The Arc of Greater Prince William / INSIGHT, Inc.

This respite/recreation program offers fun and entertainment to children with disabilities and their siblings. Children participate in recreational and craft activities while their parents enjoy an evening out. Qualified providers care for up to 20 children on one Saturday each month from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. or 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This service is offered on a first come first served basis with registration starting 30 days prior to the Parents Night Out date. Cost for this care is $1.25 per hour per family for Arc members and $2.50 for non-members.

Looking for a sitter with whom you feel comfortable leaving your child? It can be difficult. The respite care program interviews, checks references, and trains providers to care for children with special needs. Any family residing in Prince William County, Manassas, or Manassas Park who has a family member with special needs, including developmental delays and physical disabilities, is eligible to participate. Grants from United Way and Prince William County Promoting Safe & Stable Families enable us to assist all families with payment of the respite care fee.

NOTE: To insure the safety and highest quality care for your family member, we cannot serve any client who is a threat to himself or others. We must also require that the family member be free from communicable disease.

Having a child with a developmental delay or chronic illness can make it difficult to cope for the entire family. The Family Support program offers a variety of support networks designed to meet the needs of each family member. Family members can gather in a relaxed atmosphere to discuss issues of importance to them, listen to speakers, and obtain information.

Father to Father Group: Fathers with children of all ages gather to discuss the joys and frustrations of raising a child with a disability.		They also participate with their child or children in a variety of special events, such as attending a baseball game, Easter egg hunt, or family picnic.

Mothers Group: Mothers gather to discuss their unique concerns and issues. They may discuss their child's specific illness or issues such as school problems or childcare.
Sibling Group: Brothers and sisters will likely have the longest-lasting relationship with the family member who has special needs. This group provides the opportunity for the siblings to meet their peers, obtain useful information, and share both the good and bad times with others who understand. They also participate in special activities such as a pizza party. Any child from age 3 through 12 is encouraged to attend and meet with others in his or her age group.

The Parent to Parent Network is available if you would like to talk one on one with another parent. The network will link you with another parent whose child has a similar disability or who has faced problems similar to yours. Contact is initially made by phone. This offers you the opportunity to speak with someone when you feel the need or have the time.

Note: All support groups are currently on hiatus. Please contact Jan Russell at the number below if interested in starting new groups.

For more information about Family Support Services, contact Jan Russell, Director of Family Services at 703-730-3124 or email her at jrussell@arcgpw.org.

Several times a year, special support group meetings are held at which topics of interest to both mothers and fathers are presented. Recent workshops have included "Strategies to Address Challenging Behaviors" and "Psychotropic Medications."

Each year, The Arc of Greater Prince William/INSIGHT, Inc. sponsors the Circle of Support Conference.

On November 4, 2006, nearly 600 attendees at Hylton High School enjoyed two keynote speakers. Kathie Snow spoke on “Disability Is Natural and Other Revolutionary Common Sense” while Bill Stillman shared his life and viewpoints in “The World Needs Autism”. There were 34 workshop sessions from which to choose (three of them in Spanish) and over 50 exhibitors and vendors whose tables offered resources and information to participants.

The next conference is scheduled for November 3, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Hylton High School. Our keynote speaker will be Rick Lavoie, an expert on learning disabilities, who will speak on “It’s So Much Work to Be your Friend”. 36 workshops, two of them in Spanish, are planned on such topics as Anger Management, Out of the Box Reading, Inclusion, Medicaid Waiver, Art Therapy, Movement Therapy, and many others.

For more information about or to become an exhibitor or vendor for the 2007 conference, call Jan Russell at 703-730-3124 or email her at jrussell@arcgpw.org.