The answer is YES! You can foster a child and work full-time. In fact, most foster parents have full-time jobs. Before you begin, you should consider child care options, find support from your community and family members, and learn about your employee benefits.

Find Child Care.

Several child care options are available for foster parents who work full-time. Foster parents can apply for subsidized child care from Child Care Management Services (CCMS). Foster parents who receive CCMS must work at least 40 hours per week and earn a wage. Full-time students or volunteers do not qualify. The child must be in DFPS conservatorship (foster care or kinship care). The child must be in kindergarten or younger (during the school year) or 13 years old or younger during the summer and spring break. It would be best to search for childcare facilities before you receive your first placement. Be aware that not all childcare facilities accept payments from CCMS.

You can find a list of child care facilities in your area by searching https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/Search_Texas_Child_Care/ppFacilitySearchDayCare.asp

Be sure to click the box that says, “Accepts Child Care Subsidies.” Then, select a few facilities from the list provided and give them a call. While you are on the phone, verify that they accept CCMS, ask them if they have any space for children in your age range, and confirm that their hours of operation meet your needs. If they answer your questions satisfactorily, schedule a tour. Meet the staff and see if you like the facility. It is a good idea to have several options on your list because availability can change while you are waiting for your foster placement.

Parents who foster a child and work full-time can apply for a CCMS subsidy as soon as they receive placement, but payments will not begin immediately. Applications can take six to eight weeks to process. During this time, foster parents are responsible for all daycare expenses. CCMS payments must be reauthorized every six months. If foster parents forget to complete the necessary forms, they may experience a lapse in coverage. Finally, daycare payments cease after foster parents sign an adoption agreement.

Head Start is another program available to foster children ages zero to age 5. They are primarily focused on helping low-income families, but foster parents can apply regardless of their income. This makes Head Start a great option if you foster a child and work full-time. Head Start is a federally funded program with services that support early learning and development, health, and family well-being. You can click this link to find a Head Start Center near you. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/center-locator

Find a Respite Care Provider

If you plan to foster a child and work full-time, you may also want to find a trusted friend or family member who can provide respite care during evenings and weekend hours. Respite care volunteers help foster parents when they need a babysitter for a date night out, a family emergency, or need a short break. Respite care volunteers must complete an application, maintain CPR/First Aid Certification, and pass a background check. To learn more about becoming a respite care volunteer, please contact Home Developer Samantha Singer at ssinger@hopecottage.org or call 214-526-8721.

Learn About Your Employee Benefits.

Finally, if you want to foster a child and work full-time, you should learn about your employer’s benefits. Do you have PTO hours that you can use for any purpose, or do you need a doctor’s note if you use sick time? Can you take time off without advanced notice? Can you take a partial day, or will you have to take an entire day off each time? Is your employer flexible with hours, or are you required to work a specific shift every day? Can you get a day off during the traditional Monday to Friday work week? It is a good idea to have a conversation with your boss about your plans before receiving your first placement.