Claude Moore Precious Time

Innovative and Exemplary (2019):

Claude Moore Precious Time in Harrisonburg, VA, works with the James Madison University College of Health and Behavioral Studies to match nursing and health and human service students as respite care providers to children with special needs. Claude Moore Precious Time is a pediatric respite care program that works to create mutually beneficial relationships between caregivers and students in order to promote healthy outcomes for families of children by providing relief from daily responsibilities and demands, through individualized, trust-based respite care. The program also focuses on reaching underserved populations in rural parts of Virginia.

The training provided to student respite care providers focuses on graduating confident, knowledgeable, and experienced health care professionals with a more comprehensive understanding of children with special needs and their families.  Some students maintain strong relationships, celebrating birthdays and holidays, with children and families after student training has been completed.

Recently expanded services include a Caregiver Respite Night – a three-hour event held at the University Recreation Center. On average, about twenty children participate. In addition, the program partnered with JMU’s Social Work Department to offer limited respite care during the summer months. To increase awareness about the program, caregivers are now invited to serve as guest speakers, providing opportunities to share their expertise and insights with the community.

Website 

Listen to the podcast Podcast 2 – Respite is a contact sport, not a spectator sport to learn more about the program.

In 2023, the Claude Moore Precious Time was one of three programs selected from among a pool of recognized Innovative and Exemplary Respite Services to carryout a 12-month evaluation of their services, and to participate in a learning community with technical assistance from ARCH. They compiled their findings in a Research Data Brief and presented it to the ARCH Committee for Advancement of Respite Research.

View the Evaluation Data Brief

Programs are initially reviewed after three years to assess continued status as Innovative and Exemplary, and every five years thereafter. Following their second review, recognition of Claude Moore Precious Time as Innovative and Exemplary was extended to January 1, 2031.