Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4435.1(c) requires California to create a statewide tool to help make decisions about respite hours fairer and more consistent. The Department has been developing a standardized in-home respite tool.

During its initial development, individuals, families, and community partners tested and shared helpful feedback on the first draft of the respite tool. Based on everyone’s input, significant changes were made to create a second draft of the respite tool. Throughout these development phases, regional centers continued using their current respite assessment processes. Neither of the respite tool drafts were implemented nor used to change anyone’s respite hours.

Why is the development of the tool being paused?

The updated, second draft version of the respite tool received positive feedback.
However, testing showed the need to:

  • Develop a consistent definition and description of the purpose of respite services.
  • Develop a standardized policy and training materials to support the regional centers; and
  • Review the effects of adjusting respite services based upon needs for respite, on all other services.

Because of this, further development of the standardized in-home respite tool is being paused.

An informational webinar on August 26, 2026:

  • Described the changes made to the respite tool in response to the community input.
  • Presented data collected during the latest round of testing of the respite tool’s second draft.
  • Explained the reason for the pause in implementation.

The recording and event materials are here:


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Last modified: September 23, 2026