Adoption Respite
What is Adoption Respite?
Respite care provides adoptive parents with a break from the constant demands of caring for their special needs adopted child (children). It may be used for planned activities or emergency situations. It is not to be used for regular daycare.
Who is Eligible for Adoption Respite?
Adoption Respite is a service available to adoptive families for their subsidized adopted children. Each adopted child who is subsidized is eligible for 5 days of respite service per fiscal year at $20 per day. Adoption Respite is ONLY available to adopted children who receive adoption subsidy from the state of Iowa. Subsidized adoptive families living out-of-state are not eligible for the five days of adoption respite.
How is Respite Accessed? What is the time frame?
- Each child is eligible for 5 days per fiscal year. The current fiscal year runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
- When respite is needed, the adoptive parent selects their own respite provider (see respite ideas listed below), and makes necessary arrangements. To receive payment, provider must be an adult (age 18 or older).
- Payment will be sent to the provider along with a copy of the Adoption Respite Billing Form.
- Payments to providers for this program are contingent upon continued Adoption Respite Program funding from DHS.
If you live in the Western Service Area, this program will be run by Lutheran Services of Iowa (LSI). (Counties: Audubon, Buena Vista, Carroll, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Harrison, Ida, Kossuth, Lyon, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, O'Brien, Osceola, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Taylor, and Woodbury)
Click here for the LSI Adoption Respite Billing Form - FY 2021
If you live in one of the other four Service Areas of the state, this program will be run by Four Oaks.
Click Here for the FY 2023 Four Oaks Adoption Respite Billing Form - FY 24
Must be submitted to Four Oaks by July 7, 2024
How Can We Locate a Respite Provider?
It is the adoptive parents' choice who they use as their adoption respite provider.
(REMEMBER - to receive payment, provider must be age 18 or older).
Below is a list of people you might consider caring for your child(ren):
- Your grown children (even if they still live in your home they can provide you respite)
- Extended family members (grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc.)
- Friends (including family friends and your child's friends' parents)
- Neighbors
- Church members
- Child care providers
- Educators (teachers, aides and other school personnel)
- Coaches/Instructors (other other people who know your child through extra curricular activities)
- Foster/adoptive parents (parents you have met at support groups and training classes)
- College students
Who Do We Contact for More Information?
You may contact both the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association (IFAPA) and your adoption worker who handles your adoption subsidy case, for more information.
