Respite coordinator named for Southwest Nebraska

The Nebraska Respite contract for the southwest service area has been assumed by Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) in McCook.  As of October 1st, SWNPHD will manage all aspects of the Nebraska Respite grant awarded to West Central District Health Department. 

“We have been a sub-grantee on the respite grant for the last two fiscal years along with Two Rivers Public Health Department,” states Myra Stoney, Director of Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department.  “I am very excited to bring the respite office to McCook.  We have hired an exceptional leader, Gaylene Stinman, to take the helm of the Respite program as coordinator.”

Gaylene Stinman of Maywood has been named Respite Coordinator for the program.  Gaylene was hired October 19th and will begin her duties in the next few weeks.  Gaylene’s experience includes eleven years working as the Early Development Services Coordinator, coordinating services for children 0-3 years old.  Gaylene also worked as Early Development Services Supervisor for 4 years.  Gaylene has served on the advisory board of Respite Across the Lifespan and worked with the respite program in her former positions.

The Nebraska Respite office is located at 322 Norris Avenue Suite 12 in McCook and serves eighteen counties.  The counties served are Furnas, Frontier, Red Willow, Hayes, Hitchcock, Perkins, Chase, Dundy, Gosper, Dawson, Lincoln, Keith, Arthur, Grant, Hooker, Thomas, McPherson, and Logan counties. The Nebraska Respite contract was originally awarded to West Central District Health Department in October 2005.  The contract for this grant was renewed in July 2007.

Information about the respite Web site http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/HCS/Services/respite.htm includes the following:

What is Respite Service?

Sometimes caregivers need a temporary break from care-giving so they can come back refreshed and ready to provide good care again.

Respite Service pays someone to come into the home, take care of an individual with special needs, and give the primary caregiver a temporary break.

Who needs Respite Service?

* Ongoing, continuous caregivers

* Spouses who care for partners with disabilities

* Parents of adults with disabilities

* Adult children caring for siblings with disabilities

* Parents of children with disabilities

* Adult children caring for parents with disabilities

* Others

“Serving the people and filling the gap in healthcare is one of the goals identified in the health department’s strategic plan.  Helping to fill the gap by managing the Nebraska Respite program is very exciting.  I anticipate this program to be running full steam and providing excellent, quality service within the next several months.” States Stoney.

More information about the respite program may obtained from the Nebraska Respite �" Southwest Service Area at 308-345-4990 or 866-RESPITE.