Phone:
Toll-Free Statewide Respite Phone: 866-ILL-RESP or 866-455-7377 ext. 101 or ext. 103 for Spanish-speakers
Fax: (224) 616-3054
The IRC has Emergency Respite voucher stipends for caregivers across Illinois in a planned or unplanned emergency.
In a crisis or emergency situation, the Emergency Respite Care program stipend helps to cover the cost of supervision for the caregiver's loved one. The ERC program is for families not receiving state or waiver funding.
Please contact our Statewide Respite Coordinator with any questions or if you would like additional information.
Phone: 866-455-7377 ext. 101 or 103 for Spanish
Email:
irc.statecoordinator@. gmail.com
CONTACT THE IRC
Located Statewide
*Individuals who are on state waivers and/or receiving respite services from other agencies are not eligible for emergency respite funding.
“I had no other help and no way to afford it. My daughter was diagnosed with Autism, global communication disorder, and food refusal at three years old. I am very limited on who can watch her and even more limited on who would be willing… The IRC gave me a long overdue break and I can’t explain with words how much it helped me. I felt so isolated and overstressed and the respite the IRC provided was a lifesaver.” – Caregiver in East Alton, IL
“The Illinois Respite Coalition helped my family greatly during our recent pregnancy by providing Emergency Respite funding to allow a trained respite worker to come into our home and help take care of our daughter who has significant disabilities. This has been a huge relief to our family. Caring for my daughter has become very physically challenging for me during the pregnancy, but the Emergency Respite funding has allowed my husband to continue working all the while ensuring our daughter’s care and safety needs are met.” – Caregiver in Champaign, IL
Updated October 2022 by the Illinois Respite Coalition
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90LRLI0046, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.
What is the Emergency Respite Care (ERC) Program?
The Illinois Respite Coalition is dedicated to creating a safety net for caregivers in crisis. The Emergency Respite Care Program offers funding and resources to support caregivers of children and adults with special needs who are not receiving any respite services and have an urgent need for respite care in the absence of any other funding source. This program is made possible thanks to funding from the Administration for Community Living through their lifespan respite care program state program enhancement grant. The IRC is able to use this funding in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities.
If you have any questions on Emergency Respite or would like to apply for Emergency Respite Care funding, please contact our statewide coordinator for questions and information:
(866) ILL-RESP or (866)455.7377 ext. 101 or ext. 103 for Spanish-speakers
irc.statecoordinator@gmail.com
Or fill out this survey to be contacted by staff!
Crisis situations that may qualify for the Emergency Respite Program include, but are not limited to the following circumstances*:
- Caregiver illness (physical, mental, and/or emotional)
- Caregiver hospitalization or doctor appointments
- Illness of a loved one
- Funeral or wake
- Drug or alcohol abuse counseling or support
- Care recipient transitions (i.e. living arrangements)
- Loss of employment or work related situations
- Declining Mental Health