In 2012, the Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network Act (2012-410) which designates the members of the Alabama Lifespan Respite Coalition. The Governor appoints the coalition comprised of members who are culturally, economically, and geographically diverse and representative of the state demographics. The coalition’s responsibilities are to: (1) build partnerships and coordinate respite care efforts statewide (2) provide public awareness about respite to the citizens of Alabama, and, (3) identify, coordinate, and develop, community/funding resources for respite services.
Members of the Alabama Respite Coalition 2021-2024
| Cathy Caldwell | Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) |
| Marlene Wood | Governor’s Office on Disability (GOOD) |
| Representative Danny Garrett | Alabama House of Representatives, House Ways & Means Committee Chair – ED |
| Senator Will Barfoot | Alabama Senate, Judiciary Committee Chair |
| Representative Paul Lee | Alabama House of Representatives, Health Committee Chair |
| Senator Tim Melson | Alabama Senate, Health Committee Chair |
| Nick Nyberg | Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) |
| Ginger Wettingfeld | Alabama Department of Medicaid (ADM) |
| Shelia Duncan | Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Office of Minority Health |
| Sallye Longshore | Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention (ADCANP) / Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama |
| Sam Smith | Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) |
| Vivian Warren | Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) |
| Darryle Powell | Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) |
| Cheryl Smith | United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley, Inc. (UCP) |
| Theresa Vollor | Collaborative Training Partner Representative, Birmingham VA Health Care System |
| Nikki Poe | Collaborative Training Partner Representative, West Alabama Area Agency on Aging |
| Linda B. Collins | Family Caregiver |
| Hattie Thomas | Comm Respite Initiative/Program Representative, Labor of Love |
| Tim Trimble | Comm Respite Initiative/Program Representative, Aaron’s Staff Respite Care |
| Autism Society of Alabama (ASA) | |
| Kristina Johnson | Hospice Organization Representative |
| Representative Laura Hall | Alabama House of Representatives Health Committee, Ranking Minority Member |
| AARP Alabama | |
| Amy Lamb-Eng | Statewide Advocacy Group Representative, Alabama Head Injury Foundation |
| Vera Spinks | Family Caregiver |
| Beau Green | Respite Care Provider, Right at Home |
| Karen Pettaway | Respite Care Provider, The Resource Center |
| Dr. Nicole Ruggiano
Dr. Rachel Winston Ryan Robnett |
University Partner
University Partner Home Health Provider, ComForCare Home Care |