How does babysitting in a foster home affect the capacity or child/caregiver ratio of that home?
Children who are in the home for the foster home to babysit them do not count in the home’s capacity or child/caregiver ratio. However, you must ensure appropriate care and supervision are provided for children receiving foster and respite care in the home when additional children are present for any reason. If the foster home provides babysitting on a regular basis, it would be best for the home to make the agency aware of this activity, as both the agency and the foster home are responsible for ensuring adequate care and supervision for children placed in the home. As noted in §749.2551, children receiving day care in the home are counted in the home’s capacity. Please also refer to §749.353 regarding babysitting in foster homes.
