Bears for CARE

UCA Bears for CARE is a respite care service program created by the University of Central Arkansas as part of the WE-CARE Network. With the help from our screened and skilled students, faculty and community, we strive to provide a time of leisure for families with special health care needs and a time of excitement and fun for children with special health care needs and their siblings.

Our Mission:

UCA Bears for CARE program is dedicated to providing central Arkansas families who care for children with special health care needs free and safe respite care opportunities that provide an environment that is fun and interactive.

Our Philosophy:

The Bears for CARE program believes that UCA’s most valuable resources, their students and their community, can provide a truly unique respite care program that not only enhances the quality of life for families of children with special health care needs but also provides invaluable professional and personal development for UCA students.

Our Objectives:

The program will:

• • Give children with special health care needs and their siblings fun, interactive activities

  • Give caregivers of children with special health care needs essential leisure time

  • Provide UCA students, especially students whose major program of study involves working with children with special health care needs, an opportunity to gain experience with children with special health care needs, their families, and future professional peers in related fields

  • Provide UCA students an opportunity to experience the rewards and challenges caring for children with special health care needs

  • Provide UCA students with an appreciation for the overlapping roles that parents experience as family members, caregivers, and experts on their children’s special health care needs

  • Potentially provide, with IRB approval and informed consent of families, research opportunities that will help improve understanding and increase services for families of children with special health care needs

• Provide a model program for partnerships between academic institutions and nonprofits in providing respite care for families of children with special health care needs and important skill-building experiences for students

Links to Waivers Associated with Bears for CARE:

Photo Waiver for Parents

Minor Child Photo Waiver

Multiple People Photo Waiver

Liability Waiver

Building Emergency Plan

The WE-CARE Network is an outreach effort by University of Central Arkansas' Division of Outreach & Community Engagement.

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