For Deb and her neighbor Debbie, what began as a chance conversation between two young mothers grew into a lifelong friendship and a caregiving relationship that would support one family for more than thirty years.
Back in the mid-eighties, the two mothers met while walking their young children through the neighborhood.
Years later, life took an unexpected turn for Debbie’s family. Both of their children, Chris and Melissa, were diagnosed with autism before the age of seven. Like many families navigating a new diagnosis, they were overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. With no family nearby for support, they connected with a respite services agency that provided support for families caring for children with disabilities. The help was meaningful, but something was missing.
For families caring for children with disabilities, consistent respite supports can make all the difference. Familiar faces, routines, and trust often determine whether support feels sustainable over time. Looking for a better solution, Debbie asked her longtime friend Deb if she would consider becoming part of their respite support system herself.
What followed was the kind of stability the family had been searching for. Days at the library, afternoons at the pool club, trips to the park. Everyday routines became opportunities for connection and trust. Deb’s own children became part of the experience too, creating natural friendships that felt genuine and accepting.
Over time, what began through respite supports became something woven into both families’ lives. That support continues today through outings in the community, seasonal festivals, church, and building everyday life skills.
Why Respite Supports Matters
Stories like this reflect something many families discover over time. Respite care is not only about giving caregivers time to rest. It is about having reliable support that helps families feel reassured while their loved one continues receiving compassionate, high-quality care.
Family Resource Network’s Respite Supports Program provides one-to-one assistance designed to offer temporary relief for family caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout New Jersey. While caregivers take time to rest and recharge, participants receive individualized support that promotes safety, engagement, skill building, and community inclusion.
Program Details
The Respite Supports Program offers short-term, one-to-one care in the participant’s home, a Department of Human Services-licensed group home, or another approved community setting. Services are scheduled flexibly to accommodate each family’s needs, with support that prioritizes continuity of care and peace of mind for caregivers.
Care is provided by experienced Direct Support Professionals trained by Family Resource Network to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct Support Professionals are matched based on the participant’s individual needs and goals to support personalized, consistent care.
For the Connolly family, respite became far more than coverage for a few hours. It became consistency. It became community. And over time, it became family.
Learn More
If you are caring for a child or young adult with a disability and exploring your options, Family Resource Network can help you find the right fit. Learn more about Family Resource Network’s Respite Supports Program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New Jersey.
Learn More About Respite Supports