Children and adults in foster care homes require that alternate care be provided by a certified respite provider. Alternate care is defined as anytime that a foster parent is not able to provide temporary care and supervision to their foster placement. A Place To Call Home provides these respite care services to licensed foster homes for their foster care placements. Respite care is most commonly used as a reprieve from providing foster care or when the foster parent leaves town and did not get approval from the case manager to take the child or adult foster placement with them. Other reasons include the foster parent’s attendance at an appointment or commitment or emergency at which is it not appropriate for the foster placement to be present. Respite services are a support service offered by A Place To Call Home for foster families licensed through A Place To Call Home.

Families becoming licensed as foster parents or certified as adoptive parents are encouraged to become respite certified as well. Providing respite care services while becoming a licensed foster parent or certified adoptive parent allows families an opportunity to learn about caring for foster placements and is viewed as a valuable training tool prior to a family receiving their first foster or adoptive placement. Many times, licensed foster families recruit their relatives to become certified respite providers so that relatives may assist with alternate care needs of the foster placements.

Individuals interested in providing respite services complete the required 15 hours of training conducted by A Place To Call Home and must meet respite provider eligibility prior to providing respite care to foster children and adults. Respite providers must obtain fingerprint clearance and CPR/First Aid Certification, which are both sponsored by A Place To Call Home as a convenience to the respite provider. Respite services are available in the foster or community home of the child or adult in need of respite services or in the home of the certified respite provider. An Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) inspection is required for all respite providers offering respite services in their own home. Once respite certified, the respite provider is available to provide respite services for foster homes licensed through A Place To Call Home as well as to other foster placements or other individuals in the community receiving services for developmental disabilities.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming certified to provide respite care for children or adults in foster care, please refer to the Licensing section and review the certification requirements for Respite or click here to request contact by A Place To Call Home to further discuss your interests.