Community Living Supports (CLS) & Respite Care

More support. More independence. More opportunities to belong.

At Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, build relationships, and participate in their community. Our Community Living Supports (CLS) and Respite Care services provide individualized support for children and youth with disabilities, unique support needs, or other challenges that may make community participation difficult.

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What's the Difference Between CLS and Respite?

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Community Living Supports (CLS)

CLS focuses on teaching and practicing new skills that help participants build independence and reach their individual goals. Each participant has an individualized plan with specific goals, and our CLS Coaches work alongside them to practice skills, build confidence, and make progress at their own pace.

Most of the time, CLS is provided inside our building, but we may work on skills in other community spaces if it is safe to do so, and with your permission, of course! CLS can be scheduled for as little as one hour per week or up to 30 hours per week, depending on individual needs and availability. Learning new skills takes practice, and we're here for the journey!

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Respite Care

Respite Care provides caregivers with a temporary break while their child enjoys a safe, supportive, and engaging environment. Unlike CLS, respite does not require an individualized goal plan. It's an opportunity for participants to enjoy activities, connect with others, and have fun while caregivers take time to recharge.

Respite is scheduled as needed, giving families flexibility to arrange support when they need it most.

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Pricing & Financial Assistance

Because of our incredibly generous donors and foundations that believe in our mission, more families can access the support they need without the financial burden. We are deeply grateful to the individuals, organizations, and foundations whose generosity makes this possible. Their support helps us create a more inclusive community where every family has the opportunity to find support, connection, and belonging.

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Thanks to this generosity, we can offer 75% financial assistance toward CLS and Respite Care services for families who do not qualify for a Community Mental Health (CMH) referral, while funds last. This funding allows us to make individualized support significantly more affordable, and every dollar invested in our mission helps make a meaningful difference in the lives of local families.

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Community Living Supports (CLS)

• No cost with an eligible referral from a Community Mental Health agency, including ISK, Pivotal, VBCMH, OnPoint, or Riverwood.

• Out of Pocket: $46 per hour.

• With financial assistance: Just $11.50 per hour!

Respite Care

• No cost with an eligible referral from a Community Mental Health agency, including ISK, Pivotal, VBCMH, OnPoint, or Riverwood.

• Out of Pocket: $34 per hour.

• With financial assistance: Just $8.50 per hour!

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Who Qualifies For Respite and CLS?

Anyone!  If there are skills to learn in a community setting, you qualify for CLS. If you're a parent, guardian, foster parent, primary caregiver, you're loved one qualifies for Respite Care. No special needs are required. No age limits for out of pocket/financial assistance participants either.

We currently accept Community Mental Health (CMH) referrals for children and youth only. Adults may also receive CLS or Respite services through private pay, subject to availability.

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​Trained, Individualized Support

Our CLS Coaches and Respite Companions receive training in First Aid, trauma-informed care, cultural competence, Recipient Rights, and the individualized information needed to support each participant safely and respectfully.

We take the time to understand each person's needs, preferences, strengths, and support requirements so they can participate as fully as possible. Our goal is to provide support that respects each participant as an individual while helping them feel safe, valued, and included.

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Support That Makes Inclusion Possible

Here's one of the things that makes Ripple Effects special: support doesn't have to mean sitting on the sidelines!

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We regularly offer classes, clubs, and activities that are open to the public during scheduled CLS and Respite sessions. Participants can join these activities alongside their peers while receiving the individualized support they need.

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During CLS: Participants can attend a class or club at no additional cost when they can work on their individualized CLS goals as part of the activity.

During Respite: Participants can enjoy public classes and clubs as part of their respite session.

Pro tip: Schedule CLS or Respite sessions to overlap with classes and clubs your child is interested in!

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This is inclusion in action. Participants who need one-to-one support can learn, play, make friends, and enjoy shared experiences alongside their peers. Instead of separating children who need additional support, we help them access the same community experiences as everyone else.

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How Do I Schedule Services?

We're working toward making scheduling easier, but protecting your family's privacy and meeting HIPAA requirements means we don't yet have a convenient online scheduling system.

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Scheduling CLS

CLS appointments can be arranged on a recurring basis, from one hour per week up to 30 hours per week, depending on individual needs and availability. Sometimes learning a new skill takes lots of practice, and we're happy to work with families to determine a schedule that supports their goals.

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Scheduling Respite

Respite appointments are scheduled as needed. Please call us to arrange a session. We recommend providing 2–3 weeks' notice to reserve your preferred appointment, but we'll always do our best to accommodate last-minute requests when possible.

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We're available from:

• 8am-7pm Monday through Friday

• 8am-4pm Saturday and Sunday

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Help Us Make Respite More Accessible!

We're actively pursuing grant funding to launch a drop-in respite program with convenient online scheduling. Our goal is to give families more flexibility, reduce the stress of arranging care, and make it easier for caregivers to get a much-needed break.

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We know how challenging it can be for families to find appropriate, reliable support. We want to make accessing respite easier, more flexible, and more convenient for everyone.

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We're working hard to make this happen. Send us your good vibes! 💙

At Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center, we're creating a community where everyone belongs, every participant has opportunities to grow, and every family feels supported.