Advancing the Breakroom in South Carolina’s Faith Communities

This presentation was part of a Lifespan Respite Track at the 2021 International Short Break Conference cohosted by ARCH

Presenters

Joe Ward, South Carolina Respite Coalition, SC, USA
Kathy Mayfield-Smith, South Carolina Respite Coalition, SC, USA
Nicholas Julian, South Carolina Respite Coalition, SC, USA

South Carolina Respite Coalition’s initiative to engage with faith communities included piloting respite Breakrooms in several churches across the state. Presenters provided program specifics, lessons learned in implementation, status, and adjustments through Covid19, and the building of the Breakroom as a model for other communities. Because of the diversity in the types of congregations worked with, the unique challenges faced in this project, as well as successes and possibilities for wider replication, were addressed. Session participants will learn about commonalities, challenges, and the desire among congregations to serve and mobilize to meet the community need for respite programming and expanded service.