The YMCA mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. We try to bring our mission to life by identifying needs in the community and finding ways to meet those needs. Respite care for parents of special needs children and for kinship families (people raising children that are not their own) is desperately needed, and our Blessed Respite program has been providing a night off to parents of children with special needs for the past six years.
Blessed Respite is for families who have children with special needs and their siblings. It is also for kinship and foster caregivers.The purpose of Blessed Respite is to give the parents of children with special needs or caretakers of kinship and foster children a time to get away for some rest and fun while their child/children have fun doing various activities that will be provided by loving and trained YMCA staff and volunteers.
Families who have at least one child with a physical or developmental disability or caretakers with a kinship/foster child who is between the ages of 6 weeks - 17 years old. Siblings between the ages of 6 weeks - 17 years old are also welcome.
The Blessed Respite program will be held at Countryside YMCA
1699 Deerfield Road,
Lebanon, OH 45036
The hours for these events are from 6:30pm-9:00pm.
Some of the activities that may be offered are: craft area, game room, gym time, Motion Zone, walking trail and playground (weather permitting.)
Blessed Respite will have trained volunteers and YMCA staff to watch your children. These volunteers are made up of Special and Regular Education Teachers, RN’s, aides and others who love working with children. All volunteers and staff are background checked, and at least one staff person at the event will be CPR and first aid certified.
Yes, we provide pizza, fruit and a drink. If your child has any allergies, please notify us and you can send something appropriate for them to eat.
If you need further information and/or would like to register, please email Julie Groh at julie.groh@ymcastaff.org or call her at 513 932 1424 ext 142. Sign ups are always on a first come, first serve basis. Unfortunately, there are a limited number of children we can take. So be sure to register early!