Respite, or short-term foster care, and long-term foster care are two different types of foster care provided for children while their families heal.
Bianca and Juan have been foster parents with Cayuga Centers for about a year. During that time, the couple has provided care for young people from different backgrounds, for various lengths of time. They offer a safe space to a child dealing with trauma no matter how long a youth is placed with them.
The couple provided respite care for a 16-year-old girl twice. Once, the child came for a weekend when her foster family wasn’t available to provide care; the second time she was considered an emergency placement to avoid a shelter with other homeless children. Both times, Bianca and Juan gave her a safe space to regroup and prepare for her next steps.
In Florida, where Bianca and Juan reside, youth can stay with a family for about two weeks while in respite care. A long-term placement can last over a year. The average length of a foster child’s placement in Florida is just over 11 months. Nationwide, a youth’s stay in foster care is between 1-2 years.
Why do children go into respite foster care?
Respite parents play a big role in the lives of the more than 23,000 children in the Florida foster care system. Many of these kids have gone through some sort of difficult situation and need extra attention and support. Sometimes, this means it takes more time to place them in a long-term foster home. Finding families to care for these children is crucial.
A child might need respite placement for several different reasons. A long-term foster parent may have to leave town for a weekend for an emergency or be overwhelmed and need a short break. They might need an emergency foster care placement if they are in-between families or when they leave the care of their birth parents. In each case, respite foster parents have a short time to get to know the child and assure them that this change is temporary.
How are respite and long-term care similar?
The couple treats both placements the same. When Bianca and Juan welcome a child into their home, they instill a sense of structure with a schedule, schoolwork, and chores that will prepare them for growing up.
“Making your bed is just a huge thing for us,” Bianca said. “Just that structure of what you need to accomplish.”
“Later on in life, it’s second nature and it’s not a struggle to have your own home and take care of it.”
Bianca and Juan also try to learn as much about a child’s personality, likes, and dislikes as possible. They ensure they have the basics, then let the youth choose comforting items for a personal touch and a feeling of control over their situation.
“We try to have some essentials here, but not everything because we want to take them to Publix and Walmart and grab a couple of things that they want to pick out,” Bianca said.
“Making sure that they have something at the house that makes them feel warm and fuzzy.”
Bianca and Juan realize that taking care of a teenager is different than with an elementary-school-aged child, like their long-term placement. The teenager that they fostered had been separated from her birth family for seven years.
Being mindful of her situation, Bianca told the youth, ‘I’m really sorry you’ve been doing this a long time. You know what you need to do. You know the difference between right and wrong. I’m just going to say, make some good decisions, and I’m here for you if you need to talk to me.”
The pair made sure the youth finished her school year strong before they had to say goodbye. Despite her short time in their care, the teenager left an imprint on Bianca and Juan’s life.
“I cried hard when she left,” Bianca said.
“Her [leaving] was tough,” Juan agreed. “I could see her potential. I hated seeing her go, but I knew it was for a better place.”
Bianca and Juan will adopt the same attitude regarding fostering children again — they want to care for them. The couple is the type that is always ready to make a difference in a child’s life.
“Some of these kids come from really, really bad situations,” Juan said. “It’s good to see a little ray of light that there is hope for them to do whatever they want to do eventually in the future if they stay the right course.”
What are the requirements to become a respite foster parent?
Whether someone wishes to be a short-term or long-term foster parent, the same steps need to be taken to be eligible. A prospective parent will fill out forms, attend courses, and satisfy any other requirements. All homes need to be prepared to provide loving and supportive care for a child whose life has just changed. The only difference is the time children spend with their foster parents.
How can I become a foster parent in my state?
Do you want to become a respite or long-term foster parent in your state? Cayuga Centers offers Treatment Family Foster Care in New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Florida. Visit cayugacenters.org to learn more about becoming a foster parent and the needs of children in foster care.
