The Source DDA Program
Caring for children and supporting families.
The Source is pleased to offer a break to caregivers, and therapeutic care to children with complex needs through our Enhanced Respite Services (ERS). When caring for your loved one feels overwhelming and you simply need a rest and support, we are here to help - our goal is to allow families a time to decompress and rest, attend to the needs of siblings, and providing a space of therapeutic support for the child. Our respite services include housing needs, medication administration, local transportation, basic hygiene supplies, furnishings, linens, and 24hr staffing.
Our ERS program provides professional care to children for up to 30 consecutive days in a quiet, country setting. Our Riverbluff home is surrounded by over 15 acres of wooded area, providing plenty of peace and quiet, and offering an ideal environment for children to explore.
It is our goal to provide exceptional service from first contact all the way to pick-up, and to compassionately support children during their stay with us. In order to make this a reality, we work closely with families and medical providers, ensuring that all of the child’s needs are met.
We are honored that you would consider entrusting your child to our care for a season, and we look forward to meeting you.
Riverbluff House - Enhanced Respite Services
ERS Management
Sharday Watson
ERS House Manager
Alix Hays
ERS Weekend Supervisor
Sharday has been a caregiver for close to a decade, and it passionate about supporting individuals in reaching their full potential. As our ERS house manager, she brings compassion, reliability, and a team-focused approach, while creating safe and supportive environments for those in our care.
Alix is a dedicated caregiver with over seven years of experience supporting DDA clients and the elderly. Growing up in a home with foster siblings and two autistic brothers, she developed a deep sense of empathy and understanding from an early age. Throughout school, Alix volunteered and mentored in special education classrooms, further fueling her passion for care and advocacy. Now pursuing a nursing degree, she continues to build on her lifelong commitment to helping others with compassion, patience, and purpose.
The Home
Our ERS home is designed with your child’s comfort and care in mind. Each child residing in the Riverbluff Home will have their own bedroom equipped with all the necessities. We provide a comfortable bed, place for storage, a large closet and ample space to personalize their room. We have a sensory room complete with a swing, crash pad, balance board, trampoline, etc. Each sensory room provides a broad variety of therapeutic spaces that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your child. Our living room is kept clean, safe, and welcoming, with plenty of light flooding through large nature facing windows.
ERS Eligibility Requirements
If it sounds like we might be a good fit to support your child, we would love to start a conversation. Often, the first question we are asked surrounds eligibility. For the sake of clarity, we have included eligibility requirements here.
To be eligible for enhanced respite services at the Riverbluff Home, your child must be:
1. DDA eligible
2. At least twelve years of age, or between the ages of 18 and 20 and enrolled in school
3. Have proof of current immunization requirements outlined in the CDC established schedule (please note this is a licensing requirement for our facility)
4. At high risk for institutionalization, out of home placement, or both
5. The family or caregiver must demonstrate they have accessed alternative appropriate and available services to meet the unmet need
If all of these eligibility requirements have been met, and you believe we may be able to help offer support in your situation, contact your DDCS Case Manager and they can assist.
Out of Home Services
In addition to respite services, our Riverbluff home provides long-term care through our Out of Home Services (OHS) program. Our OHS team provides care for children who are voluntarily residing with us full-time. Our OHS program strives to create an environment where every child can reach their full potential. We go about this by using data to identify any challenging behaviors before developing a Positive Behavior Support Plan with our Clinical Director that uses behavioral support and modifying strategies. Our goal is to assist youth in their spiritual, occupational, and educational journey, while equipping them with the tools necessary to reclaim a sense of self respect and dignity.
The staff at The Riverbluff Home are fully trained to meet the various needs of the children residing with us. Staff are certified in CPR and First Aid, trained in Mandated Reporting, Right Response, 40-Hour Core Training, and agency missions and values. Additionally, staff receive specialized annual training as well as monthly training dedicated to meeting the specific needs of the children we serve. Some of these trainings consist of Behavior management, Right Response, Dual-diagnosis training, the Effects of Childhood Trauma, and Cultural Diversity and Inclusion training.
OHS Management
Kelsey Buccat
OHS House Manager
Cameron Dandridge
OHS Weekend Supervisor
Our OHS team at Riverbluff is led by Kelsey Buccat and Cameron Dandridge.
Kelsey has 10 years experience in DDA which has been her passion. Her own 16 year-old is developmentally and intellectually disabled, and has taught her the skills she utilizes in her profession to be a wonderful caregiver and team manager.
Cameron has worked with youth in various settings throughout his professional life. He has used this experience to provide 1:1 counseling and mentoring to behavioral youth, helping them build the skills to thrive in school, relationships, and life. Always looking for the positive, Cameron strongly believes in utilizing positive framing and a strengths-based approach when helping clients achieve their goals.
The Home
The Riverbluff home consists of a three-story home providing 24-hour care. The ground level is dedicated to the Enhanced Respite Services program, while the top two levels of the home support the Out of Home Services program. Our OHS program can support up to 3 children at a time. While sharing a house with our ERS program, the programs do not cross over. Both programs have their own entrance and living space.
People with developmental disabilities and their families are valued citizens of the state of Washington. The Developmental Disabilities Administration strives to develop and implement public policies that will promote individual worth, self-respect, and dignity such that each individual is valued as a contributing member of the community.