Substitute Caregivers and Respite Care

Substitute Caregivers

A substitute caregiver(s) is an individual you have identified to provide temporary care for your kinship child. Some situations in which a substitute caregiver may be utilized are vacations, illness, removal of the kinship child from the home or any extreme emergency. Their utilization helps to reduce trauma, as they are someone who will know the child well.

Substitute caregivers may be used for a period of less than 72 hours and no more than 30 days, unless the child has been removed from your home because of safety concerns. Substitute caregivers who complete agency requirements may be used as respite caregivers. A Second Chance, Inc., will assist you in identifying a substitute caregiver(s) and will complete criminal/child abuse clearances and a Department of Public Welfare home Inspection in the identified individual(s) home. 

Respite Care

Respite care was designed to help kinship families with child care when certain situations arise, as detailed above. Respite caregivers are fully licensed through the state as kinship caregivers.  They provide a break for families who either want to take a vacation, need a rest or need to use respite care in an emergency situation such as hospitalization, death of a family member, etc.  They also provide care for a child(ren) who must be removed from their current placement until permanent placement can be made. Respite homes are intended to be used on a short-term basis.