Clarion’s Rehabilitation Science Club has received a TakeFIVE Grant, which offers rehab students the opportunity to provide the community with disability respite services.
This program, developed by Temple University Institute on Disabilities, is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Organizations can apply for grants for up to $5,000 to properly train volunteers in offering support to the families of chronically ill and disabled children. Respite services provide intervals of caregiving for children with disabilities in order to allow parents and guardians a chance to relax.
"Through the Rehab Club, we have trained individual students to better serve our community here in Clarion by supporting children with special needs," said Angela Driscoll, club president. "Our goal is to give parents a 'break' to take time for themselves, while we help their children developmentally grow though creative and educational activities."
The program aims at allowing students the chance to work with and apply the theories they have learned. A stipend is provided for students involved in the initiative, and the club this year chose to use the stipend to take an education trip to New York City. There they studied the rehab methods of Fountain House Rehabilitation Center.
In order to properly execute the grant's program, club advisor Mark Lepore, PhD., associate professor of rehabilitation sciences, and Driscoll attended a two-day training event at Temple's Office of Disabilities. Lepore and Driscoll returned to Clarion to train the remaining 25 students who are part of the Take FIVE respite plan.
"The enthusiasm and commitment shown by the students for this initiative has been very impressive," said Lepore. "The long-term goal is for the program to become an ongoing sustainable public service initiative."
To learn more, visit http://disabilities.temple.edu/programs/takefive/.