If you have been thinking about becoming a foster parent, you might be feeling both excited and intimidated by the opportunity. For some people, it’s best to get started by “testing the waters” without committing to becoming a foster parent right from the start. Providing respite care is a great opportunity in this case. Before providing full foster care in Yuba City, you can make yourself available as a respite care provider. This is another category that plays an important role in the system and you can be sure that you’ll be making a meaningful difference in the community.

What is Respite Care?

As the name would suggest, respite care is a short-term solution that serves as a “backup” option for primary foster families. So, when a foster family that has a current placement needs help to provide care for a child on a temporary basis, a respite care provider can step in and fill that role. It’s easy to see how this duty can be a great starting point before committing to full-time foster care in Yuba City. A respite care provider is going to get exposure to the experience of caring for various foster children, and those experiences will help to build skills that will be important later on.

Not Only a Stepping Stone

It should be mentioned that you don’t have to view being a respite care provider as a temporary arrangement. It might be the case that this is the level of commitment that you are able to provide for foster care in Yuba City. That would be just fine, as respite care is an important piece of the foster system puzzle and you’d be helping the primary foster parents play their role to the best of their ability. Reaching out to get more information about respite care is a good first step.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a respite care provider or a foster parent, contact Children First Foster Family Agency or apply to become a resource parent.

Children First FFA is a private, non-profit organization in Northern California that is dedicated to helping change lives by providing a safe place for children to heal in a culture of love, acceptance, and consistency.