Meet January’s Featured Respite Provider: Tyler Buchanan

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 January’s featured provider, Tyler Buchanan!

We asked him a few questions about his experience with the respite program:

How long have you been a respite provider?
I have been a provider for about 3 years.

What made you want to apply to be a respite provider?
I work in the mental health field and love working with kids and families. I love helping out families in need of a provider.

What is your favorite part of being a respite provider?
My favorite part is spending time with the kiddos. They are so much fun and bring excitement to my weeks. Plus, knowing I am giving the parents a break gives me a sense of joy as well and they are always appreciative of that.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, building legos, and being outside in nature.

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 2023, June 2023, July 2023, August 2023, September 2023, October 2023, November 2023, February 2024, March 2024, April 2024, May 2024, October 2024 and December 2024.