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Comment by BadCookie | Hacker News Reader

Have you found other ways that you would recommend?

Actually, I still recommend being a foster parent; as long as you have some idea of what you are getting into and both parents are on-board it's incredibly rewarding.

If that doesn't apply to you, there's still plenty of things you can do to help out; I ended up on that list from being a foster parent, but I'm sure if you contact whomever is in charge of foster care in your area you can get on the list. Usually whatever local version of child-welfare/social services you have will know what the needs are. Where I am, providing transportation is always a need (e.g. kids to school when they've been moved too far for a bus; kids to and from visits with birth families, &c.)

Another option for families that are not in a position to make a long-term commitment is respite care. Basically being available to take kids for a night, a weekend or a few weeks. It can allow foster parents to have a break (or sometimes an emergency comes up and they need a few weeks to deal with it) and it can also provide kids with a place to stay when they are between foster homes and there's a gap in availability for whatever reason. Or when they have to be removed from their birth family suddenly and there isn't time to find a long-term placement option right away.

Yes! Respite care is hugely useful. Typically the only real commitment involved in doing so is you'll need to child-proof your house (plus maybe taking a couple of classes). If you have small children already, there likely won't be many changes you need to make.

In our area you basically have to go through the same licensing process as regular foster parents. Glad to hear it's an easier process in other places :)

Thank you! It’s good to hear that it can still feel worthwhile despite the many downsides.

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