RAVE Program expands to Carson City, bringing respite care for children with disabilities and their families
For many families, care-taking can be a full time job; a job done with love, and compassion, and enthusiasm, but still a job — one that does not come with a simple 40-hour-work-week or vacation pay.
That's where RAVE steps in; Northern Nevada RAVE, or Respite and Volunteer Experiences, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides respite - or a small break - to caregivers of young and adult children with special needs.
RAVE has been operating in Washoe County for over 25 years and has no expanded their programming to Carson City.
"RAVE’s mission is to improve the well-being of families in the Northern Nevada region by providing free respite care to caregivers of children and young adults with special needs," said Amanda Merrill, Outreach Coordinator for RAVE. "This includes children with developmental disabilities, autism, a special health care need, children with mental and behavioral health concerns, children in foster care, and their typically developing siblings who reside in the home."
RAVE provides center and community-based respite care to young and adult children with special needs ranging in age from 3 months through 22 years.
Respite is an essential break given to caregivers, according to Merrill.
"By providing temporary emotional relief from the constant care and loving attention our families provide to their children, we are allowing a reprieve that strengthens the quality-of-care parents and guardians deliver," said Merrill. "Aside from being a vital program for families, RAVE enhances the lives of the youth volunteers that have collectively dedicated more than 100,000 hours to providing respite care in the Truckee Meadows for more than 25 years under the direct supervision, guidance, and mentorship from qualified respite staff."
RAVE is hosting a Meet and Greet at their new satellite location on Tuesday, June 28th from 5:00pm-7:00pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, located at 314 N. Division Street, Carson City.
Those who attend can learn more about RAVE, sign up to volunteer, or even hear about employment opportunities with the new capital city program.
To learn more, please visit https://nnrff.org/ or see the event listing here.