Community Programs, Take a Break Program

Helping family members who need to take a break from daily caregiving.

In partnership with the Anne Arundel County Infants and Toddlers Program, The Coordinating Center is able to reach out to all families of children with special health care needs who live in our headquarters county, Anne Arundel. Funded by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Genetics and Children with Special Health Care Needs, the program provides one time only respite care.

The key to this program’s effectivess is the ability of parents to name caregivers — who can be relatives and friends — and to use the money for any respite care need or enrichment activity.

The Coordinating Center has been able to help appoximately 35 families each year with grants of under $300 each. In many cases, family membmers have not had a day away from caregiving in more than a year.