
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 12, 1995                   TAG: 9502130005
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GRANT TO ALLOW RESPITE PROGRAM TO EXPAND SERVICES

A local program that helps families care for their disabled relatives has received a grant that will enable it to diversify its services and serve more people.

The New River Valley Respite Care Program learned last month it will receive $30,000 from the Virginia Institute of Developmental Disabilities.

``It's great news,'' said Deb Schwabe, program coordinator. ``Finally we can expand and reach families that are very much eligible.''

Now, 30 families participate in the program, which gives them a break from day-to-day supervision of their disabled relatives by providing temporary help.

They represent only a fraction of the New River Valley families who qualify to use Respite Care.

The 3-year-old program has operated on a shoestring budget which limited the services it could offer.

Schwabe said the grant will allow the program to serve more families in new ways.

Residents of Floyd and Giles counties have not received their share of attention from Respite Care, she said.

New programs, such as funds for summer camp for the disabled or get-away ``Respitality'' weekends for their families, may be started with the grant. And families with relatives who need close supervision because of emotional or mental disabilities may be eligible for Respite Care, which has been restricted to clients with developmental disabilities.

Local fund-raising will continue to supplement Respite Care, Schwabe said. ``We're still pursuing other sources.'' Officials hope that Respite Care will become part of a larger family-care network involving other regional social service programs.

The grant award enables Respite Care to make long-range plans for the first time, she said.

The program is operated as part of Virginia Tech's Resource and Referral Service.

For more information on New River Valley Respite Care, call 231-3213.

by CNB