The following resources present evaluations of respite care services and evaluation strategies, including State and local examples.
A Research Agenda for Respite Care: Deliberations of an Expert Panel of Researchers, Advocates, and Funders (PDF - 5,222 KB)
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center (2015)
Outlines the need for research on respite care, which is currently based primarily on practical ideals and good intentions. Evidence-based research to demonstrate how to best provide respite care that results in maximum benefits to care receivers and their families while maximizing invested resources is largely lacking.
Annotated Bibliography of Respite and Crisis Care Studies (PDF - 1,144 KB)
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center (4th ed.) (2018)
Summarizes 30 peer-reviewed journal articles mostly published between 2014 and 2018 that provide a baseline understanding of respite research and focus on outcomes attributed to respite. The studies included documented outcomes of respite care for family caregivers, care recipients, families or communities, including cost-benefit studies.
Measuring Systems Change and Consumer Outcomes: Recommendations for Developing Performance Metrics for State Lifespan Respite Programs (PDF - 2,000 KB)
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center (2014)
Provides information to assist respite programs in conceptualizing, developing, and implementing performance metrics for their programs. The publication includes discussions on the relationship between performance measurement and program evaluation, how success is determined, developing and measuring outcomes, systems change and consumer outcomes, cost/benefits, and more.
Respite Care
North American Council on Adoptable Children (2017)
Describes respite care and links to a fact sheet, a step-by-step guide, and a best-practices guide related to respite programs.
Sustaining Lifespan Respite Systems: Lessons Learned and Practical Applications with a Checklist for Success (PDF - 985 KB)
ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center (2016)
Presents comprehensive plans for the sustainability of lifespan respite care programs. The report shares lessons learned, describes challenges and successes, and discusses best practices for sustainability planning activities.
State and local examples
Successful Approaches for Measuring Lifespan Respite Outcomes (PDF - 222 KB)
Pohlman & Kearns (2015)
Massachusetts Lifespan Respite Coalition & Texas Respite Coalition
Explores the role of evaluation as applied to two lifespan respite care programs, one in Massachusetts and one in Texas; how evaluation can demonstrate the value and impact of these programs; and how telling a story can influence others to join the program's efforts. The presentation lists lessons learned through evaluation, outlines respite program benefits, and reviews desired outcomes from the evaluation.