All parents need a night off once in a while but for foster and adoptive families this means finding someone who can care for the unique needs of their kids without causing major behavioral set back or triggering past memories. The traditional babysitter is often not an option while the expense of good childcare might make a night out seem impossible.
When Defending the Cause first launched as a church-based ministry, our goal was to create opportunities for everyone to meet the needs of kids and families. One of my very favorite parts of our ministry was running "Respite Nights" or "Parents Night Outs"! Three or four times a year we would reach out to foster and adoptive families, inviting them to drop their kids off at the church while they enjoyed a ni