[tylind23]

Any single, working foster parents out there? Or couples who both work? How do you do it? I fostered for a while last year and used an after school program and summer program for my kids when I had to work. The program I used I was very comfortable with (had worked with them for years, knew the staff well, etc.). However, the program had an "open door policy." Basically, they were not licensed as a daycare and if a child absolutely decided to walk out the doors, they couldn't physically stop them. Anyway, my agency decided that because of that, this program was unacceptable. Most daycares that I looked into only accepted children up to age 11. What do you do with a child over the age of 11 when you have to work? Is it just not possible to foster kids over that age and work?

[Heather5458]

I am single and currently have 2 foster toddlers and an 11 year old adopted daughter...the toddlers go to daycare and my daughter goes to daycamp when I am at work. Luckily the daycamp has a before and after care program as I work early and the daycare is always willing to take the children I have.

[fostapeepz]

I am self employed, so that makes a difference - but when we had a foster-teen I took her to work with me. It was good experience for her to see how a business ran, and she helped me with little things. Definately doesn't work for everyone, but we managed.

[HopefulInTN]

Look for "mom" groups online in your area. Day camps are usually listed at those sites for the area they cover. Also, check local universities. They sometimes have programs for kids, all the way to age 17. Maybe not all summer, but part of it.

We have our little guy in a program right at the middle school he will be attending next year. Not only do they have an afterschool program (that is really reasonable), but they have a summer program too that takes kids all the way through post-8th grade.

Also, if there's a Boys and Girls Club in your area, they will take teenagers too.

[greenrobin]

It's pretty frustrating sometimes.

Depending upon the kids, their behaviors and the type of program, sometimes you can find daycamps--like scouting or one run through a local school or community college. To be honest, I never used one for a fc, but I have for my bios.

I know that our agency runs a daycamp for a couple of weeks in the summer for fks and bios of foster families.

[mom2fabtwins]

I'm single, work outside the home and have had kids from 3 days to 14 yrs. I have a daycare that provides a "summer camp" thru the summer between 7th and 8th grade. I have a friend who uses the Boys and Girls club (not enough scheduled structure for the type of kids i get) and I have used the YMCA for before/after school and school vacations.

I was going to use the Y last summer for an older child - until I found my new daycare, one less drop off/pick up destination. But the Y program offers the ability to take swimming lessons, go to camp and a variety of other "tracks". The Y offers a free membership to all foster children (no one is turned away) - so you would be looking at the member rate, not the non-member (50% savings).

[Kristin7]

I am a single foster mom with three girls 11, 9 and 3. And I work full time with an hour commute each way. I have to go to three different schools/day each morning as they each go to differnet programs....and then three pick ups in the afternoon. Summer is a bit wacky as the two older attends a variety of summer camps with varying hours/dates. Its a lot of work doing it all on my own....but i'm so used to it...i just make it work.

Baby attends regular daycare and 9yr old goes with her during the summer...while 11yr old goes to several different summer camps. The Y is also a provider for us too for afterschool for the older girls.

Baby will be starting preschool in the Fall...so that will add more drop offs....ugh. but by then i'll be working from home and have more flexiblity.

K.

[Chancey]

My DH and I both work. We utilize daycare. We have found that we just can NOT take school age children -- there is no reimbursement for after school care or summer care from CPS. Additionally, after school care is very hard to find at a moment's notice.

So, we just stick to 4 years old and under so that they can go to daycare exclusively. That has worked very well for us. Our daycare really works with us and will take the kiddos on the first day in care cause they know that CPS will pay them. I have worked diligently on having a nice relationship with daycare for that reason.

[millie58]

My 11 yo stayed in daycare until he was 12. Then he was with mom. Now, at 14, I'm going to try leaving him at home. wish me luck!! what is daycamp?? There is Boys & Girls Club near me.

[mountaineermom]

I work two jobs and he works one and goes to school full time. The kids go to preschool from 9-3 during the day, then I pick them up and take them to work with me till 4:30, then I take them with me to my other job where I teach gymnastics till 8:00 3 day a week. On the other days and when my fiance is not working or in class he picks them up from daycare. FS is 3 and FD just turned 5 years old, so we dont have to worry about school untill she starts in august. But by then hopefully my fiance will be finished with school and things will be less crazy.

[mnmomma]

Originally Posted by millie58

what is daycamp?? There is Boys & Girls Club near me.

The YMCA is one of the largest summer camp providers. They offer the overnight camps at some locations, but they also have daycamps, where the kids go home at the end of each day. Some of the camps have a specific focus like horseback riding, watersports, rock climbing, etc. and some of the camps are more generalized activities. My step-son attended them for an entire summer once and he loved it. I loved that he came home exhausted every day.

[Prettyboicris]

I do not have any children in my home yet, however my wife and I both work and had to explain our "Child care" plan when we had our home study. My community board offers a bunch of free and low cost summer programs for kids. If the child is a Foster child then they get into some of the summer programs free of cost. Through my job benefits I found that it covers day camp / day care for children 10 years and older FOR FREE! So if we were open to that age that is what we would probably do. Since we are planning to take a child 5 years or younger. There is child care available through the city but if I were to adopt the child then through my job benefits I would be able to enroll my child into a child care facility for low cost. If I apply for a specific child care program then I could have the child care services free of cost but it would have to be renewed each year.
I hope that information is useful to you in some way.

[Chancey]

Originally Posted by Prettyboicris

I do not have any children in my home yet, however my wife and I both work and had to explain our "Child care" plan when we had our home study. My community board offers a bunch of free and low cost summer programs for kids. If the child is a Foster child then they get into some of the summer programs free of cost. Through my job benefits I found that it covers day camp / day care for children 10 years and older FOR FREE! So if we were open to that age that is what we would probably do. Since we are planning to take a child 5 years or younger. There is child care available through the city but if I were to adopt the child then through my job benefits I would be able to enroll my child into a child care facility for low cost. If I apply for a specific child care program then I could have the child care services free of cost but it would have to be renewed each year.
I hope that information is useful to you in some way.

One of the things that we have found is that summer day camps fill up VERY fast. My DH camps out for a couple hours on camp sign up day (in March for the summer camps) to be sure we get our bio son in. I would recommend having a back up plan just in case anyone here gets an older kiddo and can't find a camp to put them in.

[humanchild]

I am single, and work full time. I have had a total of 5 foster kids. The day care I work with is AMAZING. They take kids from 6 weeks -12 years old. They take school age kids get before and after care, and full day on all school holidays including snow days. It was great when I had different aged kids, because the little ones would stay there all day for day care (and for 4 year olds they run it as a full day preschool) and the older ones would get picked up and dropped off there by the school bus- so I only had one drop off/ pick up place. In the summer, the school age program is run as a day camp, with swimming every day and field trips once a week. They have also been great about working with my kiddos with behavioral issues. For this reason, I am only open to foster placements of 6weeks-age ten with no more than moderate special needs, because I need the kids to be able to go to day care all day long.

The real problem is when something unexpected comes up- like this week when 10 yo fs got suspended from school for 2 days, or when a kid gets sick. It helps to have an understanding job, and a large network of friends and family. I try to make friends with all the foster parents I meet, because most are more than willing to help out in a pinch and the county will always approve you leaving a kid with a certified foster parent for whatever reason.

I have not decided yet what to do with J once he ages out of the current after school program. He will be adopted by then, so I may let him go home alone for an hour if I think he is ready. If not hopefully I will be able to find another after school program or babysitter in the school district.

[greenrobin]

Daycamp is a full day in an environment like sleepaway camp, except it ends in the afternoon and everyone goes home. There are counselors, nurses, activities, crafts, sports, etc.

And it usually costs a whole lot less!