"By the time we see them, they're in survival mode, desperate for help," says Ken Summers, supervisor of The Baby Fold’s Respite Care services. For adoptive families across 22 counties in Central Illinois who are facing intense daily challenges with their adopted children, Respite Care services provide a crucial lifeline, offering the break they need and enabling families to stay together.
Parents in the program are navigating extreme behaviors in their adopted children. "Parents are often confused, unable to understand why their child is struggling so much." Each child is individually assessed to determine their specific respite needs, and a personalized respite plan is developed to provide tailored support for the family. Summers shares, "The Baby Fold understands the lifelong challenges that adopted children face." Respite Care services are designed to facilitate healing and restore functioning.
Why do children adopted into loving homes experience these difficulties? The answer lies in trauma. When children endure neglect, abuse, or removal from their home, it significantly impacts their ability to form healthy relationships and regulate their emotions. These disruptions don't simply fade away. Summers explains, "Just like a phobia, you can't just will these strong feelings away, no matter how much you've learned about it." Many adopted children continue to live in a heightened state of alertness, constantly on guard for potential threats. Without interventions, these patterns persist, making it impossible trust their new environment and bond with their families.
Since the mid 1990's The Baby Fold has provided Respite Care services at no cost to adopted children and families, giving them much needed break and a chance to regroup, reflect, and regain the strength they need to continue their family journey. Parents are relieved to know they are not alone. As Ken Summers puts it, “Respite is a critical service that enables families to stay together.”
Right now, 79 children between the ages of 6 and 14 are receiving respite services at The Baby Fold, and about 40 of them attend camp regularly. Adoptive families have two respite options: respite reimbursement for offsetting costs to access community-based providers, and The Baby Fold's Camp Take-a-Break at East Bay Camp in Bloomington. The overnight, weekend camp for adopted children takes place 16 times a year and is staffed by trained Baby Fold experts.
Camp Take-a-Break is one of the few places where adopted children truly feel seen and accepted. While they enjoy traditional camp activities like fishing, hiking, swimming, archery, crafts, it’s the individualized therapeutic support that truly makes the difference. 
Summers and his team help children learn they are valued, build emotional growth and essential life skills, such as how to express themselves, build trust, and form healthy relationships. In these moments, true healing begins. "We hold 'Nurture Groups' at every camp, giving them a chance to find their voice and practice giving and receiving care, which can be incredibly difficult for children who have experienced trauma," Summers shares.
The work of the Respite Care staff actually begins before the campers even arrive. During pre-camp meetings, the team—trained in trauma-informed practices—carefully reviews each camper's history, struggles, and treatment plan, discussing their experiences, triggers, and coping strategies. This work allows staff to tailor their clinical approach during camp, helping to build safety and trust with the children more quickly. With a camper-to-staff ratio of 15:5, every child receives the personalized care and attention they need to begin their healing transformation. 
While breakthroughs may seem small to an outsider, they hold great significance for families in the program. "It's truly special when we witness campers starting to build connections and offering care to one another," shares Summers. He recalls one particular camp where a new girl arrived—excited but also anxious. The other campers quickly rallied around her, making her feel accepted and welcomed. "Two campers told her, 'We're so glad you're here,' while another said, 'Wow, you're beautiful!' It was just a beautiful moment of connection," says Summers.
Parents are often amazed to hear about their child’s positive behavior at camp, finding it hard to reconcile with the intense challenges they face at home. However, over time these shifts in behavior extend beyond camp, with the same capacity for connection and empathy eventually carrying over into the home, strengthening family bonds and creating more harmony in the household. One mother, for example, called Summers shortly after picking up her daughter to share that her once-quiet daughter spoke nonstop during the car ride home, eagerly recounting her experiences at camp and the fun she had. Summers shares, "I had one mother tell me recently, ‘I didn’t know it could be this good.’"
“The benefits of respite services are so great for adoptive families,” says Summers, reflecting on the transformative power the program has. In fact, just a month ago, Summers heard from a former camper—now an adult—who reached out to share the joyful news of his upcoming wedding.
Respite Care offers more than just relief, it becomes a lifeline for adoptive families on the brink of giving up. When families are overwhelmed by intense behaviors, respite allows families to regain their strength, empowering them to continue their journey with a renewed sense of possibility for their child’s future.
