The following strategies were developed and tried by fellow Texas caregivers.
- Calling or texting parents with small and large milestones or updates about their child
- Providing support or resources for the parents themselves (e.g., lactation cookies, transportation, etc.)
- Bringing physical pictures, photo albums, toys, or artwork made by the child to visits
- Bringing their own children to visits so that the parents can meet and interact with them
- Allowing the parents to bring their own gifts for the children and the caregiver’s bio children in some cases
- Inviting parents to school functions (e.g., meet the teacher night, open house, etc.) and doctor’s appointments
- Sharing school or academic information (e.g., report cards, field trips, etc.)
- Involving the parent in birthday or other holiday celebration planning
- Helping parents learn and navigate medical information about their child by explaining what things mean
- Making an extra effort to talk to the parents and family members whenever they can by saying hello at visits
- Giving parents the opportunity to speak with caregivers privately
- Asking parents about their communication preferences and what they would like to know about the caregivers
- Inviting the parents to their home and hosting them as they would any other guest (check with your CPA per DFPS policies)
- Sharing food recipes that the child liked while in your care
- Sharing favorite television shows, restaurants, outings, etc.
- Asking parents about hygiene or hair routines and other daily caregiving tasks for the child
- Asking parents about their culture and observing the holidays they have
- Putting in the extra effort to engage other family members (e.g., aunts and uncles, grandparents, etc.)
