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What are the rules/guidelines on babysitting? We will be needing to have the kids (1.5 and 2.5) stay with a sitter for a couple of hours during the day. The sitters will be 13 and 15 with experience. They will be in our home. We haven't considered respite as we were told this would be ok. Well we had a GAL visit today and the GAL was questioning it so we are now doubting what where heard.
We are in CO BTW if that helps.
We are in Michigan and the rules here are that children 5 and under can only be watched by a sitter over 18 years of age. Children 6 and up must have a sitter that is at least 16 years old. I'd be surprised if the information you got is correct. I'd check your rule manual or confirm with the caseworkers supervisor just to be sure.
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I have the same question. First I hear in our parenting classes that the "babysitter" needs to be fingerprinted then I hear they can stay at "grandma's overnight" ...so confused.
Here, any babysitter has to be background checked and approved by the caseworker. Fingerprints aren't required.
I don't think they would allow someone younger than 18, but I can't say that for certain.
If the child is going to stay at someone's home without FP, then the house has to be inspected and meet all the safety requirement that ours does. CW has to be notified about overnights as well.
I am only referring to occasional teen sitters in my previous post. Yes, for regular child care the person must be background checked. It is very confusing though. I was told by one caseworker that my foster child can play at friends' houses and have sleepovers as long as I would trust them with my own kids. Then I read (in a DHS newsletter) that all people who care for the children must be background checked. The only people I've allowed my foster daughter to stay with overnight is my parents who are background checked.
If you're there, I would call them Mother's Helpers and not babysitters. I've found it pretty easy here. I've had teens, professionals, and family babysit. I don't always tell the CW, though. I just do it.
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