As children mature, they develop an increasing need for independence and self-fulfillment.

Often, teenaged children desire to be employed outside the home and earn income independently. A part-time job provides a good opportunity to learn the value of earning money and proper budgeting of income.

As a foster parent, you will play a significant role in helping to determine whether the youth in your care is ready to take on this responsibility. You will collaborate with the youth’s case manager and, whenever possible, the child’s birth parents, to make this decision.

Consider the following:

• Will employment interfere with his or her school schedule and time needed to dedicate toward homework and school related responsibilities? 
• Has the teen consistently shown responsible behavior? 
• Will his or her work schedule allow time for adequate rest, recreation, and family time? 
• Is the work environment conducive to the teen’s overall health and development? 
• Will employment affect the teen’s Medicaid and/or IV-E eligibility?

While the teen is employed, as his or her primary caregiver, you must be observant and aware of any behavioral changes (positive or negative) and share these with your child’s case manager to ensure that employment should continue.

While children are expected, as members of a household, to perform regular chores, this expectation should not be so excessive that he or she is unable to hold a job outside the home, if desired. The teen should be appropriately compensated for working at a place of business owned or operated by the foster family.