Njfla

yes, we have. not when the child was first placed with us but when they had medical issues that needed attention. one of us took a week or two of paid family leave.

I was just placed with a little one who is sick and not able to return to daycare for 4-6 weeks. I requested FMLA for 4 weeks for medical reasons. I am praying it is approved (although, I think it should be because the law states that foster children are considered "children in your home" and a doctor's note stating the child needs to remain home for medical reasons should be all the documentation needed). I will let you know if it gets approved. I also took FMLA when my son was placed with me as a newborn. I had this pre-approved, though. I believe you need to give 30 days notice to take FMLA for "bonding purposes".

Thanks. I am wondering mostly about the bonding. I know I can take unpaid fmla, just wondering about nj paid leave for foster child. I have a lot of vacation I can use and my work is super supportive and accommodating of this. My HR person recommended just using my vacation as needed and then using the other leave if/when needed.

You might consider writing a letter requesting pre-approval for FMLA for bonding purposes. This would cover the 30 days notice. I did this for several years at the beginning of each school year (I'm a teacher). The approval was good for a school year after it was approved by the board. This also would help you get the leave paid for (I think the recent law states you can be paid 2/3 of your weekly salary for 6 weeks). When I took my leave for my son 5 years ago there was no paid FMLA :( Good luck!

If you are required to give 30 days notice (is that true? How does that work for someone who has a premature baby?) then I guess you wouldn't be able to give it when the child is placed, so you could use your vacation and sick time to allow you to work only part-time (or not at all) for the first 30 days... and then take the bonding FMLA later. Or do the pre-approval thing where you're approved for the whole year - And just renew the pre-approval if you don't get a placement for the first year. But keep in mind if you are fostering you may end up with more than one baby over the course of a year. Many may stay only a short ime. So you'll need to take the situation into consideration when it comes to which children you take FMLA for. For instance, if you know when the baby's placed that there are lots of relatives that are possibilities or that mom's expresed interest in entering a "mommy and me rehab", is that a child you'd want to take FMLA off for, given that they may be moved quickly? It's up to you, but your work will probably not want you to be constantly taking FMLA. It's a realy tough balancing act because ALL these kids deserve that bonding time but it's just not feasible if you're not a stay-at-home or work-at-home mom to do it for all foster children placed with you. Best of luck! Having a supportive, flexible work place is so key when fostering. irelady: you shouldn't have any issues. we've done exactly this, and it was no problem

30 days notice is only "when possible". As they know now, I am assuming they have their 30 days - they actually knew in the summer. I have been thinking about that, I certainly don't want to ask for six weeks every time I get a placement and not know how long they are staying for. I guess I will just play it by ear, for the first one I am not so worried as I have the time accrued. thanks!