Respite is....time away from your difficult child. A break, of sorts.
My respite is paid for by a county agency. We were told about the agency by the people in the autism center a few years back. Perhaps your school or a psychiatrists office may know of a similar place for you?
I supply my own respite providers, but my county does have a limited supply of providers if you don't have any "of your own". I pay my provider and the county pays me back (or, I just hand over the check to my provider when it comes in).
hope that helps.