Respite

For more information about respite please click here.

For information about a local program near you:

Memphis (Shelby County) –Loretta Rhodes

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Jackson (Madison County) – Lacynthia Q. Comer

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Oak Ridge (Anderson and Knox Counties) – Debra Irwin  

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Johnson City (Sullivan, Unicoi, and Carter Counties) – Caleb Cooper

Phone: [phone]

Mobile: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Smyrna (Rutherford County) – Emma Newberry

Email: [e-mail]

RESPITE VOUCHER PROGRAM:  A self-directed respite voucher program for families of children identified with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) or dually diagnosed with SED and autism to enable them to purchase respite as needed. This service addresses the second barrier to respite: finding the means to pay an appropriate respite provider.

This service is available statewide but has limited funding.  The Respite Voucher program is available to enrolled families. This program also maintains a Respite Helpline, which parents can call to find out about available lifespan respite services across the state for caregivers of persons of any age, with any disability.

For more information on this program or other available respite resources, or to enroll in the Respite Voucher program, contact the Tennessee Respite Coalition’s Respite Helpline at [phone], or visit www.tnrespite.org

Megan Schwalm, Executive Director of Respite Voucher – TN Respite Coalition
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

You can enroll in the Tennessee Voucher Program Online by clicking here.

For more information about the Respite Voucher Program please click here.

The Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Please call Tony Mitchell at [phone] and he will direct your call.

https://autismtennessee.wildapricot.org/

https://www.kidcentraltn.com/development/special-needs/autism-resources.html

https://www.autismspeaks.org/provider/nashville-autism-services

System of Care Across Tennessee (SOCAT)

SOCAT currently offers care coordination using a wraparound approach for young children, children, youth, and young adults and their families. SOCAT serves those with the highest needs through a high fidelity wraparound process. Wraparound is a planning process that follows a series of steps to help children and their families realize their hopes and dreams. The wraparound process also helps make sure children and youth grow up in their homes and communities. It is a planning process that brings people together from different parts of the whole family’s life. With help from one or more facilitators, people form the family’s life work together, coordinate activities, and blend their perspective of the family’s situation. The wraparound process is individualized to the strengths and needs of the children and their family and allows for children and family voice and choice in the process. Wraparound is culturally and linguistically competent and is community-based.

Email: [e-mail]

Referrals may be directed to:

https://socacrosstn.org/make-a-referral/

Tennessee Voices for Children

[phone]

https://tnvoices.org/