Thursday, January 21, 2010

How common is it for a foster parent to work full time?

If you've had any experience with fostering what are the general thoughts/feelings about foster children being in daycare or preschool? Is this permitted or never allowed? Does one parent have to be home full time? I don't see why this would be as the child will eventually attend school and not be home with the parent anyway. My husband and I are exploring the option of fostering, perhaps in a year or two, and I fear my working full time would make us ineligible foster parents. He works part time, btw.How common is it for a foster parent to work full time?
They will place a child in a home with foster parents who work full-time. Of course, the needs of the child will be evaluated first and those children whose special needs require a full-time stay at home parent would be identified.





One thing to note, is that the reimbursement for being foster parents will never include any kind of additional money to pay for daycare. In most cases, the regular reimbursement received won't even cover the cost of daycare. Day care costs more than what foster parents are paid. Not that money should be the deciding factor, but it is a consideration. For working parents, the state is most likely to place school age children in the home...then the kids would be at school most of the day anyways.





Some of the rules and regulations depend on the state you live in, so your best bet is contact your local CPS or look on your state's website.How common is it for a foster parent to work full time?
While they can't tell you not to, in most cases, it is really frowned upon.





These kids usually have attachment issues and trust issues already, and to place them in child care during the day, especially when they're not in school yet, could be damaging. Keep in mind, if a child is small enough to not yet be in school, it may also be tough to explain to them why they don't have a consistent caregiver.





If the kids are much older, and in school already, it is possible, but please, if they are little, give them the consistency that they so badly need, or choose not to foster. These are not biological children. They do not have an existing attachment that will withstand childcare. These kids need consistent caregivers, at the very least.
You can both work full time. States dont require one parent to stay at home, but they will require a plan (and for them to be made aware of that plan) on what your working schedules will be and what the daycare situation will be. You typically spend more money on a child than you get per month, so most foster parents work. State will pay for medicaid approved daycare and you will be given medicaid healthcare cards for the children, but if you opt for a nicer daycare that doesnt accept medicaid or, go to a dr. that doesnt accept medicaid, you flip the bill.





Good luck.
My husband and I have been fostering for awhile. The agency we went through does an income check to be sure you make enough to meet your monthly needs and are not just living off the money provided for the kids. I work full time during the day and my husband works full time in the evenings. This works well for us and someone is always home for the kids. Fostering involves alot of traveling for appointments, school events and visits. They tell us not to treat our foster children any different than we do our own. The only problem with daycare is the one that you use has to be state certified and each employee has to have fingerprinting and background checks. We had to have our parents fingerprinted and backgrounds done to keep our kids. This is how it is in Ohio. Congrates on thinking about fostering. We love every minute of it. Good luck to you.
Many Foster parents work full time. Parents are required to have consistent schedule (no trick work) so the child has a structured evening routine. The daycare needs to be liscenced through your state and accept county payment as childcare expenses are paid by the county. When choosing a daycare, look for structure and routine and ask if the director and lead teacher have dealt with foster families before. Children dealing with loss and trauma need stability and predictability to feel safe.
Foster kids need time and attention. It is NOT that you can't work, but think about the kids. Going to school is one thing...coming home to a strange, empty house is another. It can take along time for kids to settle into a home....If the idea is to help them ';develop and get past issues;'; leaving them to feel alone is not the best idea.





Also, on a side note, the homes where parent's are not home are alot easier to be disruptive, act-out, etc.
It is most comman for both foster parents to work in my state and it is NOT frowned upon, It is a fact of life. Daycare costs are completely covered. Special needs kids go to daycare also--no difference in placement. One parent does not have to stay home. Single foster ans well as married couples. Why wait---they need you NOW. Call your local state CFS agency for answers that apply to your state.
I am a Foster/Aopted parent from KY you can work ,,there nothing saying you can not work,,,belive me you will need the income ,,lol,,yes state pays alittle but not enough.lol

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