If you desire to help foster kids but cannot commit to full-time foster care, providing respite care might be the perfect way to get involved. Respite providers give CCR foster parents a break for a few hours, overnight, or a few days. Being a certified respite provider to one or two CCR families is a great way to get involved and help kids in Wisconsin foster care.
All parents need a break from time to time. Because of the higher emotional needs and behaviors of many kids in foster care, foster parents need an occasional break. Using a certified respite provider allows foster parents to take time for themselves. Foster parents can look forward to respite care as it is typically scheduled in advance, working with the availability of the respite provider. It is up to both parties to decide on days, times, and locations.
Using respite care regularly allows for dependable relationships to be formed. The children need consistent care because it will enable them to develop a healthy relationship with the provider and look forward to time spent together.
Respite care can be provided in the foster home or the respite home. Respite can be for a few hours or a weekend, whatever foster parents feel they need to recharge their batteries. While many respite providers plan outings to a park, community pool, movie theater, or local restaurant, others may prepare a child's favorite food or watch a new movie with popcorn. It is a beautiful opportunity for the kids to get a break from their foster parents and enjoy different interactions and surroundings.
As much as foster parents need a break from their kiddos, kids also need some time away from their foster parents. A consistent respite provider allows the kids to build relationships with another stable, trusted adult. Many foster children look forward to sleeping over at a respite home and enjoying a change from the everyday routines of foster family life. Much like biological kids enjoying a night with a babysitter, foster kids also want a change of scenery.
Respite providers are not required to have a designated bedroom for foster kids. Having kids sleep on the couch, futon, or inflatable mattress is okay if the child is comfortable and safe.
CCR strongly supports self-care by generously giving all of our foster parents paid respite time. Each child placed in the home receives two monthly respite days and a one-week vacation annually. For example, if two foster children go to respite for the weekend, Saturday morning through Sunday late afternoon, CCR will pay the respite provider for two full days of respite for each child. If a respite provider cares for a child for an afternoon, CCR will pay the provider for a half-day respite.
CCR is currently paying a higher rate to respite providers that wish to help families caring for multiple teens.
When Tim and Karen first considered becoming foster parents, they could not meet the requirement of a flexible schedule. Both worked full-time and had very little flexibility with their employers. Fostering full-time wasn't compatible with their schedules. They were disappointed at first, but they were eager to learn more after learning that they could get involved in another significant way. They knew there was a need for more foster homes in Wisconsin but had never heard of respite care or what it meant for foster parents.
Ultimately the Wisconsin couple felt it was something that made sense for them. They wanted to develop relationships with foster kids and help those dedicating their lives to foster care. Within two short months, they were certified to provide respite care. Tim and Karen have been able to help a family near them with their two foster sons, ages 10 and 13. They say it is just the right amount of time to give each month, and they are happy to get to know the boys more each visit.
