure-building process. With an estimated 87 percent of children and their families in need of respite services, the DMH/MR is committed to addressing their needs.

DMH/MR will conduct a full-scale needs assessment to identify the caregivers of children in need and determine the type and scope of currently available respite services. It will also develop preliminary cost projections, estimate the number of persons likely to use services, determine an appropriate cap for respite services that can be received by any one individual, and analyze the impact of that cap. The DMH/MR will also develop an implementation plan that will establish the necessary protocols, tools, procedures, and other elements of the infrastructure needed to implement a respite program, and work for an amendment to the State Medicaid Plan and All Kids Plan to include respite services as a reimbursable service.