16.8 Million U.S. Families Caring for Children with Special Needs Need a Break

Respite "Resort" Models Program to Bring Relief and Renewal

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 28, 2011—Jill's House, an overnight respite resort for children with special needs, offers up a model to address the needs of an estimated 16.8 million families caring for children with special needs under 18 years old (Caregiving in the United States; National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP, November 2009).

A non-profit organization, Jill's House offers an innovative 42,000-square foot, 45-bed respite resort for children ages 6 to 17 with intellectual disabilities and their siblings. Jill’s House opened its doors in October 2010 and has since provided more than 40,000 hours of much-needed respite care to children and their families throughout Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland.

The idea for Jill's House began in 2003 when Lon Solomon, senior pastor of McLean Bible Church, and his wife Brenda wanted to honor their daughter Jill, who has a severe seizure disorder. After experiencing the difference that having a break made in their own lives, the Solomons wanted to give the gift to other families. The facility they envisioned celebrates special children and provides respite, renewal and peace of mind through overnight programs and day camps.

"After countless nights up and down with Jill, the stress of determining what special services she needed and the constant question of whether we were doing enough, Lon and I needed a break. When members of our church reached out and gave us respite, it made a world of difference," remarks Brenda Solomon, co-founder of Jill's House. "We finally got some sleep. We were able to make better decisions. We took better care of Jill."

"Respite" refers to the break from the daily routine of caregiving given to families when short-term, temporary care is provided for their loved one with disabilities. Respite care enables families to take some much-needed time off; respite is often referred to as "a gift of time."

"The idea of respite - of just getting a break for one night to be with other children and sleep through the night - is critical to give families the ability to keep going," said Lon Solomon, co-founder of Jill's House. "Our goal is to take the model to other parts of the nation so more parents can receive the gift of respite and more children can experience a place where they are cherished and celebrated."

The resort-style facility was designed with input from a team of specialists and therapists to provide an attractive, safe environment where children can enjoy a slate of activities to keep them active, stimulated and learning. Jill's House includes a playground, a sensory room, an art room, a music room, a swimming pool, a gym and bedroom suites.

"[Jill's House] boasts a swimming pool, gym, music room, art center, suites with bejeweled ceilings that look like outer space and a playground so cool, I'd call it Seven Flags."
–Petula Dvorak, Washington Post (Dec. 2010)

Jill's House relies on a professional staff of 60 as well as hundreds of specially trained volunteers to provide safe and specialized care to children with intellectually disabilities at a staff-to-child ratio of roughly 1:2. While a child's overnight stay, complete with specialized medical care, costs Jill’s House about $600, most families contribute $75 per child per night. Jill's House was created and is maintained through individual donations and foundation grants and receives no direct state or federal funding.

"One of the best things about Jill's House is it gives our son a place to go to be with his peers and to be treated with kindness," says Vicky Munroe of Vienna, Va., of her son Clay. Clay suffered a stroke-like event during birth that caused major brain damage. "Living in a typical world, it is hard to find a place where Clay can have a day filled with tailor-made activities just for him. Not only does Jill's House make Clay feel safe but it is the best feeling in the world to drop Clay off someplace and know he is happy."

ABOUT JILL'S HOUSE
Opened in 2010, Jill's House celebrates special children and provides respite, renewal and peace of mind to their families through overnight programs and day camps. Jill's House offers an innovative 42,000-square foot, 45-bed respite resort for children ages 6 to 17 with intellectual disabilities and their siblings.  Receiving no direct state or federal funding, Jill's House was created and is maintained through individual donations and foundation grants. To find out more visit JillsHouse.org or follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/jillshouse and on Twitter @Jills_House.