Respite Care in New Jersey: Who Qualifies and How Families Pay for It

Respite is the service families most often need and least often ask for. It is not a luxury and it is not a sign that anything is going wrong at home. In New Jersey it is a funded service, and most families who qualify are leaving hours unused simply because nobody explained how to get them.

What respite actually is

Planned, temporary care provided by trained staff so the primary caregiver can step away. The person receiving support is not parked somewhere — good respite is active: recreation, social time, skill practice, community outings. The caregiver gets rest; the participant gets a program.

Who qualifies

• Adults 21 and older who are eligible for the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities and have respite included in their Individualized Service Plan.
• Youth under 21 served by the Children's System of Care, where respite is written into the plan of care after a needs assessment.
• Families paying privately, who can enroll without waiting on an authorization.

How to get hours approved

For adults, ask your Support Coordinator to add respite to the ISP and identify how many hours the budget supports. For children and teens, call PerformCare at 1-877-652-7624; a screening leads to a needs assessment, and respite can be authorized as part of the plan of care. In both cases, be specific about why the hours are needed — "caregiver works evening shifts" and "sibling needs medical appointments" are the kinds of details that make a plan realistic.

After school respite

The most practical format for school-age children. Staff pick up where the school day ends: structured activities, social skill practice, movement, homework support, and time with peers. Empower U runs after school respite at our Red Bank center (65 Monmouth Street, Floor 3) and our Garfield center (60 Monroe Street).

Weekend autism groups

Weekend programming serves a second purpose: it is respite for the family and a social community for the participant. Groups focus on connection, recreation, communication, and daily living skills, with staff trained to support a range of sensory and communication needs. These run in both Red Bank and Garfield.

Questions worth asking any respite provider

• What is the staff-to-participant ratio, and how are staff trained?
• What does a typical session look like, hour by hour?
• How do you handle medical needs, feeding, and toileting support?
• How do you communicate with families after each session?
• What happens when a session has to be cancelled?

Getting started

Call (855) 500-EU4U or email info@justempower.me. We will check your DDD budget or plan of care, confirm how many hours are covered, and tell you honestly what is available at each center before you commit to anything.