Weekend FOSTER CARE - Respite WORK/HELP What is your adivse?

Question

I just found out about "RESPITE" foster care. It is where you take in a foster child for the weekend to give the Careworkers/Foster Parents relief. This sounds amazing. I have always wanted to either adopt/foster children. I am 24 and have none of my own and do not plan to have them naturally. My mother was a foster child and she has grown up to be a wonderful caring woman. Her brothers and sister were the ones who went through the damage of bad fostering. I want to help a child, preferably for a very short amount of time to see if this is right for me. I know all about kids, my older brother has 3 and I have a bro/sis who is 12/14. My parents have been married for 29 years so I come from a sound/stable environment. I know how important parenting is and want to contribute. ALSO: I have decided to include that my partner(male) and I live together and have been together for 4 years. Do you see our not being married a problem? Any advise is great, look forward to your responses!! Thanks

Answer 1

I am a foster parent and have also done respite care for other foster parents.  Our first experience with fostering was a respite care placement for about 3 days.  It showed us a little what fostering would be like.  When the little girl had to leave, she cried because she said she had so much fun with us!  (I think it was because she was the only child here and got to be the center of attention for a while.)  Anyway, it was a fun experience.  I hope you decide to do it!

Answer 2

Yes, where I work...Respite care is definitely needed. DCF in my state is opened from 9am-5pm....and something called SPRU (Special Response Unit Workers) are the after hours emergency workers. This is when a call has been made and they go out to investigate it, which in some cases calls for a removal because of immediate danger.  

This is where the "SPRU" list comes into place. Foster parents that are willing to be on this list and be called at any hour from 5pm to 9am the next morning and any time on Sat and Sunday. We call every week to see when the foster parent is able to be on that week, if at all.

These are usually always short term placements and the child gets picked up on Monday morning and either put into a regular long term foster home or family members....etc.

Also Respite care and Weekend placements etc..can be when the foster parent goes on vacation and either cannot take the child for whatever reason...or sadly...they don't want to and that is when a Respite foster parent would come into place.

Hope that helped

Answer 3

My son goes to respite its nice to have a break a weekend a month cause he has special needs.

Answer 4

Not being married shouldn't be a problem, as long as you are both committed. We fostered children for a while and started off with respite care. A word of warning, it isn't always easy - a weekend can seem a very long time if you have a child who is difficult to deal with. We were naive and thought we could handle anything for a short while and took on a 7 year old with adhd. The trial afternoon was too much for us and feeling very guilty we said we couldn't have him again. The next child was a 2 year old boy. He was epileptic and was on a lot of medication, but was fine and we really enjoyed having him once a month.

Hope that helps.

For parenting tips try my website:

http://www.parents-in-a-pickle.com

Answer 5

In many areas, respite care is desperately needed! Check with your local child services agency. They will let you know what qualifications are needed to get started working in the program, and if your single/living with status will be a problem.