There are many different services that Necco provides to children and families across several states. One that you may not think about often is respite care, but it's an important service designed to help foster and adoptive parents along their journey.
What is respite care?
Respite care is a temporary break for foster and adoptive families as well as the children in their care. Necco provides foster families with certified caregivers who can step in and give them a break from the challenges of caring for a child.
Each state has its own regulations for respite care, so checking with your case manager is important in determining how respite care can benefit you.
Why should I use respite care?
Respite care is an essential service for foster and adoptive families. These are just a few of the several different reasons why a family may need to utilize respite care:
- Personal or family emergency: Sometimes when dealing with an emergency such as a health crisis or death in the family, a foster family may need to leave their foster children temporarily.
- Travel/scheduled time off: Foster parents may have scheduled travel plans that don’t allow them to bring their foster children with them.
- Burnout/exhaustion: Caring for a foster child with special needs or behavioral problems can be physically and mentally demanding. It’s important to be able to take a break in order to best care for the child.
How can I become a respite caregiver?
Respite care households must be certified to provide the same level of care that the original foster family, so respite caregivers receive the same training as foster parents.
Becoming a respite caregiver is a good option if you are interested in fostering but aren’t sure where to start. You can find out more about becoming a respite caregiver by filling out our short form.