At KVC, we want every child and adult to be safe & connected to a strong family and a healthy community. We’re proud to be a leader in innovative, effective and compassionate care. See our services and programs overview.
Developmental Disability Services
Developmental Disability Respite Program
KVC Missouri’s Community-Based Respite and In-Home Respite programs provide youth with opportunities to develop independent living skills.
Community-Based Respite Services
A specially designed respite home is available in St. Louis for day and overnight respite care, completely free to families, providing a secure and supportive environment for youth. This includes a structured routine, needs-based programming, and a safe environment that supports the child’s move toward self-sufficiency. As children learn life skills, they participate in activities that help transfer these skills across settings. Day services are available during spring break, summer vacation and winter break. Summer programming takes place on weekdays from the end of May through the second week of August.
Personalized attention is the focus, with a 3:1 child-to-staff ratio and no more than six students served by two staff members. The emphasis is always on the positive. Children enjoy pajama parties and movie nights at the respite house, as well as fun-filled adventures to places like the zoo and science museum. Additionally, kids take part in fun group activities such as arts and crafts and cooking. These activities help them learn valuable life and social skills like hygiene, safety, and academics, while building lasting memories.
Any child age 7 to 20 years who has a diagnosed developmental disability and lives in St. Louis County can qualify for respite services at KVC – no referral necessary.
In-Home Respite Services
In-home respite services are completely free to families and support children in acquiring appropriate behaviors for their home and in the community by working to increase independent living and social skills. This allows children to remain in their homes and communities where they are surrounded by their support system. In-home services are at the ready whenever the family needs them, up to 500 hours per year.
Any child age 3 to 20 years who has a diagnosed developmental disability and lives in St. Louis County can qualify for respite services provided at home – no referral necessary.
All services are individualized to meet each child’s specific needs, including:
- Social skills instruction
- Life skills focus
- Community-based outings
The Joint Commission
The St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund
Productive Living Board
For more information about our developmental disability services or other services, contact us at 1-844-424-3577
KVC Missouri’s Commitment to Helping Families
KVC Missouri’s commitment to helping families in need extends beyond our developmental disorder programs. Our caring team of over 800 professionals has been working toward our vision of a world in which every person is safe and connected to a strong family and a healthy community.
We also provide:
- Family strengthening services
- Foster care
- Children’s mental health
- Educational services
- Residential mental health treatment
- And many other services supporting children and families
Read more in our blog: KVC Missouri Has Grown to Provide a Broader Continuum of Care & Serve Children and Families Statewide
We have over 20 locations across the state of Missouri with regional hubs in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia and St. James. KVC Missouri provides one of the nation’s broadest arrays of child welfare and behavioral health services, spreading across the continuum of care. With the most comprehensive services in Missouri – and our longtime legacy of caring – we seek to reach every child and family who needs our help.