Behavioral Health Respite
If you have at least a high school degree and you’re passionate about supporting youth and families, there’s a place for you in this work. We’re here to help you get started and connect you to opportunities across Ohio
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Pathways to Providing Respite
There are three main paths to providing respite under OhioRISE:
Recommended
Path
1. Through an Agency
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Staff are trained in behavioral health and standardized trauma-informed care practices.
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Agencies often assist with credentialing, scheduling, documentation, and compliance.
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Programs follow established policies to support quality and safety.
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Agencies typically handle Medicaid billing directly.
For most providers, partnering with a credentialed agency offers the strongest foundation, including built-in support, training, and administrative infrastructure.
Looking for respite opportunities? Click the link above, and enter “respite” in the search bar to filter current openings.
2. As an Independent Provider
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Individual is responsible for billing, documentation, and meeting training requirements.
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Must complete Medicaid credentialing independently.
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Responsibility for safety planning and emergency protocols rests primarily with the individual.
3. As a Natural Support Provider
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A natural support provider is someone the youth and family already know and trust, such as a relative, neighbor, faith community member, or other supportive adult.
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Natural Support providers work with youth who are enrolled in OhioRISE, offering consistent relationship-based care.
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These individuals can be compensated to provide behavioral health respite, as long as they do not live in the same household as the youth.
For Agencies: Join the OhioRISE Network as a Respite Provider
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Intended for behavioral health agencies with the capacity to manage clinical, administrative, and operational requirements.
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Agencies will work through a defined process that includes eligibility confirmation, training, credentialing, and contracting with Aetna.
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Once approved, agencies are equipped to deliver ongoing, high-quality behavioral health respite services to youth enrolled in OhioRISE.
Technical Assistance
Agencies and individuals interested in providing behavioral health respite can request technical assistance from the Senior Program Coordinator.
Jill Garratt
Senior Program Coordinator, Behavioral Health Services
Eligibility & Access
Behavioral health respite services may be available if a young person:
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Has significant emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs
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Is enrolled in Medicaid
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Receives service coordination through a Family and Children First Council
Know someone who may qualify? Submit a referral to help connect them to behavioral health respite services.
Behavioral Health Respite Care Capacity Building
Provider Incentive Program
The Ohio Children’s Alliance is pleased to offer a set of financial incentives to support the Behavioral Health Respite Workforce in growing behavioral health respite care workforce capacity across the Paint Valley (Highland, Fayette, Pickaway, Pike, Ross), Logan-Champaign, and Belmont-Harrison-Monroe regions.
All qualifying activities must occur within April 1st, 2026 – August 31st, 2026.
Incentives are available at two levels: Practitioner Level and Agency Level.
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Practitioner-level incentives are paid directly to individual respite workers who independently contract with Aetna to provide respite services.
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Agency-level incentives are issued to Behavioral Health Provider agencies for internal distribution.
Incentive Category
Recipient
Amount
Eligibility
Primary Requirement*
Direct Practitioner
Individual
$500
One time per practitioner.
First respite service in target counties.
Employee Referral
Agency
$1,200
Per qualifying referral hire.
Employee referral + new hire's first respite service in target counties.
Employee Retention
Agency
$1,000
Per qualifying employee.
3 months of service in target counties (min. 1 service/month).
Structured Agency Recruitment
Agency
$1,000
Per qualifying campaign hire.
Agency-led recruitment activity + new hire's first respite service in target counties.
New Service Coverage
Agency
$2,500
One per region, up to three total.
First respite service delivered in a newly entered target region.
*Executed Aetna contract required for all incentive categories. All incentive categories are first come first served until the funds are exhausted.
Application deadline: September 15th, 2026
Notice of intent deadline: September 11th, 2026 (12:00pm ET)
Submit an Intent to Apply
The Intent to Apply is required but does not obligate the individual to submit an application.
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Email the Intent to Apply addressed to:
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Lacey Noe, Program Coordinator, Ohio Children’s Alliance
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Indicate the specific incentive category or categories (e.g., Direct Practitioner, New Service Coverage) to which applicant intends to apply.
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Email Subject Line: BH Respite Initiative
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Email Address: RespiteCare@OhioChildrensAlliance.org
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Following submission of the Intent to Apply, the applicant will be invited to set up and complete an account in Good Grants and access the Alliance BH Respite Incentive Application Form.