Struggling to find Respite Workers?
As a parent or guardian who cares for an individual with a disability with DSPD Community Supports Medicaid waiver funding, you may struggle to find someone who can help care for your loved one. If you would like some help tackling the task of finding, hiring, and training respite workers, then apply to have us help you connect with a qualified respite worker. ​You may be eligible to receive a $500 (DSPD waiting list families) or $1,000 (DSPD-funded families) stipend by completing our online training and program requirements, while grant funds are available.
Struggling to find Respite Workers?
As a parent or guardian who cares for an individual with a disability on the DSPD Community Supports Medicaid waiver or DSPD waiting list, you may struggle to find someone who can help care for your loved one. If you would like some help tackling the task of finding, hiring, and training respite workers, then apply to have us help you connect with a respite worker. ​
Our Program
Funded by a grant from DSPD, the Utah Prader-Willi Syndrome Association—in partnership with Tanner Dance at the University of Utah—has created the UtahRespite.Care program to recruit, train, and connect respite workers with DSPD-funded families.
During the initial phase of this program in 2024, respite workers provided over 2,000 hours of respite care for Utah families. During Phase 2 in 2025, we continued the program by adding families and respite workers from additional counties throughout Utah.
Introduction to
Respite Workers
UtahRespite.Care recruits prospective respite workers through an easy application process—canvasing places like university and college campuses in Utah. We find young adults who are eager to make a difference with individuals who have disabilities and are looking for flexible employment.
These respite workers complete the UtahRespite.Care online training—where they are introduced to respite work and learn to elevate their interactions with individuals in a respite care setting. The training does not include disability-specific information or medical training, but they will come away with a basic understanding of how DSPD respite care works and effective techniques and activities that will make their time with your child more meaningful and productive.
Connecting with
Respite Workers
When you apply to become a participating family, UtahRespite.Care will provide you with access to our respite worker profile information so you can quickly find available respite workers in your area. You connect with respite workers by logging into our online system. You will also set up a family profile so respite workers looking for work can find you. Our DSPD-specific online training helps you navigate the interviewing, hiring, and onboarding process more easily.
At UtahRespite.Care we try to make it as easy as possible for you to find respite workers in your area, but it is ultimately your responsibility to select and personally interview any respite worker before you hire them to work with your child. You will private pay or use your DSPD budget to pay respite and supported living workers for the time they work with your child.
Benefits
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May be eligible to receive a $500 (DSPD waiting list families) or $1,000 (DSPD-funded families) stipend by completing our online training and program requirements.
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Access to the profiles of trained respite workers in Utah.
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Access to DSPD SAS employer and onboarding training.
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Travel stipend for travel fare expenses used to meet with your respite worker.
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Provide opportunities for your child to learn, grow, and explore the community by spending quality time with a trained caregiver friend.
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Experience feeling refreshed and restored by sharing the care of your child with a trained and caring respite worker.
Please Note: UtahRespite.Care reserves the right to give the stipends in accordance with the program objectives of the grant.
Benefits
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​ Access to the profiles of trained respite workers in Utah.
-
Access to DSPD SAS employer and onboarding training.
-
Provide opportunities for your child to learn, grow, and explore the community by spending quality time with a trained caregiver friend.
-
Experience feeling refreshed and restored by sharing the care of your child with a respite worker.
Participation Requirements
Although DSPD funded individuals must use the Self-Administered Services (SAS) model, participating families can use Caregiver Compensation and be a SAS employer. Use the UtahRespite.Care Onboarding Training to get started with SAS.
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​Families who have previously participated in this program are encouraged to apply and create an online profile, so participating respite workers—who are looking for work—can connect with them. These families are not eligible to receive a stipend for participating in the program.
1. DSPD Funded
Must be DSPD funded and use Self-Administered Services (SAS), or private-pay, or be on the DSPD Waiting list, and are looking to hire one or more respite workers.
4. Hire a Respite Worker
Share your profile information with respite workers on the members-only UtahRespite.Care family directory and hire at least one respite worker.​​
2. Complete Application
5. Online Meeting
Attend an online meeting for the parents or guardians who are participating in the UtahRespite.Care program.
3. Complete Training
6. Complete Survey
Complete a feedback survey about your experience with the UtahRespite.Care program.
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Participation Requirements
Participating families can use the DSPD Self-Administered Services (SAS) model to hire and pay respite workers. They can also use private pay options. They can be fully funded through DSPD or on the waiting list.
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​Families who have previously participated in this program are encouraged to continue to update their online profiles, so participating respite workers—who are looking for work—can connect with you.
1. DSPD Funded/Wait List
Must be DSPD funded and use Self-Administered Services (SAS) or private-pay, or be on the DSPD waiting list and looking to hire respite workers.
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2. Complete Application
3. Hire a Respite Worker
Share your profile information with respite workers on the members-only UtahRespite.Care family profiles.​​
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Testimonials
Nan | Parent
“[Our respite worker] is able to be a friend to our daughter at the same time as helping her to be safe and happy. She has great solutions for our daughter's challenging behaviors. The training [she] received as an intern has made her not only a fun caregiver, but someone I can trust to be able to leave with my daughter for more than an hour, knowing that she can think of new activities, follow protocols needed by our daughter, and etc. It is such a gift to have someone help our daughter that has such a big heart AND big skills to match. Thank you!”
Isabella | Parent
“I did not have to help with the paperwork to sign the interns on, I did not have to train the interns as much, they were ready to work—the expectations of their task was clear.... The interns came with wonderful positive energy and with different skill sets that added in several ways to my son’s experience, they were enthusiastic, committed. I was totally surprised at the level of willingness to really... work “not just a side job” but [they were] genuinely interested in the job. It allowed me to do things around the house that have been on my to-do list for years. It allowed me to finish up my day at work and not have to take work home because I needed to rush home. I was able to juggle one less thing which means a lot. I knew my son was in good hands doing something meaningful and not just on his phone.”
Grace | Respite Worker
“This opportunity changed not only the major I'm studying, but my outlook on what is important in life and what is worth my energy. Working for these families has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
Mikayla | Respite Worker
“As an occupational therapy student, I am interested in working in early intervention. This opportunity has changed my direction and emphasis because now I am interested in working with cerebral palsy populations and developing better diagnostic testing/early intervention to improve function despite high tone. I also feel more confident in my ability to work with kids with disabilities and have fun/develop relationships with them!”
Ben | Respite Worker
“Working as a respite worker has helped me understand how to use skills I am learning in my occupation therapy program (behavior management and feeding and eating). I also have a better understanding of the patience it takes to work with individuals with disabilities.”
Oliver | Respite Worker
“This was the most fulfilling job I’ve ever worked. Respite work has taught me a lot, and has led me to realize that I need that kind of fulfillment in my career. I think it’s something I could definitely do alongside my full-time career in the future.”
Sierra | Respite Worker
“It encouraged me to continue to use my strategies as I head back into the classroom this fall. It also has opened the possibilty of someday teaching special education.”
Drew | Respite Worker
“I feel like I now understand the difficulties these families go through but also what makes it worth it for them. In my future career as a doctor I think I will have a special place for individuals with disabilities that I work with and hopefully I will be better at working with them because of this.”