Meet November’s Featured Respite Provider: Cheryl Heath

Respite Providers are a vital part of caring for children and youth aged birth to 18 experiencing behavioral, emotional, medical, and/or physical challenges. This program is designed to meet specific individual and family needs while maintaining collaboration with other service providers and legal guardians. This valuable service provides families of special needs children the opportunity to balance the many challenges of life. The breaks provided allow family members time to meet their other vital family needs. Providers can be couples, single persons, or families.

As part of an ongoing series, FCC would like to introduce you to November’s featured provider, Cheryl Heath!

How long have you been a respite provider?
 I’ve been a provider so long that I can’t remember how long. (Nine years actually!)
What made you want to apply to be a respite provider?
I became a respite provider because I was formerly a behavior therapy technician working with children with ASD.  Many of the families I worked with didn’t have a support system and they needed someone they could count on to care for their children.  It was just another way that I could be of service to the families that I already enjoyed serving.
What is your favorite part of being a respite provider?
My favorite part of being a respite provider is getting the opportunity to build meaningful connections with kids.  Especially the children that may find it difficult to connect with others.  It’s also fun to get to play at parks and go to kid’s movies at the theater.  People can’t look at you funny if you bring a child along to watch a cartoon
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I’m back in school to get my Bachelors in Nursing so I don’t have much free time anymore.  The rare opportunities I get you will find me hiking with my dog, biking, kayaking or doing hot yoga.

You can help support children and parents by becoming a respite provider today. For more information please contact Kelli Degenhardt at (608) 668-2229 or kdegenhardt@fccnetwork.org.

Learn more about FCC’s community respite program here: https://www.fcconline.org/service/community-respite/.

View more provider highlights from May, June, July, August, September and October.

Share This Post