The following resources present evaluations of respite care services and evaluation strategies, including State and local examples.
ARCH Needs Assessment: Training and Technical Assistance Needs of State Lifespan Respite Grantees and Stakeholders and State Respite Coalitions and ARCH Members (PDF - 491 KB)
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center (2012)
Discusses a needs assessment conducted in January 2011 to determine training and technical assistance needs and priorities among the 30 Lifespan Respite Grantees and their primary stakeholders. Findings and results are also reported on training and technical assistance needs for providing respite for specific populations, respite service delivery models, administrative, program implementation/development, management issues, quality assurance/evaluation, respite provider and family caregiving training, and training and technical assistance format preferences. The assessment instrument is included.
Benefits of Planned and Crisis Respite Care (PDF - 67 KB)
FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (2004)
Presents results of a survey finding that respite care services reduced the risk for child maltreatment or placement, improved mental health and quality of relationships, and helped parents avoid an inappropriate caregiver or environment for their children.
Creating and Sustaining Effective Respite Services: Lessons From the Field (PDF - 1,280 KB)
AdoptUSKids (2012)
Provides States, Tribes, and parent support organizations with tools to help them understand the value of respite care in achieving improved outcomes for parents and youth, as well as ideas for how to build their capacity to sustain such programs after time-limited grants have ended. The guide includes sections on model respite programs, insights and advice from state partners, overcoming barriers to sustaining respite services, and more.
Summit Reports
The Mockingbird Society
Offers annual reports from a model program that aims to improve outcomes for children in foster care by providing respite care and family-focused social activities to foster families to improve their support systems.
State and local examples
Interim Report: Respite Care Services Workgroup (PDF - 130 KB)
New York Council on Children and Families (2011)
Presents findings from the workgroup study to identify issues related to respite care with a cross-system focus. The report provides findings, research, and recommendations for future practice.