FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Helping families and individuals achieve well-being and feel empowered to
promote justice and build safe, caring communities.

Familysupport-client-photo-Deverill Family.jpeg

Client Story

Military life can be hard on families with special-needs kids, like the Deverills. LCSNW steps in so they don’t have to do it alone.

For the Deverill family, finding child respite care amid the many challenges of military life is more than just a benefit — it’s a lifeline.

Meghan and Dakota Deverill are the parents in a Navy family stationed in Bremerton, Washington. They have received respite services through LCSNW since July 2022, when they relocated from New York.

Their oldest child has autism spectrum disorder, and caring for him—while managing the needs of their other two children and Meghan’s own autoimmune disorder—can be both physically and emotionally demanding. LCSNW’s program offers eligible families temporary, no-cost care for children with special needs. Navy families like the Deverills receive much-needed breaks to rest, run errands, or focus on other family members. The program served 166 families in 2024.

“Respite services provide me with the ability to give my other kids much-needed one-on-one time, as well as the opportunity for self-care,” Meghan said.

Eligible families must be enrolled in the Navy Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and meet prescribed eligibility criteria. Families receive an allotment of respite care hours per month based on need. In the Deverills’ case, it often means up to 40 hours of monthly support from someone they now consider part of the family.

That someone is Nils — a dedicated special education teacher at a Kitsap County high school. Nils is also one of the few male respite care providers in the area, a job he’s been doing for 10 years. Before completing his Master of Arts in Teaching, he worked as a paraeducator while providing care for the Deverill children. His energy, compassion, and commitment to the kids have made him an irreplaceable presence in their lives.

“We’ve been lucky enough to be paired with someone who treats our kids as if they were his own,” Meghan said. “He has truly become like family.”

Beyond the hours of support, Nils attends birthday parties, joins them for holidays, goes trick-or-treating, and has even accompanied the kids to Disney on Ice and the movies. When Meghan’s husband is deployed or working long hours, Nils steps in — bringing joy, relief, and consistency.

“We can’t imagine our weeks without him,” Meghan said, “and hopefully don’t need to anytime soon.”

For the Deverills, the Navy EFMP Respite Care Program has provided more than just time off —it’s brought a trusted friend, an extended family member, and a sense of peace that every parent deserves.

MILITARY FAMILY RESPITE CARE

COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTERS

Volunteer Profile

Julie Viche

Julie knows well the challenges that new moms face and the cost burden that baby supplies can bring to a household. She and her husband Ray adopted twin granddaughters as babies when their mother could not care for them. Today, the girls are busy 14-year-olds.

“When the babies joined us, the cost of diapers was just outrageous,” Julie recalled.

This experience drew Julie, then newly retired from her computer drafting career, to volunteer with LCSNW’s A Family Place Diaper Bank and Clothing Closet in Newberg, Oregon. Parents and caregivers in need can visit weekly for diapers, baby wipes and children’s clothes. The national average for baby supplies ranges from $500 to $1000 a month, depending on the region.

Julie enjoys her volunteer time so much that she hasn’t missed a week in the 18 months she’s volunteered with LCSNW’s Yamhill District. In addition to baby supplies, A Family Place provides therapeutic preschool and parental support at three Yamhill County locations.

“It’s just so fun and rewarding,” Julie said. “I especially like getting to know families over time. I have one two-year-old who runs to me when he comes in and we go over all the pictures on the diaper boxes and laugh and giggle together.”

Julie said the most important thing any of us can do for new parents is to not judge their circumstances.

“My husband and I didn’t look like we needed help at face value, and we did. We want all families to feel welcome and supported.”

LEARN MORE