babysitting: does your state pay for it?

In CA they used to have respite hours provided and paid by the state. In San Diego County anyway. But you don't have to have a licensed, probed, and fingerprinted person to babysit for a few hours. I think they call it 'prudent parenting' where they trust you to pick a decent person to watch the kids for a bit. In FL they do not pay for babysitting at all - except for day care when fp's are working. They do provide respite in 24 hr blocks. Where ever the fk spends the night - that is who gets the board funds for that day. But, in FL, the babysitter you pay for out of the child's board rate has to be a fingerprinted, approved person - in your home only. In Oregon, they do not provide respite at all - except for day care (I believe - but I don't work outside the home - so I wouldn't qualify anyhow - LOL) It all comes out of your boarding funds. And Oregon also practices prudent parenting rules with a few guidelines as to age (like I would leave 2 infants with a 10 year old - hahaa) and numer of consectutive hours and number of children allowed (the caregivers kids + foster kids cannot equal more than 7 or more than 2 under 2). Many fp's are networking and getting to know each other via the Foster Parent Associations. Good luck on your date. I is so very important to keep your marriage on track. When the kids go - it will still be there!