The Power of Community: How Respite Care Supports Michigan Families

When Michelle Dulaney talks about respite care, she speaks from personal experience. Michelle has been a foster and adoptive parent since 2010 and has also provided respite care for other families. She knows that caring for children can be rewarding, but be challenging.

 A few years ago, the family support agency Michelle worked with closed. She quickly saw how many families in her area needed assistance. In 2023, she and co-CEO Johni Bunch launched Heart for Home, a nonprofit based in Kalamazoo that focuses on respite care for foster, adoptive and kinship families.

"We developed our model based on our lived experiences," Michelle said. Because so many members of the Heart for Home team have foster care experience, they understand the challenges caregivers face. They know that caring for children who have experienced trauma, loss or major life changes takes time, patience and energy. They also know that caregivers cannot pour from an empty cup.

Respite gives families a chance to take a short break while their child stays with another licensed caregiver. That break could be a few hours, a weekend or a few days. Many people think respite care is only needed when a family is struggling, but Michelle sees it differently. She believes respite works best when families use it before they become overwhelmed.

A few hours to go to an appointment, attend an event or to simply relax can help caregivers return feeling refreshed. Those small breaks can have a big impact over time.

Trust is another important part of respite care. Many caregivers are nervous about leaving their child with someone they do not know. Heart for Home works hard to make families feel comfortable before a respite stay. Staff members help families get to know each other and learn about a child's needs, interests and routines.

As helpful as respite care can be, Michelle says demand continues to rise. There are not enough licensed providers to meet every request. Several hours north of Kalamazoo, Bridget Ware is working to meet that same need.

As the respite program coordinator for Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan (CFS), Bridget helps connect families with respite providers across 10 counties. Every day, she works with caregivers, providers and agencies to make sure children have a safe place to stay when families need support. 
Her job includes finding the right match, coordinating schedules and helping families. But for Bridget, respite is more than finding temporary care. "We try to establish a standing relationship, so the child doesn't have to keep meeting new providers."

Having the same respite family over time can help children feel more comfortable and secure. It also gives caregivers peace of mind knowing their child is with someone they know and trust.

CFS offers two types of respite care. Planned Respite gives families a break they can schedule in advance. Crisis Respite is used when a family faces an emergency or needs immediate support. Both services have the same goal: helping families stay together and preventing placements from ending when challenges arise. "The purpose is to preserve the placement," Bridget said.

One sibling group left a lasting impression on Bridget. They regularly stayed with the same respite provider. Over time, the children built a strong connection with the respite family and the relationship continued to grow.

Later, when the children's primary placement could no longer continue, the respite family stepped forward and welcomed the children into their home full time. Stories like this show how respite care can do more than provide a break. It can create lasting relationships and expand a child's circle of support. 
Both Heart for Home and CFS continue working to recruit more respite providers. While many people are interested in helping children, they may not realize that becoming a respite provider is an option.

For some, respite care is a good first step into foster care. Placements are short-term, planned and focused on supporting other caregivers. It gives people a chance to learn more about caring for children while making a real difference in their community. 

Awareness remains one of the biggest challenges. Many caregivers still do not know what respite care is, how it works or where to find it. Sometimes families receive incorrect information or are unsure where to turn for help. Michigan's six respite care agencies and Michigan Department of Health & Human Services continue working to provide families with resources and build awareness about available support.

Respite gives families time to rest, recharge and return to the important work they do every day. It helps reduce stress, prevent burnout and strengthen the support system around children.

For Michelle and Bridget, the message is simple: caregivers do not have to do this work alone. Sometimes a few hours of support can make a world of difference and when caregivers have the help they need, children benefit too.