Certified foster care babysitters are in short supply. The certification process can be confusing, time-consuming, and expensive, which presents an obstacle to supporting foster families.
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We want to make babysitter certification as painless as possible. Our Babysitting Collaborative is a stream-lined, multi-agency certification course for foster care babysitters.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, we will be holding a virtual Babysitter Certification Training. All registration and training materials are available online (along with a brief in-person CPR skills check). Register below.
This class covers the basic training and documentation required to babysit foster children (except for fingerprinting). Topics include medication, transportation, trauma-informed care, and CPR/First Aid. Prior to registering, please read through our list of Frequently Asked Questions.
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Step 1: Complete the form on this page.
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In response, we will email you a link to a secure online portal where you will access your application.
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Step 2: Complete the Babysitter Application.
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Step 3: Watch the online training videos.
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Step 4: Sign up for an in-person CPR skills session.
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A portion of the CPR/First Aid certification is available online (cost is $20). Following the online portion, participants will be required to attend a brief, in-person skills check (social distancing guidelines will be observed). Skills sessions are currently held monthly on the last Saturday of each month.
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Step 5: Submit your application.
Step 6: Get fingerprinted.
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You will receive instructions for fingerprinting from your indicated agency (or agencies) after they receive your application.
Please be advised that your application and online trainings must be completed prior to signing up for a CPR skills session. Space is limited, so we recommend that participants complete these steps in a timely fashion. We will do our best to add additional sessions as needed.