Respite is something that is spoken of a lot in the training but sadly not a reality for most foster parents in my state. We are so overrun there is no respite through the agency despite all the emphasis placed on it during training. There is literally no respite available and our county is pawing off kids to other agencies in other counties. I would suggest if you have family near you get them cleared asap for the babysitting background check so that if things get rough you can drop off the foster kid's even for a afternoon.

We ended up finding a respite home through our Mental Health Program 10 months in. I was hesitant at first because the kids are spoiled rotten when they stay but it got to the point that it was my only option and I needed a break. In the end it ended up being a good thing and it is something that we now shedule regularly. It provides a reset for everyone and a chance to breath freely. My kids always come back on better behavior and as they have been with us longer they have begun to miss us during the respite and it has helped them realized that they do have a connection to us.