CAN YOU FOSTER AND WORK FULL TIME❓| Tips and Tricks for Full Time Foster Parents

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Thanks so much for watching! Working full time and fostering is tough but it CAN be done. Our schedule would be crazy at times but it was always worth it. Let us know if you have questions. We would love to hear from you!😁❤️

[@custardcream]

Thanks guys! This is the kind of thing that could prevent someone from even considering fostering and going over the logistics is super helpful. We are having our homestudy this week! Eeek!

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

That’s so exciting! Don’t be stressed, they want you to succeed. We were super nervous😬 on our first homestudy, but it was not bad at all and kind of fun. You’ll do great!🤗❤️

[@kenobeanz5834]

This was sooooo helpful. Of all the videos I’ve watched I just needed a realistic look at the logistics and wasn’t able to get them. This made it clear to me that our life style likely wouldn’t be conducive for fostering sadly. Neither of us could take that much time off work. But thanks again for this insightful video!

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi kenobeanz5834, thanks for reaching out. I’m sad to hear that at this time you won’t be fostering but I’m glad you are taking the time to learn what it takes to foster. We were told it was not possible to foster and work full time but we were determined to figure it out and we made it work. So if you have any other questions feel free to reach out. 🤗❤️

[@JanaGorz]

This was SUPER helpful!! Thank you for speaking your truth and encouraging! I have wondered and tried to think through how to balance work and fostering, and this was a great encouragement to my husband and I!

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Awe, thank you! We were discouraged to because our foster class pretty much told us it was impossible to foster and both work. It was tough but possible. Glad this was an encouragement to you!😁

[@TheVanFam]

Man, you guys are amazing humans. ❤️

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Thank you!🤗❤️

[@paige4734]

My husband and I are prospective foster parents with full-time jobs; thank you for discussing this topic! Thankfully, we both have flexible jobs with shorter weekly schedules (four days a week instead of five) and plenty of paid time off, which will be incredibly beneficial. I'm so happy to have found your channel! Your videos about foster care are very helpful and informative.

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

This is so exciting! We knew that it would be hard sometimes both working full time but that it would all somehow work out. Flexibility is important and also a supportive work environment. I'm so happy you found us too! Connecting with people like you have been my favorite part of vlogging. Please, PLEASE keep in touch and I'm working on responding to your other comment too because I love your question (it may be kind of a long response though). ;)

[@paige4734]

@@Zero2FiveFamily You’ll be such a valuable resource for us as we begin this journey! We’ll definitely keep in touch throughout this process, especially if we have questions. It’s awesome that you’re willing to engage with people who interact with your content online! You’re making such a big impact. (And, I’m happy to hear you’re preparing an answer for my other question! I’m looking forward to hearing your perspective.)

[@RLifestyle453]

bless you

[@amandadingess8876]

This is really encouraging! My hubby and I just got licensed in the state of Idaho, and we're both feeling a bit anxious about the idea of our working full time. But finding out that y'all both work full time and are still making it work helps boost my confidence that we can do it, too! :) Thanks so much for making these videos!

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi Amanda, that so awesome 👏 🙌👏🙌. Totally understand the anxiety. As we were sitting in our classes we thought what are we doing there is no way this is going to work with us working full time and our crazy schedule. We were totally wrong. It was challenging but it can be done, sometimes we just had to ask caseworkers for help, which we hated to do since we knew they were already overworked and overwhelmed. You’ll make it work, I know you will! Thanks so much tor reaching out! 🤗❤️

[@jessegrigg9092]

Thank you so much for these videos! Stumbled upon them in our research about fostering and adoption.

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hey Jesse! I’m so glad you found us! Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you! Keep in touch!

[@pamelataylor9848]

Because children in the foster system are often moved to different placements, I felt if at all possible, to schedule their medical and dental appointments with providers with whom they had previously treated would be better than seeking out new providers. That way they would see a familiar face and possibly they had built a rapport with these professionals. Further, they would have their records on file which would eliminate any delay in obtaining records from a previous provider.

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

I love this! It's so true and it helps them not to fall through the cracks of the system. We were able to do some of that with the dentist, we have an amazing system here that takes awesome care of foster children. Sometimes, they don't have a provider. That's when it was so helpful to have a relationship with a provider close by. Thanks for sharing this, Pamela! It is such a great and powerful point. :)

[@rachelmudford9114]

So glad I stumbled on your page ! We are currently in the process of going for foster care accreditation here in Australia and both my husband and I work full time . This has been something has had me concerned however after watching your video it’s really helped a lot.

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Wow! It's so exciting and scary at the same time, isn't it?? I'm so happy we could help, don't hesitate to reach out to us if there is anything we can do to help you! ❤️

[@c.anguiano3124]

You keep saying, “Don’t take advantage of them.” What does that actually mean? I want to be a full-time working, single foster parent and I could probably use all the help I can get.

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi c.anguiano3124 over the years we have become friends with several caseworkers. Through this we know they typically have a huge case load because there are not enough caseworkers and they are running like crazy. They are there to help but as a foster parent you take on the responsibility to care for that child or children. So when fostering there typically are tons of appointments, doctor, dental, vision, court, family team meetings, caseworker meetings for you and for the child, family visits and many other scheduled appointments. So we just don’t want foster parents saying they’re going to foster and then put everything back on the caseworker. For example, the caseworker having to pickup and take them to all their appointments. The caseworker is typically already overloaded. Fostering takes a lot of commitment and time to do it right for the child. So for use, we both worked full time and we made sure to make all there appointments which was hard, but we did have the caseworker help us from time to time with some of the appointments that were scheduled during our normal work hours. So for example the kids had multiple family visits a week so the caseworker would pick them up at daycare or our place and take them to there family visit 45-50 minutes away from where we live for part of them. We tried to do as many as we could and took off tons of work but there were so many appointments we asked the caseworker to help with running the kids to some of the family visits. It’s definitely a challenge fostering and working full time. Do you have family or friends that could help? There are just so many meetings and appointments when fostering. Usually there are more at the beginning when a child comes into care than if a child has been in care for awhile. That was a great question, thanks for reaching out!🤗❤️

[@c.anguiano3124]

@@Zero2FiveFamily Thank you! There are so many rules I didn’t think I could ask family/friends. I’m a DSP for IDD and I forgot the rules in foster are a lot more relaxed. Thank you!

[@taylorkriese9188]

How do you do daycare. If we have kids coming through every three months how is like gradual entry and all that for chikdcare feasible

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

That was something we were fortunate to have, it was awesome daycare near by that was state approved. We went and spoke with the daycare before fostering and built a great relationship, which helped us tremendously. The daycare did not always have an open spot but they promised us they would do everything possible to allow us to put the kids in daycare. We had several times where the daycare was too full and we had to take a day off since they were squeezing the kids in. They did this several times until there was an opening. It was definitely a little nerve racking not know if there would be space when we would take a placement, but thankfully every time they worked with us.🤗❤️

[@hadgit60]

Thankfully in my state the workers take them to that appointment in 24 hrs if they are just coming into care.

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

That would of been nice, our first foster experience we called and tried and tried to get an appointment but we could not do it in 24 hrs. We let the case worker know and they did not seem to worried about it. Then after that we just would get an appointment right away but sometimes it wasn’t for a week or two and the caseworkers never seemed to worry about it. We sweated a lot of things on our first placement, after the first placement it wasn’t as stressful. That’s our hope is that we can help others so they don’t sweat all the rules and how fostering works. Thanks for watching! 😁❤️

[@CanelaAguila]

Would it be possible to use your work schedule as a reason why you'd prefer older kids? I saw somewhere that an age preference is frowned upon, but I think teens would be a better fit, also in terms of "I find it easier to deal with older kids"

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi @CanelaAguila I know here in Missouri we had an option to specify what age group we were interested in fostering, but they also called us on other foster kids that were not in our age range. They specifically asked us to be willing to think about fostering older youth, because it was sometimes harder to find a home for them. We still told our caseworker that we want to foster children between 0-5 but we still got calls and e-mails about other children to potentially foster. Be open and upfront with your caseworker when you start fostering, and let them know your reason. Do remember even with older kids, fostering takes a lot of time and commitment. My main suggestion would be to honestly tell them upfront what you would like to do and be real. We found that to be the best thing for us. Thanks for reaching out! 🤗❤️

[@taylorkriese9188]

My concern is not the appointments as I am working part time. And I want to take two weeks off when we first receive a child. But if we have constant rotating children every three months. I cannot take that much time off. How does that work

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi Taylor, that is definitely a valid concern. Each case is different and you don’t always know how long the child/children will be with you. We did have a placement that was only one month which was hard and we spent a lot of time off work because they needed so much and we knew we may only have them for a short period. My advice would be to ask a lot of questions before saying yes to taking a placement if you are wanting a longer placement. The caseworker may give you clues to how long they may be in care. We actually have seen more children in care for 1-3 years than just a few months. We did the same thing and took a week off to spend plenty of time to get to know them and make appointments that were necessary. 🤗❤️

[@HappyHoppe]

Great video:)

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Thanks guys!🤗❤️

[@laurentorres2227]

I work night shift 5pm to 5 am I hope I can find a way to make my work schedule work so I can become a foster parent

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

That would be awesome!!👏🙌👍 They are always needing more foster parents. It would be super hard to make that schedule work but I know it could happen. When we first started fostering we didn’t know how to make it work with us both working and we were able too. 🤗❤️

[@jaddek.astrie3071]

Hope you are well! Can the foster be a long term? Can you have a babysitter or nanny if you work full time? Do the agency allows it? Thank you wish you a Happy 2021

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi, Jadde! We are doing well. Yes, some case are a long process and some are just short term. This would be a question to ask when they call about a placement, sometimes the caseworker knows right away if this is going to be a case that the kids are going to be in foster care for a long time or short time. In Missouri we could have a babysitter but they had to be state licensed if the state was going to pay for childcare. Each state has different rules on childcare and who the children can stay with. Thanks for the question!🤗❤️

[@CMadeleineRosel]

Would love to know how you juggle drop off and pick ups if you're both working full time? Our strat and finish times don't align with school hours so any tips would be great! thanks

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Yes! So hard! Our school offers a before and after school program which is so helpful. On the days we don’t have after school care, they ride the bus to my office. I’m so fortunate to work in the school district and to have employers who model and support family first. I rely a lot on family and friends to help with the kids when I don’t have care. It’s so important to have a support system. Our families do not live nearby so having friends that are more like family has helped tremendously. Do you have access to a Boys and Girls Club? We use them during the summer and after school and they’ve been awesome!

[@user_abcxyzz]

I was looking to foster older teen because they are (supposed to be) more independent and require less supervision. Apparently not. I'm a single person and work. In actuality, Fostering is only for couples and where one does not work so they can be available 24/7. Basically they want community babysitters to work for free and want you to be available 24/7. Me being single and working I was offered a teen placement thus past week who is 15 but the day they were scheduled to arrive they said they found a placement where the kid would have more supervision. That's Bull sheeeet cuz they already knew my preference and my schedule. They wasted my time and I re arranged my schedule to accommodate the arrival. This was my first potential placement. I felt they did not respect me or my time when I'm out here doing society a favor. I voluntarily quit my fostering licence right then and there. Maybe dont solicit single people and expect them to both work and be available 24/7. Youre crazy. Fostering is not for a single working person. Dont waste your time.

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Trust Valentino, I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. We actually had them tell us several times that they were going to place children in our home and the last minute something changes and they end up going to another home to stay. That is definitely heart breaking when that happens. 😢. Let us know if we can help in any way, I know you said you already voluntarily gave up your foster license but let us know if we can be of any support.😁❤️

[@Rayofsunshine7]

I am so sorry to hear about your experience as well. My husband and I became foster respite parents and that happened with the first kiddo we were supposed to get. No call and no show. I never even heard from my social worker- I had to call her the next day to see what happened and she didn’t even know what happened. But all that to say, we continued on and ending up helping 2 foster families care for 3 toddler boys over a years time! It was such a blessing and we got so attached to those little guys. I was so glad we hung in there. There are so many up and downs with fostering but in the end, it’s worth all of it!

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Your amazing Rachel!❤️🤗

[@Rayofsunshine7]

@@Zero2FiveFamily thank you 😊!! You are too!!

[@user_abcxyzz]

@@Zero2FiveFamily in amazing too. Never forget that.

[@sammiegirl883]

You kind of have to, right? You have to be self-supporting and financially independent to foster. I mean you have to also be available 24/7 for the kids. The stipend is 100% for the child’s care and not for paying rent, bills, etc. It’s the same as caring and supporting your own children that you have to support them and yourself with a roof over both your heads.

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi Samantha, not always the case! We probably could of made it on one income if we were super careful and would of not had much fun. We know several family’s where one parent does not work and they make it. Yes, you have to be the child’s parent while fostering them so you have to be available 24/7, there are resources to help so that you can have a break too. As a foster parent you do receive a monthly maintenance fee as the state would refer to it as. This is to help off set the cost of the child living with you. Each state has different maintenance fee rates but it definitely did not completely offset our cost of raising a child here in Missouri but it did definitely help. You are however at freedom to use the maintenance fee as you see necessary. Thanks for watching and commenting.😁❤️

[@MrsYoung-in9ov]

There’s also self-employment!

[@kishathomas5585]

How long do it takes to adopt.

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi Kisha, each situation is different. Our children were in foster care for a little over 3 years before we adopted them. Just remember that the goal for fostering is reunification so adoption is the last option with foster care.

[@Nina-Patriot]

Can I foster while single and working full time ?

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi Nina, I don’t want to say it is impossible but it will definitely be challenging. We had to divid and conquer because we both worked and there were court cases, parent meetings, visitations, doctor, dentist, vision appointments, school events, and many many more meetings. So it would be a challenge being single and continuing to work full time. Many told us that we would not be able to both work full time and foster but we made it work. We made sure one of us was at every meeting and made sure the child had all their needs met .🤗❤️

[@cheriessoblessedformerlyfear]

I'm a single 50 yr old woman with an empty house .. I work full time.. I'm starting to wonder if this is even do able

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

It can be done but it definitely would be challenging. Do you have other friends or family that would be able to help assist at times?

[@cheriessoblessedformerlyfear]

@@Zero2FiveFamily no not really my dad died and my mom is in fla half the yr

[@tiffanysaskiai]

Do you still foster with your 5 kids?!

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi T G, after adopting our 5 kids we decided it be best to stop fostering for now.❤️

[@teresaschaeffer7323]

You CAN, but you SHOULDN'T!

[@Zero2FiveFamily]

Hi Teresa, yes you can and I believe for some working full time and fostering is not a good idea. For other like us, we were determined to met the child’s every need and be there no matter what. It is definitely a lot but it can be done and I believe it can be done well with the right parents. I’m so glad we did it and I’m glad for the challenges we faced, I believe we grew so much and had the opportunity to love and support many children during this time in their life. But, each foster parent must understand the time commitment and what needs to be done while fostering and that should come first. Thanks for commenting.🤗👍