Babysitting & Respite
THE NEED
Roughly half of foster families close their home after their first year fostering due to a lack of support.
Foster families can't leave their foster children with any friend or family member. They must have approved babysitters and respite providers.
What's the Difference?
The "hierarchy" of foster care
Foster parents can also provide respite and babysitting for other foster families. Foster parents must be 21yrs or older. Typically it takes about 4-6 months to complete the trainings, inspections and interviews to become a foster parent.
Respite providers may also babysit but they cannot foster long-term (can't keep kids more than 2 consecutive weeks at a time) unless they do the additional classes, inspections and interviews to become foster parents. Respite providers must be 21yrs or older.
Babysitters can only babysit and they must be 18yrs or older. Some can keep kids overnight (not more than 72 consecutive hours) but you must be 21 or older to do so.
Requirements:
Arrow Babysitter Application.pdfBabysitters
18years or older
CPR and First Aid certified for infants, children and adults (good for 2yrs)
Submit application with copy of drivers license or social security card
Pass a background check with FBI fingerprinting
STC Application UPDATED.pdfShort Term Care (Overnight Babysitting)
21years or older
CPR and First Aid certified for infants, children and adults (good for 2yrs)
Submit application with copy of drivers license or social security card
Pass a background check with FBI fingerprinting
Respite Application UPDATED.pdfRespite Care
21years or older
CPR and First Aid certified for infants, children and adults (good for 2yrs)
Submit application with copies of pet vaccines, auto insurance, drivers license or social security cards
Pass a background check with FBI fingerprinting
TB test for all household members over 1yr old
Take classes through Arrow (Orientation, Connecting&Correcting, Medication Administration, BCMT)
Take online class through DFPS (Psychotropic Medications)