Everyone needs a break. Especially foster parents.
Alternative Care
A foster parent can’t just call up a sitter when they need a break. Alternative Care providers are volunteers qualified to provide short-term childcare for foster parents. What a need!
Imagine a parent needing childcare so he/she can attend a meeting, training, or doctor’s appointment… or how about just to get a short, but much needed, break!
Imagine having a child in your home whose trauma causes behaviors so challenging that you are not sure you can keep going.
Unfortunately, this is the real, hard truth of foster care for both those kids and the foster families caring for them. We are building up an army of Alternative Care Providers who can help take these kiddos for a short time to give our foster parents a much-needed respite from the front lines. There are three types of Alternative Care Providers:
Alternative Care Provider Requirements:
Complete an Alternative Care Application
CPR/First Aid Training*
Background Check w/Social Security Card & Driver’s License
Attend the Sanctuary Alternative Care Class
Additional Trainings as needed
How to get started:
In order to complete the training and certification process to ensure that you are certified to become a provider for children in foster care and you are interested to taking the next step in supporting our foster families:
Step 1: Contact our Alternative Care & Respite Coordinator to begin the application process
Step 2: Complete the Alternative Care Application, including background check and fingerprints*
Step 3: Complete CPR/First Aid Certification*
Step 4: Schedule your Alternative Care Class with the Alternative Care & Respite Coordinator
*Fingerprints are determined by the Central Background Check Unit and you may be required upon background check completion
*CPR/First Aid Training: Please see our Foster Parent Training Calendar to schedule a class or view alternative training options located at the top of the calendar. Upon completion, please send your card to the Alternative Care & Respite Coordinator
Alternative Care is a HUGE piece of our Wraparound Care. We step in to offer direct help to our frontline soldiers by offering them respite as they battle for safety and stability for their foster child.
Building up an army of certified volunteers to help provide respite (rest) for foster families, be it babysitting, meals, or other services.