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We changed programs, and not everyone could be transferred over to the new program.
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Kelly Tong
Manager
419-783-4411 ext 1
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As we embrace the transition from summer to fall, we are delighted to reconnect with you through our newsletter! It’s remarkable how quickly time passes and how easily our busy lives can cause cherished traditions to fade. Yet, here we are, reigniting this wonderful communication channel to share our experiences and adventures with you.
We hope you’ve enjoyed glimpses of our summer escapades on social media, and we are eager to bring you even more updates, stories, and insights that you’ve been longing for. Together, let’s celebrate the moments that matter and foster a sense of community as we step into this new season!
A little peek at what Kaitlyn’s Cottage looks like these days!
To date, we’ve welcomed over 340 individuals from 299 families across 21 Ohio counties—and 18 families even travel from out of state to use Kaitlyn's Cottage! This year alone, we’ve already provided nearly 10,000 hours of respite care. In a typical year, we serve around 16,000 hours, so we’re well on our way to reaching that.
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Our incredible team comprises three full-time employees, two part-time staff members, and 12 per diem respite care workers. It’s truly amazing how much can be accomplished with such a compact crew! This team runs on heart… and maybe just a little bit of caffeine.
As we continue to evolve over the years—13 to be exact! We’re always excited to look toward the future and the many ways we can grow, serve, and create even more meaningful moments at Kaitlyn’s Cottage. We look forward to sharing those moments with your participants every step of the way.
Be sure to check out this newsletter in its entirety! Inside, you’ll find plenty of tips, tricks, and—yes—some important policies to help ensure your participant’s respite runs smoothly, safely, and enjoyably for everyone.
Please be assured that we hope to always maintain open lines of communication to ensure your participants are always well cared for. With such a compact full-time administrative team—and the need for vacations, personal days, and time with our families—it sometimes makes sense for you to reach out to another team member. That way, nothing falls through the cracks as we all strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance. One of us can help you! Don’t hesitate to reach out in whatever way makes the most sense for you—we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Here's to the next memories we will make together!
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Jessica Debarba
Program Coordinator
419-783-4411 ext 2
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Jessica is your go-to for all things scheduling! And if we’re being honest, that’s a whole lot to handle!
As we’ve grown and evolved over the years, so has our scheduling system. Now that we’re halfway through 2025, many of you will want to check how many respite hours you have left for the year.
To ensure equal opportunities for all our families, here are the annual scheduling limits:
Maximum of 350 hours per participant per year. After reaching 350 hours, if scheduling allows, respite care will be billed at $30/hour without discounts.
Maximum of one weekend overnight stay every other month. Depending on availability, you may be able to schedule more often.
A maximum of seven consecutive stays per stay. Jessica will work with you to find the right timing for longer stays. Please note, we want what’s best for your participant—sometimes longer stays can create anxiety and may not be successful. We’re here to help find the perfect balance.
Maximum of two day/evening visits per week (including weekends).
A maximum of two summer camps per participant. Extended stays outside of day camp hours and/or overnights during camp will be offered if staffing allows.
Scheduling requires advance planning due to our largely per diem staffing model. Our goal is to meet all your respite care needs; however, there may be times when resources are limited and we cannot fulfill every request.
We ask for a minimum of one week’s notice when making requests. Overnight stays may require 4–6 weeks’ advance scheduling. The more notice you provide, the better our chances of accommodating your needs. Most families schedule daytime and evening respites about 4 weeks in advance, so please keep this in mind!
Please call or email requests (email is preferred- just to keep track of easier!) Monday through Thursday, 8 am–4 pm. If you call outside business hours, leave a voicemail with your scheduling requests or cancellations.
If you have any questions or want help planning, Jessica (and all of us) is here to support you every step of the way!
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Stephon Puente
Lead Respite Care Worker
Activities and Volunteer
419-783-4411 ext 3
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Stephon is the man behind the curtain when it comes to FUN at Kaitlyn’s Cottage! Ok, he's the man in front of the curtain with fun, as well! He's just FUN!
Every outing, event, and activity is carefully planned with thoughtful consideration, precise timing, and the ideal staffing to ensure everyone has a great time.
Do you have an idea—or hear about a community event—that you think our participants might enjoy? Send it Stephon’s way! We serve all ages and individuals with all types of developmental disabilities, so the possibilities for good times are truly endless.
And here’s the best part—if you’d like to donate the gift of your time and talents to Kaitlyn’s Cottage, Stephon’s the one to call! We love volunteers who can make our activities even more special. Whether you can whip up something delicious in the kitchen, create magic with arts and crafts, or simply lend an extra set of eyes and hands during an activity, we’d love to hear from you!
| Volunteer, Lily, giving of her time to our 2025 Art expressions Camp. | Liberty Center High School Softball Team came to KC to clean, organize, and hang out with participants | | | |
If you are not on Facebook -
We reccommend you get on there JUST for Kaitlyn's Cottage
But....
you can also email Jessica monthly for activities.
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Suzanne Tyner Autism Assistance Fund
Avenues for Autism
Scholarship Money for Autism Diagnosis
- They will accept applicants of ANY age!
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They WILL give this scholarship to go towards Kaitlyn's Cottage respite! (Or other need you may have)
- You can apply every year.
- Do not miss the opportunity to pay for respite, camps, or any social activities at Kaitlyn's Cottage!!
- DEADLINE: September 1, 2025
- Reach out to Kelly for documentation of enrollment in our program and the documentation of the cost.
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Diabetes Care:
On Sunday, July 13, 2025, members of our administrative and respite care teams completed Level 3 Training in Medication Administration. This covers Diabetes Care.
We are thrilled to offer a new level of care for our future Kaitlyn's Cottage participants.
This tremendous undertaking will be implemented slowly and deliberately to guarantee QUALITY, person-specific care for our participants.
| | | | T-SHIRTS and HOODIES for SALE! | |
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Once again, we are offering some KC Swag!
There are limited sizes, colors, and styles (for now).
The drawings are KC participant-made! (With the help of Cris Shock, Kaitlyn's mom, in pulling them all together for the perfect design!)
SPECIAL KC FAMILY PRICING
- Short Sleeve T-shirts $10
- Long Sleeve T-shirts $15
- Hoodies $25
- Youth sizes (orange short sleeve) $10
GENERAL COMMUNITY PRICING:
- Short Sleeve T-shirts $15
- Long Sleeve T-shirts $20
- Hoodies $30
- Youth sizes (orange short sleeve) $15
Color options: tan/sand, dark purple, navy, and lavender (adult), orange (youth)
Please reach out to STEPHON for sizes and color availability.
*If we see interest for more/different sizing or a crew neck sweatshirt option, we will do an order! Please reach out with your interest!
| | | | You should be able to save the below as a photo and print on your own - or just ask Kelly to send you a copy! | | |
2026 NOTICE
All 2025 payments and outstanding invoices must be paid in full before scheduling for 2026.
For payment options:
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Automatic payments (full or partial balances) can be set up by contacting Kelly at kelly.tong@promedica.org.
- Kelly can also provide a secure online payment link upon request.
For balance usage inquiries:
2026 Rate Adjustment
Effective January 1, 2026:
- Self-Pay: Hourly rate will increase by $0.25. Please add twenty-five cents to your current hourly rate on 1/1/26.
- Agency-Paid Invoices: Hourly rate will increase by $3.00/hour, bringing the new rate to $18.00/hour.
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Arrival & Departure
Your loved one will be scheduled with specific arrival and departure times. To help everything run smoothly, please keep the following guidelines in mind:
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Arrival:
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Early arrivals are not accepted. Respite care workers are scheduled based on your participant’s set arrival times, so we won’t have sufficient staff available for unscheduled early drop-offs.
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Please hand medications directly to the respite care staff. Take a moment at drop-off to review medications and any current or updated needs with the Respite Care Worker. If you require more than 10 minutes to discuss details, please arrange this in advance with Kaitlyn’s Cottage administration. Unscheduled extended time with staff at drop-off can pull their attention away from supervision and care, creating a safety concern.
- If you are paying the day of your participant's stay, please give payment to staff member. We cannot make any change. Any overpayment will be applied to future visits.
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Departure:
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Late pick-ups are not accepted. Please arrive to pick up your loved one at the scheduled time. Respite care workers are scheduled to meet the needs of all participants, and late arrivals disrupt safe staffing ratios.
- Late pick-ups will incur a fee of $15 for every 15 minutes late (rounded up).
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Last-minute extensions to respite stays will not be accommodated without PRIOR approval from Kaitlyn’s Cottage administration during regular business hours. Respite care workers are not authorized to make scheduling changes.
- You are responsible for double-checking that all items you brought with your participant are returned at the end of their stay.
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Bedroom Updates!
We have been working hard on updating our bedrooms!
Three of our Four Bedrooms are completed!
One more room to go!
Our goal is to make a homelike experience for our participants. Bedrooms that are individually decorated and equipped with furniture that is both safe and practical for those we serve make such a difference. Who wouldn't want to sleep in these rooms?
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Ryan is enjoying our DISNEY room! It isn't just decorated with everyone's favorite characters, it now has a NEW bed thanks to his family!
The Janas family graciously donated TWO queen sized Dutch Craft Furniture beds! And to complete the rooms with such quality made furniture, we purchased the dressers and end tables to match! The dressers are equipped with locking mechanisms for safety!
A fun Disney theme makes so many happy to sleep here! Ryan picks this room every time he can!
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Several years ago, the Wells family reached out to Sleep Safe Beds and were able to work some magic to get this twin sized safety bed donated by this amazing bed company!
Because it looks like a camper...we went with the theme! Entering this room looks like you are hanging out at a fun campsite with all the benefits of safety and comfort!
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This room is filled with two beds that were donated! You can see the other amazing queen bed from the Janas family (we added the matching dresser and night stand here, too!) AND another twin sized safety bed donated to us by the Hayman family!
It is worth noting that, unless we are having a sleep-over activity (Lock-in) or it is requested by families, we only put one sleeper in each room. The extra safety bed comes in handy for many!
Added to the love is a fun room decorated in super heroes! No matter which bed you choose, you are sleeping STYLE!
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