Babysitting is temporarily caring for a child in foster care for no more than 12 consecutive hours, and not overnight. Babysitters must pass a background check and complete approximately 10 hours of training (part online, part in person).
Respite is providing care for a child in foster care overnight for up to 14 days. In most cases, respite care lasts approximately 3 days. Families can be certified to provide respite without obtaining a license, or a family can complete the licensing process to provide respite and be eligible to accept more long term respite placements through CPS. To be certified, respite providers must pass a background check, complete approximately 18 hours of training (part online, part in person), complete TB tests for all persons over the age of 1 year living in the home, and pass a home walk through to ensure safety.
Foster families are licensed to provide temporary care for children who have been placed in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Foster families provide nurturing care and stability for children in foster care while waiting to be reunified with their birth family or as they await adoption if parental rights are terminated. Foster care can range from overnight up to several years, with the average stay being 22 months. Foster families can be dually licensed to adopt in the event that a child in their care becomes eligible for adoption. To become a licensed foster home, families must pass a background check, complete approximately 30-35 hours of training (part online, part in person), complete TB tests for all persons over the age of 1 year living in the home, complete health and fire inspections, and participate in a home study.