DFPS encourages foster parents to use alternate care to provide relief from the daily stresses of caring for foster children. Doing so gives foster parents the break they need to return refreshed and better equipped to handle the challenges of caring for children in foster care.

DFPS must ensure proper precautions are taken to maintain the safety of foster children while they are in alternate care.

Alternate care consists of:

  •   babysitting and overnight care, which is:

  •   short-term or infrequent care; and

  •   provided by a babysitter or alternate caregiver; and

  •   intermittent alternate care (IAC), also known as respite care, which is:

  •   a planned alternative 24-hour care;

  •   intended to provide relief to the child's primary caregiver;

Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies, 40 TAC §749.2621External Link

  •   provided by a person, other than the child's foster parent, who has contracted with DFPS to provide these services; and

  •   paid for by DFPS.

Alternate caregivers regularly provide child care and supervision when the foster parent is unavailable. Regularly is defined as at least four hours a day, three or more times a week and for more than nine consecutive weeks.

Examples of alternate caregivers include, but are not limited to:

  •   adult household members who have responsibility as a caregiver for a foster child; or

  •   an unrelated daycare provider.