Planned Respite Care: Hope for Families Under Pressure

Respite care — having breaks from the constant demands of parenting — has long been recognised as a crucial service for families of a child with a disability Only more recently has it been considered equally beneficial for families at risk of abusing or neglecting their children. A growing body of research demonstrates the negative impact of social and economic stress on people's capacity to raise their children effectively. The experiences of welfare workers indicate that planned respite care can be an important means of reducing stress and lessening the likelihood of child maltreatment and the possibility of children's removal to long‐term care. A case is outlined for a much more substantial investment in planned respite care as part of an integrated range of family support services.