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Do I have to be certified to provide respite to a family who is active in the respite program?
No. You may serve a family you already know as a non-certified respite provider, as long as you are over 18, do not live in the same household as the family, and are not a parent or a step parent of the child. To begin providing respite as a non-certified provider, fill out a W9 form and provider agreement (which the family can provide,) and include it with your first bill for respite.
Why would I become certified?
Certified respite providers are paid $2 per hour more than non-certified providers. Certified providers’ name and phone numbers are distributed to families who are active in the respite program and seeking and provider, whereas non-certified providers are only serving a family they already know. If you want to meet new families to serve, you must become certified.
What is required to be a certified respite provider?
Current certifications in CPR and First Aid, two written references, successful completion of background checks, completion of certification test.
How do I get certified in CPR and First Aid?
Call your local American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or any other provider of CPR and First Aid certification and sign up for a class. The class may cost up to $70. Consult with your local respite agency to find out if you can be reimbursed for the cost of the CPR and First Aid class.
Should I wait until I am certified in CPR and First Aid to schedule my Agency Meeting?
Not necessarily. You may complete all other aspects of the respite certification process and then mail your CPR and First Aid cards in to your local respite agency upon completion. You will not be a certified respite provider until you have current CPR and First Aid certifications.
Who should my written references be from?
Anybody who can speak to your ability to care for children and your problem solving-skills. Coworkers, friends, and family members are all acceptable. You may have them write a letter or you may use the reference authorization form downloadable from our Become a Certified Respite Provider page.
How do background checks get completed?
During the Agency Meeting, you will sign permission forms for the respite agency to complete background checks with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the State Bureau of Identification, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Background checks are completed at the expense of the respite agency, at no cost to you. The background checks take approximately two weeks to come back. This process will be necessary even if you have background checks on file with another agency.
What are we looking for in the results of our background checks?
The respite agency reserves the right to deny certification to providers whose personal behavior is inconsistent with those of the agency. Examples include substantiated allegations of abuse or neglect, crimes involving violence, and crimes against children. For more details on our background check guidelines, see Module One of the Respite Provider Resource Manual.
Does my previous experience working with children and/or special needs serve to waive the additional testing requirement?
Maybe. If you are a Behavior Specialist, a special education teacher, or a therapeutic level foster parent, you do not need to take the online certification test. You may call your local respite agency to schedule an Agency Meeting. If you have other credentials that you believe will serve to waive you from the additional testing, contact your local respite agency to discuss your experience with them.
Where does respite care take place?
Respite care can take place in your home, in the family’s home, or in a community setting. If you plan to provide respite care in your home, we need successful completion of background checks for each person in your home who is over 18.
How do I meet families?
Once certified, your name, phone number, and some other information about your preferences is included on a list of certified respite providers that we mail to families who are active in the program. Your responsibility is to respond to phone calls from families (we expect you to return calls promptly,) and on a case-by-case basis, determine whether the family’s needs match your availability. You and the family determine the when and where the respite will take place.
Should I expect a living wage from my work as a certified respite provider?
No. The amount of money you make as a respite provider depends entirely on the needs of the families you meet.
How much does a certified respite provider get paid?
When a child is approved for respite services, the respite agency assigns the child a Level of Care based on the information we receive about the child's needs. Most of our children are "Level 1." To be a "Level 2," the child needs to have high needs, such as medical care required or severely aggressive behavior. Based on the Level of Care assigned to the child, certified respite providers are paid either $9 or $11 per hour. If a respite provider cares for multiple children from the same family approved for respite care, the pay would be $9 or $11 per hour for the first child, based on his/her Level of Care, and an additional $2 per hour for each additional child.
As a certified respite provider, am I an employee of my local respite agency?
No. Certified respite providers are independent contractors. While the respite agency does have expectations of your professionalism, the respite agency does not supervise you. You determine when you work, where you work, and who you serve as a respite provider. You are responsible for paying taxes on your income as a respite provider.
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