Respite
A lot of people are wondering what respite is.
Respite is a babysitter for a foster parent. There’s a bit more to it, such as licensing, ect - but in a nutshell, that’s what respite is.
I am not a huge fan of respite. I prefer to have the kids I am taking care of be watched by the same people that watch my own children. I can, however, see the benefits and have no problem BEING a respite provider when necessary.
We got a call last week about a possibly monthly respite situation for a teenager. I gave the go-ahead but haven’t heard anything more from the foster parents. This happens sometimes. Parents think that they want a break and call for respite only to re-think the situation and change their minds afterwards.
Respite can be a great way for new people to get into foster parenting. If you’re not sure whether you’d like to foster parent or not, contact your local DCF office about respite - they can give you any information you may need and it gives YOU a chance to get a feel for foster parenting.
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