[specialcricket]

I don't post very often, but I read all the time. Here is my dilemma. My husband and I are looking to be licensed after the first of the year to do foster care with hopes that if a child in our care becomes available we will adopt.

I will be the primary caregiver of these children due to my husbands work schedule. I want to take in newborns up to age ? This is the problem. I do work 1-2 days/week. If I have a newborn, where will he/she stay while I am at work. When he/she gets older they can go to daycare, which I don't see as a problem. Because of this, my husband thinks we should take older children. I totally realize the need is there, but I know what I am best able to handle. The rest of the story...I have a 12 yr. old who I help daily with homework. Then, we adopted who is now 3 yrs. old and will be with us a year at the end of January. I don't feel she will deal with "sharing" her mommy with another older child or child her age very well. I have baby sat an infant and she did really well with the "baby."

If anyone has been in this position before, please share with me. I would love to take the baby with me to work, but since I am a nurse I don't think it would go over too well. There will be weeks that I don't work when my husband is out of town.

Any ideas appreciated!

[DianeS]

I believe babies can go to daycare as early as 6 weeks old. If that's true, that can be your minimum age. Although I would also line up another foster family who can take the child in an emergency, like when you can't find a daycare to take a child you got last night but you need to go to work today. Using another foster family is also an option if you take in children younger than the age they could go to daycare - the rule is only for the licenced daycare centers, I believe. There is no rule on using a friend or family member to provide care.

Then, age 2 or 2.5 could be your upper limit. It's a wide enough range that still keeps the children younger than your daughter.

Think that would work for you?

[specialcricket]

Thank you for your reply. Yes, that is always an option, I just really have my heart set on newborns too. Not that 6 weeks is old at all. I just know in my area that they do often go home straight from the hospital with foster parents. The challenge would be to find another foster family willing to work with me. I will talk to my agency and see if they know of anyone in this area. The bigger challenge is this is a new program for them so we will be one of the first sets of parents. But, I will continue to pray about it and God will provide the answers.

[michelleb]

I think, some employers will actually give you a maternity leave if you bring a brand new baby home...even for foster care...I am almost positive.
Maybe this would be an option for you.

[michelleb]

http://forums.adoption.com/t175703.html
There is someone on this thread talking about their maternity leave for foster care...

[kpospisil531]

Hi! The child's SW may be able to give you a hand in finding someone to watch him during the days that you work. In KY at least, 6 weeks is the minimum age that kids can go to day care. Your SW will be able to give you names of people geographically near you that could provide care (like other foster parents). I did this for a working couple near our neighborhood...they called it respite care. It was fun for me and helped him out a great deal. Don't panic. Talk to your SW.

[LeslieP9]

If your employer doesn't allow maternity leave, but they have more than 50 employees, you do qualify for family and medical leave act time. It's unpaid, but you can take up to 12 weeks off I believe. (Not positive about the amount--but I know it's more than the 6 weeks I took when we had a foster/adopt placement--from the hospital at 5 days old).