June 28, 2023
Kelsey is a mom of two and a foster provider in St.Amant’s Foster Services Program.
As a foster provider, she and her entire family provide a warm, nurturing temporary home to children with complex care needs. These children require specialized support and extended hours of care, so access to respite is essential.
St.Amant Respite Service provides Kelsey vital time to rest and recharge from caregiving. “It’s just so important to turn off that part of my brain once in a while,” she says. “It’s hard work!”
You can help create a bright, colourful play space for children when accessing respite services at St.Amant!
Burnout is a real concern for foster providers; access to respite is important for their mental health and their family’s overall well-being. Initially, Kelsey only used respite when they had a special event to attend, but she soon realized that she wasn’t getting the break she needed because she was always on the go.
“I felt that, if we were just staying home, it didn’t make sense to use respite, but we got very burnt out in the beginning,” Kelsey says.
As exhaustion set in after a few months, Kelsey realized it was okay to use the available supports, but she says her “mama heart still feels a little guilty. I have seen how important being in a home environment is for the child placed in our care. It would be much easier to access respite care if I knew that she would have access to a similar homey space to play and explore.”
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When Kelsey heard about the upcoming renovation project and the opportunity to create a fresh new play space, she was thrilled. “That is exactly what we need!”
“I would like it to have more squishy mats on the floor because I know she loves to roll around. Now that she’s learning to weight bear, foam blocks of different heights would help her practice moving around on her own. A variety of musical instruments, drums, and textured mats and toys would also be wonderful,” Kelsey says. “She loves music!”
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“I know that the respite staff can meet all her medical needs, and they know her well, so that eases my mind a lot. She has complex care requirements, so I can’t just let anyone take care of her. It can be difficult to get a break.”
This proposed play area will ease Kelsey’s tender “mama heart,” make the transition from home to respite and back easier for all, and give the children she supports a chance to learn and play while she recharges.
