What is Regional Center behavior respite and who qualifies?

Per DDS, “Behavioral respite is intermittent or regularly scheduled non-medical care and/or supervision that is provided in-home for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and behavioral needs. Staff teaches the individual self-help and daily living skills, and implements a pre-existing behavior plan to support behavioral needs.”

Check your Regional Center's purchase of service standards for specifics as to who qualifies for behavioral respite and under what circumstances. Depending on the Regional Center, it may be known as intensive behavior services, behavior analyst, or another name. Generally, behavioral respite is provided by someone who has the training to address behavioral needs that a regular respite provider is not qualified to address, during a time when the child cannot be left alone with a regular respite provider due to those behaviors.

Both respite and behavior respite allow a parent to be out of the home. The difference is that behavior respite can also be used for outside social-rec activities; the allowed activities depend on the agency you use for behavior respite. (For example, some agencies do not allow behavior respite during a swimming activity.)

Find more information about respite in our articles about Regional Center respite and how to find a respite provider.