[sparkle1908]

Hello everyone...I am relatively new here on the board and about to start my foster/adopt journey in early 2009...

I am single and had a question regarding how you handle the daycare issues as a FP...

how do you make arrangements at a daycare when you don't know how long you will have the child?

If you get an emergency placement, do you take off work (if possible) or will a daycare pretty much allow you to bring a different child in? i know that with most daycares there is a waiting list of some sort, how do you deal with that if you suddenly get a placement?

Will the agency find you a daycare that will allow special circumstances such as these or are you pretty much on your own?

I hope these questions make sense

[millie58]

When I started doing the MAPP classes, I had to have a "plan" for the kids. I looked into daycare and found a great one around the corner from where I lived. I talked to her (it was a woman, and an aid; the day care provider's husband would also help out. When I got my first placement, I took off a day or two and took them there. I used her for all my placements except the last one (she was full) but she recommended someone.

[csisemore]

That's a great question. I was wondering the same. All of my bio children are in school and here the daycare has to be state licenced.

[jp4ga]

Even before you have placements talk to daycare centers around you. I was able to find a great daycare that was owned by a foster parent, so she understood all of the in's and out's of foster care. She and her employees took special care to make sure the kids were adjusting. They were also always able to accomadte my "new" guest with very little notice.

Prior to finding this daycare I had the children placed at a daycare that said they were "fine" with foster children however, they harrassed me about payment (which was made directly through DFACS) and for some reason the system always sends the payments after services are renender. They also got mad because the Play Therpist wanted to come and watch the kids in their normal environment.

I think you will find most day cares will work with you. If you area has an Foster Parent Coalation, you might want to check with members to see which daycares they reccommend. Sometimes I did have to take off work to register the kids and go shopping for them and get them setup for school/daycare.

[ALfostermom]

i checked into local daycares and found one i really liked. The director gave me her cell # to call her after hours if i got a late placement. there was only one time she didn't have room and they went to another daycare till she got an opening. the director gave me a set of enrollment papers to keep at home to where i could fill them out before bringing a new child in. You will have to let them know in the beginning though, that it may take a couple of weeks to get blue slip (shot record for schools) from a Doctor. some daycare are really strict on no blue slip- no enrolling. In the past DHR has found daycare for me if the child was picked up during hours. and sometimes the child is already in a local daycare, if it is not a safety issue it is best to keep them where they are already at-to where they do have some stability. Each case is diffferent.....talk to your agency and see how they do things and get to know the local daycares.

[hcg]

I found a daycare used to taking foster kids. I started by looking for any daycares in our area that take emergency/short-term placements, and started calling. I registered *us* there, as parents, paid the registration fee, and that guarantees any child of ours a place.

If I do have notice I call them to let them know a child will be coming.

[sparkle1908]

thanks everyone...I will do my research on area daycares and start talking with owners, etc....