PROCLAMATION

• Families are Ashland's most important and constant care providers for individuals with extraordinary care needs, such as developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, mental and emotional disorders, and extreme medical need.

• Respite, or relief from the intensive demands on ongoing care, keeps families intact and strengthens their ability to meet the challenge of caring for a family member with special needs.

• Respite care is one of the most requested and cost-effective services for families and caregivers.

• Respite care helps prevent abuse and neglect by giving stressed caregivers a break.

• Ashlanders who provide respite care to persons with special needs are providing an important and highly valuable service to those individuals and their families, and to their communities.

• Oregon is the first state in the nation to establish a Lifespan Respite access network to link families with providers and resources.

NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council and Mayor, on behalf of the citizens of Ashland, hereby proclaim April 26 through 30, 2004, as

RESPITE CARE AWARENESS WEEK

in Ashland and encourage all citizens throughout Oregon to join in this observance.

Dated this 20th day of April, 2004.

Alan DeBoer, Mayor
Barbara Christensen, City Recorder

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