ROCKO was founded as "Respite Outreach Care for Kids Organization, Inc." in November 2002 in response to the needs and challenges faced by parents and family caregivers of children with disabilities. As our organizational development progressed, we gained valuable insight from conducting a regional needs assessment survey in partnership with Wichita State University and the Kansas University School of Medicine. Our vision for service began to expand as we hosted local community forums with national experts in the field of respite care and listened to family perspectives about the strong need for respite care for people of all ages.

In 2005, ROCKO participated in a community-wide strategic planning process initiated by the Sedgwick County Developmental Disability Organization. The number one strategy identified for developmental disability services for Sedgwick County was "expanding social support and respite resources for people of all ages". ROCKO currently serves on a Leadership Team to implement this strategy. For more information about the Sedgwick County Strategic Report, visit http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/cddo/.

The time is now for service development that will enrich the lives of Kansans and meet the ever-changing needs of their families. Today, "Respite Outreach Care for Kansans Organization, Inc." is blazing a trail to expand the horizon for lifespan respite care and enrichment services.