Taking a Break, Restoring Balance

Every Parent Deserves Time To Recharge

Caring for a child with special needs or a disability often means you are on the clock 24/7. As parents, the opportunity to have a night out or just spend a few hours alone is usually few and far between or non-existent. On top of the usual obstacles of reliable or affordable childcare, you probably also find yourself asking.

  • Is anyone available and willing to take on the additional mental and physical load that comes with caring for my child?  
  • Can someone genuinely be trusted with the complexities of my child’s care?
  • Will my child be able to communicate their needs to a sitter?

At Respite Care With KOTM, You Can Experience the Relief of Trusted, Experienced Care

Respite Care Designed With Your Child in Mind

No matter your child’s diagnosis or story, our Respite Care services are designed to accommodate their needs for up to several hours.

  • Every child is assigned a screened and trained volunteer. The volunteer spends the entire evening playing one-on-one with the child and is directed never to leave their side. 
  • Children can access safe and developmentally appropriate crafts, toys, and outdoor play spaces when the weather is nice, and they can spend their time how they choose! 
  • A KOTM staff member and a volunteer supervisor are on-site at all times.  Children who require medication or nursing care are assigned to a night with a nurse. (Six out of seven of our current respite staff are nurses) 
  • We know separation can often be difficult for children, but we have you covered there, too! While the first visit may be emotional, do not worry; we will find something your little one loves and get them excited about coming to Respite Care.

Respite Care Hours & Locations

Friday and Saturday Evenings

6pm-9pm

Cost

Completely free to families. This program is funded by donations and volunteers.

Locations

475 West 260 North Orem, UT 84057
Lehi - 850 South 1700 West
Springville - 105 South 400 East

Proud Parents. Thriving Kiddos

support services

Real Families, Real Relief

At KOTM, We Steadfastly Believe in Parent Empowerment

Join Our Respite Care Program

It would be our honor to serve your family with Respite Care services at KOTM. Here are the next steps to joining the program.

First, Let’s Make Sure We’re a Fit

To serve as many families as possible to the best of our ability in a safe environment, children who are eligible for Respite Care are…

    • Between 0-12 years old.
    • Diagnosed with a special need that is an intellectual, behavioral, or physical disability.
    • Able to be at respite until 9:00 p.m. without it disturbing their bedtime routine.
    • Not on 100% oxygen or excessively medically fragile.
    • Free of a history of sexually inappropriate or aggressive behavior.
    • In a family that does not already have resources that provide them with a break from caregiving.

Next, Fill Out an Application

  • Please fill out one application per family; you can add multiple children if you have several with special needs. 
  • Due to the high volume of families needing respite services, there is often a waitlist. We will let you know that we have received your application.

Finally, Get Ready To Party!

  • Once a spot opens up, we will schedule an intake interview. We will review any behavioral and medical needs regarding your child. Either the nurse or our behavioral center manager will develop a plan to handle your child’s needs in a positive, loving way.
  • After a few visits, many of our Respite kids tell their parents that they wait all month for Respite because they have so much fun!

Find Comfort and Support with Respite Care Near You

Explore our trusted respite care services, available at multiple convenient locations, designed to give families the relief they need while ensuring their children receive compassionate and quality care.

Orem

475 West 260 North Orem, UT 84057

Lehi

850 South 1700 West Lehi, UT 84043

Springville

105 South 400 East Springville, UT 84663

Take the Next Step Toward Support

We look forward to connecting with you and providing the respite care your family deserves. Let us help you achieve the balance and relief you need to thrive.

Make a Difference Through Respite Care

The incredible work we do at our Respite Care program is completely donor-based and would not be possible without your support. For many families, this is the only break they get from caregiving for the entire month. 

If you’d like to support our Respite Care program, you can learn more about it and how to help on our donation page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Respite Care offers temporary relief to primary caregivers, providing short-term, professional care for children with special needs.

Our caregivers are trained and screened volunteers overseen by both a nurse and a KOTM staff member experienced in handling the specific needs of children with disabilities and delays.

Our evening program is free to families and funded through generous donations.

Because we have a waiting list, we currently offer one night per month to each family. There is an on-call list for families waiting for services.

For toileting needs, we have children of all ages who are completely dependent and need diaper changes. We also have children who are completely independent. When a child requires a diaper change or needs to use the restroom independently, two people are always present—a member of our staff and a volunteer. Children are allowed their privacy based on their ability to use the restroom.

Our program is limited to children with behavioral or physical disabilities.

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Caring for a special needs child or teen means being on call 24/7. That’s why our Respite Care program offers short-term child care with trained staff in a safe environment. This allows you to rest, relieve stress, restore energy, and come back stronger!

Mat Dastrup, CFO

Mat Datstrop, Chief Financial Officer at KOTM, truly embodies a blend of expertise and visionary leadership. Joining Kids on the Move in September 2019, Mat brought a rich history of accomplishments, having served as CFO for manufacturing and software companies. His successful track record includes starting and selling three businesses, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and strategic insight. As a licensed CPA and a Six Sigma Black Belt, Mat’s skill set is uniquely suited to driving innovation and accuracy within financial processes. His passion for integrating technology and developing robust accounting systems positions KOTM for long-term success. In his role, Mat is deeply dedicated to creating sustainable impacts that will echo throughout KOTM for decades. His presence in the organization is marked by a steadfast commitment to fostering an environment of lasting change, ensuring families benefit from his transformative work well into the future.

Ryan Erickson, COO

Ryan Erickson, the Chief Operating Officer of KOTM, brings a wealth of experience and a passionate commitment to nurturing innovation and growth. With over two decades spent as a thought leader and innovator in executive leadership roles across the medical, technical consulting, and information technology sectors, Ryan’s expertise is unparalleled. His dedication to mentoring entrepreneurs and CEOs on transforming ideas into reality speaks to his compassionate nature and deep-seated commitment to growth. Ryan views his role at KOTM as a unique opportunity to guide the organization into its next 40 years, shaping a resilient and forward-thinking future. His diverse skill set enables KOTM to not only meet current challenges with agility but also to strategically position itself for sustainable development and lasting impact. Under Ryan’s committed leadership, KOTM continues to inspire hope and innovation, reinforcing its status as a beacon of support and transformation for families everywhere.

Rachelle Rutherford, CEO

Rutherford is the strategic visionary and Chief Executive Officer of Kids on the Move (KOTM). A multifaceted and sophisticated businesswoman, she has led the trailblazing multimillion-dollar non-profit in its commitment to providing essential and comprehensive support, education, and therapies for children with delays and disabilities.  Rutherford has now spent 20 years in executive leadership roles within the telecommunications, genealogy, real estate, health care services, and education industries. Her notable contributions lie in her perseverance to find impossible and impactful solutions. Rutherford is skilled at reverse-engineering goals by mapping out exactly what is required for a successful outcome.

To help raise $150M to expand KOTM’s support services and establish a state-of-the-art center, Rutherford has partnered with Forbes Books to author and publish Chasing The Impossible, a captivating exposé delving into Kids on the Move’s transformative work. With it, she uncovers the compelling stories of resilience and hope from children, families, doctors, and community members who tenaciously pushed forward when faced with impossible odds or challenges.

Her profound understanding of what it takes to overcome the impossible stems from her own journey as a survivor of abuse and trauma, which has shaped her philanthropic missions, her intuitive nature, and her steadfast leadership. As a CEO, mom, speaker, and philanthropist, Rutherford believes discipline is one of the highest forms of self-love, consistently putting in the necessary work every single day to provide impactful solutions for others, promote a balanced and holistic lifestyle, and create opportunities for continuous growth and empowerment around the world.