A Week Away Foundation
A Week Away Respite Program · About this organization
What you get
A free break, usually a week, with lodging, activities, ground travel and trip expenses. Possible help with lost wages and household bills.
How to start
Your doctor fills in the medical form. Fill in your patient form, then send the requested documents and physician letter.
Good to know
- Active treatment required, though recently concluded treatment may be considered; hospice is not served.
- Both forms are live; no deadline is published.
The details, as published
A Week Away coordinates a no-cost personalized respite for an eligible patient and the family or friends who form the immediate care team, including lodging, ground transportation, activities, incidentals, prepaid Visa cards, and potentially documented lost wages.
What help you may get
Camps And Retreats
Personalized respite lodging and experiences
A personalized restorative respite, usually about a week, with lodging and activities.
Actual eligible cost · One Time
Can cover
- Lodging
- Activities
- Incidentals
Does not cover
- Air travel
- No dollar cap is published.
- Two respites maximum per family, at least two years apart.
Travel And Transportation
Ground transportation
Ground transportation related to the respite; air travel is not coordinated.
Actual eligible cost · One Time
Can cover
- Ground transportation
Does not cover
- Air travel
- No dollar cap is published.
- Two respites maximum per family, at least two years apart.
Wishes And Family Experiences
Personalized family respite experience
A personalized destination-style experience with activities planned around the patient and immediate care team.
Actual eligible cost · One Time
Can cover
- Personalized family activities and experiences
- No dollar cap is published.
- Two respites maximum per family, at least two years apart.
Household Bills And Cash Assistance
Prepaid Visa cards and possible lost-wage support
Prepaid Visa cards support trip expenses; documented lost wages may be paid after PTO is exhausted.
Actual eligible cost · One Time
Can cover
- Trip expenses
- Potential lost wages
- Potential third-party household-bill payments
- No dollar cap is published.
- Two respites maximum per family, at least two years apart.
Why this may help
Household Bills And Cash Assistance: The respite trip can include help with lost wages after paid leave runs out and possible payments toward household bills.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. B-ALL can meet the published life-threatening-illness criterion during active or recently concluded treatment.
Age
Age 0 to no published upper limit, measured at application.
- No age limit.
Treatment status
Active Treatment, Maintenance Treatment, Relapse Or Recurrence, Within One Year Post Treatment
- Recently concluded treatment may be considered; hospice is referred elsewhere.
- A treating medical professional must complete the medical form and later provide a physician letter.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: Current official Pennsylvania county list..
- Patient must reside in one of the listed counties.
Where your child is treated
Treatment-location rules are not published clearly; confirm with the program.
Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
- Published respite destinations — Beach, rustic/outdoor, urban, or Lancaster hometown destinations, generally within 500 miles of home or hospital.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? Yes. Ask your child’s social worker or care team to begin the request.
Who can start: Patient, Parent Or Guardian, Healthcare Team
- Patient or parent submits patient form.
- Treating medical professional submits medical form.
- Supply later-requested secure documents.
- Supply physician letter.
Ways to apply or ask
- Web Form · Open form or page
- Web Form · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
- Copies of insurance cards requested after initial application.
- Valid identification requested after initial application.
- Treating-physician letter requested after medical-form submission.
- For opportunity costs: last two pay stubs and three months of financial statements.
- For opportunity costs: most recent W-2 for working non-dependent family members.
- After approval, a Respite Coordinator plans arrangements and pays most costs ahead of time.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 27, 2026 |
- Both official forms were live; Board approval is discretionary.
- Both forms are live; no deadline is published.
- After all requested information is received.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Residence limited to 15 published Pennsylvania counties.
- Active treatment required, though recently concluded treatment may be considered; hospice is not served.
- Trips generally remain within 500 miles of home or hospital; air travel is not coordinated.
- Board approval and trip details are discretionary.
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 27, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Frequently Asked Questions · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Medical Form · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Patient Form · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Your Week Away · checked Aug 27, 2026