Melody V. Escobar

Background Although respite care is a critical support for families, most research has focused on its impact on caregivers. This mixed-methods study explored the impact of respite care on children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Method We surveyed 178 parents and interviewed 31 parents of children and youth with disabilities (ages 6–23) about the ways they observed their children benefiting from overnight respite care.

ABSTRACT This article examines Jill’s House – a Christian nonprofit organization that offers overnight respite for families with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities – as a contemporary example of the theological practice of providing rest. Drawing from our larger mixed-method study involving more than 200 parents participating in programs across several US locations, we highlight the profound and holistic impact of respite care on a family’s wellbeing.