FAQ for Students

What is respite care?

Planned or emergency support to provide family/primary caregivers with a short break from the excep­tional demands of caring for individuals with complex needs across the lifespan.

How many credits is the course?

The course is 2 credits. One credit is given for participation in weekly trainings and discussions. An ad­ditional credit is given for 3 hours of field experience, in line with UMass guidelines for internship credit hours.

Students in the internship option will receive 1 credit for 3 hours of field experience per week.

When is this course offered?

This course is offered every fall and spring semester. Summer availability differs every year. The class meeting time is subject to change, please visit Spire for up-to-date information.

Is this course open to all students?

Students in the Developmental Disabilities and Human Services (DDHS) program receive priority registration, but students across all majors and years are welcome to enroll.

What training will I receive?

Students will complete the Respite Care Provider Training developed by the ARCH National Respite Network at the start of the semester. This training is completed online at your own pace and takes approximately 5 hours. Students have the option to receive free CPR and First Aid training through UMass EMS.

Students in the course will receive additional training during the weekly class.

How do I get matched with a family?

Students will be asked to complete a basic profile about themselves including, for example, their major, past experience with people with disabilities, hobbies and career goals. Students will be asked to indicate their pref­erences for their match. Students will be matched to participating families based on both student and family preferences. Students will be assigned in pairs, if requested, to a family after the add/drop period.

What happens at the home visits?

At the beginning of the semester, students will review the background information provided about the family and complete additional training and orientation with the family. Parents/caregivers will not be leaving the house until both parents and students fel confortable. With guidance from parents/caregivers, students will be responsible for designing activities for their visits. There are no specific therapeutic or educational goals for your time together, it’s all about socializing and having fun!

How do I get to the home visit?

Students using their own cars to travel to the family’s home will be reimbursed for their mileage. Student pairs are expected to carpool to their site. Transportation (e.g., Zipcar, Uber) will be covered for students without ac­cess to a car.

What if I or the family has to cancel a visit?

In the event that a family cancels, students should make their best effort to reschedule with the family. If no convenient alternative can be arranged, students should use the missed time to make plans for future sessions.

If a student needs to cancel for any reason, they should notify their partner and the coordinator as soon as pos­sible. If an alternate partner is available, the respite visit can continue as scheduled. If no alternate is available, the family should be notified as soon as possible about the cancellation. Students should not go to their site alone.