Is there a need for respite care in the CNMI?

Before respite care can be established and developed in the CNMI, a needs assessment survey needs to be conducted, according to Pamela C. Sablan, executive director of the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities.

The needs assessment survey includes questions about tasks performed routinely by the caregiver for the target dependents; support and assistance from family, community organizations, or other agencies providing service to the residents; home environment; health condition of dependents; dependents’ mood, judgment, and memory essential to the caregiver; and resources such as other assistance, financial, and otherwise that would help maintain living conditions.

“We are inviting all interested families and individuals who are in need of respite services to register with Ayuda Network and respond to the questionnaire,” said Ayuda Network’s Diana Camacho.

Camacho said that service providers, day care centers, and businesses that are interested in providing respite care services are also urged to call the Ayuda Network.

Outreach programs that include respite program presentations will also be provided on the following dates: Oct. 15 to Oct. 17 on Tinian, Oct. 18 to Oct. 22 on Rota, and Oct. 23 to Oct. 24 on Saipan.

The respite care system provides assistance to those providing care outside of a facility, like primary care providers with target dependents, and provides them a temporary relief, who might otherwise need a permanent facility outside the home.

Target dependents are children with developmental disabilities residing at home, or adults with developmental disabilities who reside with aging parents, children and older individuals who are medically fragile, have developmental disabilities, dementia, and other conditions.

On Aug. 29, CDD board members selected the Ayuda Network Inc. as the community based organization to oversee the Commonwealth Respite Service Program or CRSP.

The CDD board said that Ayuda Network has the expertise and background to be responsible for the CRSP on regulation, management, and supervision of the program.

CDD will be an advisory board to Ayuda Network on the CRSP.

Ayuda Network will handle the assessment survey.

For more information about CRSP contact Ayuda Network at 234-7495 or visit their office located in Chalan Kanoa Drive, next to Karidat Social Services. Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm.