Wisconsin families have several paths to respite care, including the Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) waiver, which is the primary public funding route for skill-building and non-medical respite. Respite gives caregivers a planned, short-term break while the child stays safely engaged. Services are delivered in home-like settings, not institutions, and are designed to reduce the daily stress of continuous caregiving.

Table of Contents

  • [What is respite care for a child with a disability?](#what-is-respite-care-for-a-child-with-a-disability)
  • [How does the CLTS waiver help families pay for respite care in Wisconsin?](#how-does-the-clts-waiver-help-families-pay-for-respite-care-in-wisconsin)
  • [Where can families find respite providers and additional support in Milwaukee?](#where-can-families-find-respite-providers-and-additional-support-in-milwaukee)
  • [What is respite foster care and how is it different from CLTS respite?](#what-is-respite-foster-care-and-how-is-it-different-from-clts-respite)
  • [What training and requirements do respite providers need in Wisconsin?](#what-training-and-requirements-do-respite-providers-need-in-wisconsin)
  • [How can families find skill-building support that goes beyond respite care?](#how-can-families-find-skill-building-support-that-goes-beyond-respite-care)
  • [Are there other funding routes or grants for respite care in Wisconsin?](#are-there-other-funding-routes-or-grants-for-respite-care-in-wisconsin)
  • [What should families do first to explore respite care options in Wisconsin?](#what-should-families-do-first-to-explore-respite-care-options-in-wisconsin)
  • [Key Takeaways](#key-takeaways)
  • [References](#references)

What is respite care for a child with a disability?

Respite care is short-term relief from direct caregiving for the primary caregiver of a child with disabilities or special health care needs. It is not an emergency service or a first placement. It is a planned break that gives families time to rest, attend to other responsibilities, or spend time with other family members.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services defines respite care as a service that provides the primary caregiver temporary relief and reduces the stress of giving continuous support, according to Family Voices of Wisconsin. The goal is to keep the child safely engaged while the family gets a break.

!Heartwarming moment of a mother lovingly kissing her daughter with Down syndrome.

Photo by Nicola Barts on Pexels

In Wisconsin, respite is delivered in the family home, a relative's home, the home of a respite provider, or a freestanding facility that primarily serves as a respite care center, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. It is not provided in a hospital or institutional setting.

Respite care is distinct from child care or personal care. Certified child care provided for the purpose of respite is classified as child day care, not respite care, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Respite is specifically about giving the family time off from caregiving responsibilities.

How does the CLTS waiver help families pay for respite care in Wisconsin?

The Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) waiver is a Medicaid Home and Community-Based waiver program for children with disabilities. It is the main public funding route for non-medical respite in Wisconsin. The CLTS program can cover respite care to ease the daily stress and care demands on a participant's family on a short-term basis, according to Milwaukee County.

!Diverse group walking on an urban street in Milwaukee, WI, during a sunny day.

Photo by Quang Vuong on Pexels

Families start the process through their county's intake agency. Regional agencies handle outreach, intake, application, and eligibility determination. Compass Wisconsin-Threshold provides these services for families in Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha, and several other counties, according to GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee. Milwaukee County families can contact the county's Children's Long Term Support Program directly.

The CLTS waiver is not the only funding source, but it is the primary route for families of children with disabilities who need non-medical respite. Families who are unsure where to start can contact their county agency or a regional center for guidance on the application process.

Where can families find respite providers and additional support in Milwaukee?

Families in Milwaukee can start with 2-1-1 Wisconsin, a free helpline that connects people to thousands of nonprofit and government services in their area. The line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by calling 211 or 877-947-2211, according to GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee.

The Well Badger Resource Center is a statewide information and referral hotline and online database for Wisconsin families and providers working with children and youth with special needs. Families can reach Well Badger at 800.642.7837, according to GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee.

Regional Centers for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs offer free support to families and the providers who serve them. These centers can help families understand their options and connect with local services, according to Family Voices of Wisconsin.

Some local organizations also maintain resource lists. GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee, for example, provides a resource page that includes respite and support information for families in the Milwaukee area, according to GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee.

What is respite foster care and how is it different from CLTS respite?

Respite foster care is a short-term caregiving arrangement in a licensed provider's home for children who already have a full-time foster home. It is not a first placement into foster care. The purpose is to support existing foster families by giving them a temporary break, according to Children's Wisconsin.

Respite foster care providers have flexibility. They can provide care only when they are available, and they can accept or decline respite opportunities. Providers are never forced to accept a respite assignment, according to Children's Wisconsin.

The most common respite request is for weekends, but requests can range from one day to one week. Children in foster care range in age from birth to 18 years old, and the most common ages for respite care are 4 to 12 years old, according to Children's Wisconsin.

The Children's Wisconsin respite program provides 24/7 support, so providers can contact a staff member in the event of an emergency. This makes respite foster care a structured option for foster families who need planned relief, according to Children's Wisconsin.

What training and requirements do respite providers need in Wisconsin?

Respite foster care providers in Wisconsin must be at least 18 years of age. All adults residing in the home must agree to background checks. Providers must also provide four favorable references, including three nonrelatives and one adult relative, according to Children's Wisconsin.

Providers must complete "Nurturing Connections" training prior to licensure. If a two-parent household applies, both individuals must be licensed as respite providers unless one is receiving care themselves, according to Children's Wisconsin.

Providers must show financial independence and provide verification of homeowner's or renter's insurance and vehicle liability insurance if they own an automobile. Children arrive to respite with their own clothing, medications, diapers, formula, and other personal items. Providers must not delegate care to others, according to Children's Wisconsin.

How can families find skill-building support that goes beyond respite care?

While respite gives families a break, some children and young adults also need structured instruction to build daily living skills. Abide Supportive Living provides CLTS non-medical respite for children and daily living, life, and community skills instruction for adults through IRIS in southeastern Wisconsin.

Abide teaches skills alongside the person rather than performing tasks for them. The focus is on building independence in routines, community access, and money management. Services include Daily Living Skills Instruction, Life Skills Training and Education, Money and Planning Skills, and Community Access Skills.

Abide serves Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties. Its services are skill instruction and respite, not housekeeping, personal care, or nursing. Families who want support that goes beyond a break can ask about skill-building options alongside CLTS respite or IRIS-funded instruction.

The CLTS waiver can cover non-medical respite, and IRIS can fund skill instruction for adults. Families can explore both routes depending on the age and goals of the person they support, according to Milwaukee County.

Are there other funding routes or grants for respite care in Wisconsin?

The Respite Care Association of Wisconsin (RCAW) is a resource for respite information and potential grants. RCAW grants remain open but are funding dependent on federal availability, as of an announcement dated October 6, 2025, according to the Respite Care Association of Wisconsin.

Families who do not qualify for waiver programs can contact 2-1-1 Wisconsin or their local county agency to identify other options. These referral lines can connect families to nonprofit and government services in their area, according to GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee.

CLTS remains the primary route for families of children with disabilities who need non-medical respite. Local resources and grants can supplement waiver services or guide families toward next steps when waiver enrollment is not an option.

What should families do first to explore respite care options in Wisconsin?

Families should contact their county's CLTS intake agency or the regional center for children and youth with special health care needs. These agencies handle outreach, intake, and eligibility determination and can explain the process, according to GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee.

Calling 2-1-1 or the Well Badger Resource Center can provide a personalized list of local options. Families can ask providers directly about their training, availability, and whether they offer skill-building or non-medical respite, according to Family Voices of Wisconsin.

Asking about availability is a normal first step. No single option fits every family, and starting with a phone call or referral line can clarify which route makes sense.

Key Takeaways

  • Respite care in Wisconsin is short-term relief for primary caregivers, delivered in home-like settings, not hospitals.
  • The CLTS waiver is the main Medicaid route for covering non-medical respite for children with disabilities.
  • Respite foster care is a short-term arrangement for children already in full-time foster homes, not a first placement.
  • Respite providers must be at least 18, pass background checks, and complete "Nurturing Connections" training.
  • 2-1-1 Wisconsin and the Well Badger Resource Center are free, 24/7 referral lines for families.
  • Abide Supportive Living provides CLTS non-medical respite and IRIS-funded skill instruction in southeastern Wisconsin.
  • RCAW grants exist but are subject to federal funding availability.

References

  1. Family Voices of Wisconsin: Respite Services for Children with Disabilities
  2. Respite Care Association of Wisconsin: Respite Resources
  3. GiGi's Playhouse Milwaukee: Milwaukee Resources
  4. Wisconsin Department of Health Services: Standard Program Categories
  5. Children's Wisconsin: Respite Foster Care
  6. Milwaukee County: Children's Long Term Support Program