[6furbabies]

Hi everyone. I am hoping to go into the foster program with the hope of fostering and possibly adopting an infant (eventually). I am single & work full time, so I would need to find a day care provider. Would DSS pay for that seperately, or would that be included in the monthly allowance? If that amount doesn't cover day care, would I have to pay out of pocket? I don't know if it makes a difference, but I live in Virginia. Thanks everyone!

[Mel in NEPA]

In our state, PA, we would have to pay for day care. It is our job to supervise the children, so it would be our responsibility to provide alternate supervision. That's what my caseworker told me.

[moogiesmom]

In Michigan FIA pays for child care
Renee

[mylilangels]

In Ga the state pays for it along w/ the wic prog. under age 5.
Marcie

[6furbabies]

Thank you for the information. It looks like I will have to check with the state of VA, but I appreciate the input!

[AlekseiGirl]

I live in California, and was told during training that the foster agency will pay for daycare. After I got my first placement, I found out that was a BIG FAT LIE. I get $624 a month from the agency, and that can be used to pay daycare. But, daycare for an infant in my area runs $650-$900 a month.

I was up front with the agency about my full time job from day one. After I got Baby A, the agency was giving me a really hard time about having a limited schedule for visits. I didn't get off work until 5, and the CW didn't want to work late. I ended up working a four day work week because I was tired of the hassle they were giving me.

So, make sure that you verify everything you hear. I know that the CW's mean well, but the little white lies they told have been tough for me. I'm a single mom too, so it's all me!

[wrekdiver]

I live in Virginia and they do pay for my babysitting. Though they only mentioned this after I got my first placement and it seemed like a last minute decision.

The way it works in Augusta County is--they have a list of childcare providers who have contracted with SS. To be on the list, the provider has to be TB tested every year, know child/infant CPR, etc. The list they gave me was pretty exhaustive (over 90 providers to choose from) and divided 3 catergories.
1)Personal provider-One person providing daycare for a max. of 6 children (less than 4 infants)
2)Homecare providers-2 or more providers in a home setting. Max of 12 children
3)Daycare provider

We can choose anybody to watch our fs but they will only pay for those from the approved list that they have screened. They pay the provider directly.
I was really impressed with the people we interviewed for the position. They all seemed real nice and some of them even provided meals.

My babysitter was also a really big help to me as new foster parent trying to navigate the system. She gave me all kind of advice about different agencies I could contact to get more help for my fs, how to handle different fostercare situations that came up, what resources me and my fs were entitled to that they did not mention but were willing to give me when I asked for them.

They are also sensitive to the needs of the foster children. This was not something I had thought of prior to becoming a fosterparent but some providers I talked to (not on the approved SS list) said some pretty nasty things about foster children. One provider said that ALL fosterchildren had behavioral problems. Well, she didn't even ask me for his age (8 months old). One provider said they didn't feel comfortable with all the extra security needed for fosterchildren? The *extra* security is that only my dh or I can pick him up. What's the big deal?

Another area of consideration is the child's therapies and visitations. Physical/occupational therapies can be done at the babysitter's. If you work and the child needs transportation for things like psych visits or visitations then SS will have to take him/her. Though they may grunt/groan about it. But these are things that you might want to discuss with the babysitter since she will be at least partially responsible for making sure things run smoothly.