Written by Bloom Foster Family Tom and Lucy Riley
“What is respite? Isn’t that just babysitting?” I get asked this question frequently when explaining what our family does through Bloom. A respite foster parent accepts short-term placements in emergency situations, relieving other foster families when they need to go out of town or if they need a short break to “recharge.”
Sometimes, these placements are scheduled in advance, or we may get a call trying to find an available bed for that same day. Respite foster parents are certified through the same process as a regular foster home. Being a respite parent is an excellent choice for families who are on the fence about fostering, have demanding schedules, or are not sure about their capacity to foster long-term.
Respite has been a great fit for our family, and I encourage you to think about becoming a respite family, too. Since being licensed eight months ago, we have had the pleasure of providing respite care to fifteen children. We accept children from ages 3 to 18, so our house has a variety of bedding and décor the children can pick out to make their room their own. We can often talk to the current foster parent and learn about the children’s dietary restrictions, likes, and dislikes in advance. We have even made a slideshow with pictures of our house, the children’s bedrooms, and fun facts about ourselves so the kids won’t be as nervous when they arrive.
Being a respite parent is like being a fun aunt or uncle. We often have repeat visits from kids who are familiar with our home and know it is a safe place for them. Our first teenage placement wrote a note to the next kid who stayed with us; the following placement replied to her, and the tradition has continued since with nine notes that we now have added to our family slideshow.
Being a respite parent is very rewarding. We have been involved in so many children’s cases and can offer support to many families in our area.
Do you have a few weekends to spare? Are you a teacher who is looking for a way to support kids on school breaks? Perhaps an empty nester who is missing the sounds of giggles in your home? Becoming a respite family may be a great match for your family.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can open your heart and home to foster children in need, please visit our website at https://bloomfosters.org/our-programs/foster-parenting/ or email foster@bloomfosters.org to attend an upcoming orientation session.
