Peace Place

Peace Place is a non-profit organization that provides free, licensed respite care to qualifying families. We call it "respite with a purpose," meaning the well-trained, compassionate caregivers at Peace Place make the most out of the time they have with the children. Through this, the children learn positive behavioral strategies and life skills (communication, socialization, self-regulation, executive functioning, motor skills,positive behavior reinforcement, etc.) At Peace Place, which they will be able to take with them into all other environments. Peace Place also supports parents and families by giving them a much-needed break. In addition, we provide education, support, and coping tools to lessen their stressors at home. The purpose behind this is to prevent the abuse and neglect of children with special needs, which, unfortunately,occurs at a higher rate than in the general population. Morning program (ages 0 - 5): trained caregivers provide "respite with a purpose" to children five days a week for three hours. Using all safety precautions and proven educational and behavioral techniques, our caregivers facilitate social skills, self-regulation, communication skills, creative learning, and executive functioning skills. The caregivers help children to master these skills during the program, so they can begin to generalize these skills across every environment. The parent receives a break, as well as tools to help their child. Mid-day program (ages 0-12): designed for children with more intense medical needs, require more behavioral support, or children who have a higher level of sensory sensitivity, this program will have a higher staff-to-child ratio, so staff has the ability to work with a child on a one-to-one basis. After-school program (ages 5-12+): following the school day, trained caregivers provide "respite with a purpose" to this age group, as well. After a long day of structure, focus, and sitting at a desk, these kids are ready to work out their energy, engage in physical activity, think creatively, and re-regulate. Participation in the after-school program is designed to help kids return to a more relaxed, regulated state before they go home, making for a less stressful environment for the entire family. Summer camps (ages 5-12+): these camps are focused on keeping school-age children with special needs engaged and participating in constructive programs, thus giving parents opportunities for respite in the summer months. Peace Place provides six different camps during the summer, including two art camps, two nature camps, a back-to-school bootcamp and a kindergarten-ready bootcamp. The bootcamps are a recent addition and are designed to help children with specialized needs who struggle with acclimating to school in the fall. They begin the process of increasing focus and attention, building endurance, practicing self-regulation, and engaging in executive functioning skills before the school year begins. The goal is to relieve stress in the children, their families, and their educators. Parent programs include a monthly circle of parents support group that incorporates education and an open discussion among parents to encourage sharing of resources and social connections, and individual parent trainings, as needed. Every program at Peace Place is designed to improve the lives of vulnerable children with specialized needs and their families, wrapping them in a blanket of support.