Trust me. There is no judgement if foster parenting isn’t for you. But a lot of people have told me, “I’ve always thought about being a foster parent, but…” *Enter any reason here, and I’ve not only heard it before but can completely identify with it.*

The good news is there is a way you can dip your toe into the questionable waters before belly flopping in. (“Diving” sounds too graceful, and becoming a foster parent is just…not that. But what kind of parenting is?)

There is an often overlooked service called Respite Foster Care.

If you’re a parent, you probably know that feeling when you drop your kids off at their grandparents for the weekend or a friend’s house for the night so that you can take that much-needed break to think, sleep, renew your driver’s license, or whatever you want! What a lot of people don’t realize is that foster children can only be looked after those who are licensed by the state to do so. This means there are a lot of worn-out, at-the-end-of-their-rope foster parents out there who need people they can trust and are certified to give them the gift of time and self-care. You can do this through an agency, the state, or a church/ministry that provide the state required trainings.

There are different types of respite foster care.

If you already know foster parents, you can become licensed through their agency to babysit for them for a day (not overnight). This requires training, background checks, and health screenings.

If you want to go a step further and provide overnight (or longer) care, there is more involved, including a home study. But this is a great start for anyone who is interested but unsure about become a fully licensed foster parent. You have to go through the same preparations before getting a placement and you’ll only have placements for a short amount time.

Just like foster parents, you can reject a placement you’re not comfortable with. Another misconception is that foster parents are required to take in any placements their agency throws at them. You DO have a choice on who you bring into your home to care for. Usually the agency will call you with information about the children and the level of care you would need to provide so that you and your family can make the decision together before any commitments are made.

Check out the Texas DFPS website to find out more about this desperately needed and invaluable service for foster parents.