[FostAdoptMoms]

(Also posted in Fost-Adopt Support Forum - but wanted to catch my California folks too! )

My understanding is that respite care is hard to come by and that there is not an easy way to get it unless you have friends and family willing to help out and go through the necessary fingerprinting and soforth. I know our county says they offer it, but there is no information on how to access it and have heard other say it is non existant for their agencies.

I am a pre-fost-adopt parent and have also been a healthcare staffing executive for several years.... I am wondering if I can combine my experience in staffing to convert my current company into a respite staffing company so I can do what I know while serving the fost-adopt community and stay home with my children.

We would utlize certified foster parents waiting for placements, between placements etc. to do this work so they could earn money while waiting (if they aren't already employed) and they make a little extra cash while helping current foster, foster-adoptive, or post-adoptive parents in the process.

Can you guys tell me if you would use a service for respite? At first it would be private pay (your responsiblity) but we would later seek the funding from agencies and seek non-profit status to get grants for our work.... -The idea is easy access to respite so parents can take a break on a regular basis and there is no guilt asking mom to watch your 4 kids AGAIN....

Let me know your thoughts....
(we may run a pilot program in California -the Los Angeles, Orange County and Riverside county areas - so anyone interested, let me know...)
__________________

[bostons]

My partner & I have 4 children ranging in age from 2-9. We have gone out a total of 3 times w/o the kids - in nearly 2 1/2 years.

We are in the long beach area and would love to hear that there was respite care in the area!

I'd also be willing to do some respite care as well (like we'd notice one or two more kids running around).

[skootinalong2]

I was a foster parent in Santa Clara County. We moved to a new county in July. We used other foster parents, licensed day care and friends and family who where willing to be fingerprinted. Foster Parents were given 200 hours of respit care a year. (6.00 per hour) If the foster parent paid the provider, they were reimbursed or they would send it directly to the provider if they didn't mind waiting to get it.

But the Gov. just signed a new bill. Respite care providers no longer have to be fingerprinted etc....as long as it is for under 24 hrs of care. (Can't leave them overnight) Great news for foster parents!!!!!!

Teralyn