Foster parents must provide or arrange for care and supervision appropriate to the foster child’s age, his or her level of development, and individual needs. A plan is established by the foster parent for the care and supervision of the child as needed by a competent and reliable adult in his/her absence due to employment, training, or personal necessity. No foster child may be left in the care of a minor; ALL persons providing reimbursed or non-reimbursed care for a foster child must be at least 18 years of age or older (21 years old for CAPS reimbursement).

Babysitters are classified as either routine or occasional. Routine babysitters must be screened and approved by DFCS. Routine care means care provided more than once a week, usually at designated times. These individuals must be screened by a DFCS case manager. Screening will include DFCS CPS records, Sexual Offender Registry, Board of Pardons and Parole Registry and the Department of Corrections screenings.

Occasional care means care provided once a week or less with no more than three occurrences. Upon completion of the third occurrence, the occasional provider is considered routine and is subject to the screening requirements of a routine babysitter. Contact the agency to ensure that screenings are conducted before an occasional caregiver becomes routine.

The Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard (RPPS) applies to both babysitting and overnight stays for children and youth in foster care. The foster caregiver may approve babysitting and overnight stays without prior approval from the agency if it meets the guidelines below.

A babysitter must:

• Be at least 18 years old, reliable, and competent to provide the necessary care to the child 
• Be prepared and able to meet the needs of the child placed in his/her temporary care 
• Have reviewed the DFCS discipline policy and been provided with behavior management instructions for each child in his/her care 
• Be provided information regarding specific care needs of the child and emergency contact information

Overnight/sleepover guidelines:

• May not exceed two nights without DFCS permission 
• Caregiver must be able to meet the needs of the child placed in his/her temporary care
• Caregiver must have reviewed the DFCS discipline policy and been provided with behavior management instructions for each child in his/her care 
• All out-of-state travel, regardless of length, must be discussed with and approved by the child’s DFCS case manager 
• Caregiver must be provided information regarding specific care needs of the child and emergency contact information