faq’s by families

  • In most circumstances, our clients do not incur any additional fees beyond the hourly rate of their services. In rare circumstances a family may be charged the following additional fees:

    External Search Fee:

    The Family Foundations Agency implements an External Search Fee of $500 for clients seeking overnight support, who have not matched with an existing member of our team. This fee is allocated towards essential services, including comprehensive background checks, efforts made in advertising the open position to families, interviewing suitable candidates, and onboarding processes. The fee also contributes to the various administrative tasks necessary to ensure the highest quality of placement for families in need of support.

    Replacement Fee:

    In the event that a family requests a new provider to fulfill their contracted time—though this occurrence is infrequent—The Family Foundations Agency will implement a Replacement Fee of $250. This fee is allocated to cover the expenses related to background checks, as well as the time and resources involved in advertising, interviewing, and onboarding suitable candidates. It also encompasses additional administrative responsibilities necessary for identifying a new provider. In certain circumstances, this fee may be waived at the agency's discretion.

    The Family Foundations Agency does not charge any additional taxes or fees, or they have been taken into consideration and included into our competitive hourly rates.

  • At Family Foundations, we recognize the importance of a supportive transition into parenthood. Our hiring process for Birth Doulas, Postpartum Doulas, and Newborn Care Specialists is designed with families in mind, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

    1. Initial Consultation: Families begin by scheduling an initial consultation where they can discuss their unique needs, preferences, and any specific concerns they may have. This step is crucial for understanding how we can best support them.

    2. Fee Collection and Service Outline Agreement: Upon our consultation, if you believe our team is the right one for you, The Family Foundations Agency will begin to assist in finding a provider for your family. We will first check with our existing team, for an internal match. If we do not have a provider who matches your needs and availability, we may offer to extend our search externally, with fees due.

    3. Personalized Matching: Based on the consultation, we match families with qualified professionals who have the right experience and approach. Our specialists undergo rigorous vetting to ensure they align with our standards of care.

    4. Interview Process: Families are encouraged to interview potential doulas or specialists. This dialogue allows families to assess compatibility and ask pertinent questions regarding caregiving styles and philosophies.

    5. Contract and Agreement: Once a match is made, we provide a clear contract outlining services, fees, and responsibilities. Transparency at this stage helps build trust and understanding between families and their chosen professional.

    6. Ongoing Support: After hiring, families are not left alone. We maintain open lines of communication for any questions or additional support during the hiring process and after services commence.

    By streamlining these procedures, The Family Foundations Agency prioritizes the wellness and satisfaction of each family, fostering a nurturing environment for both parents and infants. We are committed to making the journey into parenthood as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

    • Birth and Postpartum Doula: A Doula provides emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. They focus on the birthing person’s well-being, comfort during labor, and supporting your birth preferences. At Family Foundations, our Postpartum Doulas provide services during the day.

    • Newborn Care Specialist: A Newborn Care Specialist focuses on the care of the baby after birth. They assist with infant care, such as feeding, sleep training, diapering, and overall newborn support, ensuring both parents and baby have the support they need in the first few weeks.

  • t’s best to hire a Newborn Care Specialist or Doula early, ideally during pregnancy or a few months before your baby is due, to ensure availability. However, if you’re looking for support after birth, we can often accommodate families in the early days after delivery.

  • Your Birth Doula will begin providing support to you while you are pregnant, addressing any questions or concerns you may have about what to expect during your labor and delivery. At Family Foundations, we include (2) 1.5-hour long prenatal meetings with your Birth Doula. During this time, you will also with your doula to create your birth plan.

    During labor and delivery, your doula will provide hands-on support during labor, including comfort measures (e.g., massage, breathing techniques, positioning), emotional reassurance, and advocacy. They remain with you throughout your labor to offer continuous support and help ensure your preferences are respected. It’s important to remember that doulas do not replace medical providers or partners! Birth Doulas are there to serve as an additional layer of support.

  • Our doulas are available to provide continuous support during labor, regardless of when it begins. We understand that birth can be unpredictable, and we are committed to being there when you need us. If your due date passes or your baby arrives earlier than expected, your doula will be ready to provide the support you need.

  • Our Newborn Care services include:

    • Feeding support (breastfeeding and formula feeding)

    • Sleep support (helping your baby develop healthy sleep habits)

    • Diapering and hygiene

    • Baby soothing techniques (comforting your newborn)

    • Newborn care education (teaching you how to care for your baby)

    • New parent education and support (helping you adjust to life with a newborn)

    • Light household assistance (help with basic chores such as cleaning bottles, cleaning breast pump parts, restocking diaper changing areas, emptying the diaper pail, and doing your infants laundry) Note: These tasks will typically be done at the beginning or end of the NCS’ shift, not in the middle of the night when baby needs the most care and support.

    During the day shift, your services will also include developmentally appropriate activities to engage your baby, such as tummy time, walks in the stroller, and reading.

  • Where:

    It is standard practice to provide your Newborn Care Specialist with a comfortable place to rest during their overnight shifts. A couple of options are:

    • A bed in your baby’s nursery

    • A bassinet or crib in your guest room

    • A guest room, with access to a baby monitor

    • An air mattress in the nursery for shorter contracts (under 6 weeks, only 2-3 nights per week)

    • Lastly, a couch may be a reasonable offer for shorter contracts as well.

    Most often, the ideal place for the NCS to sleep is closet to the baby, which is why we recommend a bed in the nursery or a crib in a guest room first.

    Why:

    Working overnight is a taxing job on the body, but add in the obstacle of working in a house where everyone is sleeping, and it gets even more challenging. Not only do we want to maintain a calm, quiet environment, but, in order to best support a baby’s needs over night, your NCS will need to stay close by for the bulk of their shift, only stepping away for quick tasks. This also means our providers are meeting the AAP’s recommendations of room sharing for the first 6 to 12 months of a baby’s life, which greatly reduces the risk of SIDs amongst other positive factors such as better attachment. better sleep quality, and more responsive monitoring.

    If your infant(s) require around the clock monitoring, we do offer Awake Care, which is charged at 2x the hourly rate.

  • Yes, we’re experienced in working with babies with various medical conditions or special needs. We can collaborate with your pediatrician and healthcare team to provide the best care for your baby, while ensuring you feel supported as parents. If your infant(s) require around the clock monitoring, we do offer Awake Care, which is charged at 2x the hourly rate.

  • At this time we do accept Carrot and Maven clients. We have several providers on our team who meet the certification requirements in order to work with clients receiving reimbursed services.

    We are also able to accept HSA / FSA cards on our payment portal, as long as you know your services will be covered.

    At this time, none of the services we offer are currently covered by health insurance.

  • Great question!

    At Family Foundations, each provider has undergone an extensive interview, background, and verification process which includes:

    • Posses formal Birth, Postpartum, or Newborn Care Specialist Training with a Certificate of Completion

    • Collecting their resume, CV letter, and any additional training certificates they may have earned

    • Verifying the authenticity of their training certificates

    • Each provider must have a minimum of 3 years of experience as a Newborn Care Specialist, Postpartum Doula, or in a related field such as healthcare or childcare. Many of our providers were previously CNA’s, Nurses, Nanny’s, Householder Managers, Childcare Administrators or Teachers, before becoming a NCS or PPD.

    • (3) Professional References that we contact by phone

    • Have a currently up-to-date CPR and First Aid Certification

    • Pass a National Background check, from a third-party and/or posses a Fingerprint Clearance Card or be Trustline Certified

    • Carrying a Professional Liability Policy for their specific role

    • Valid Drivers License

    • Undergone an interview with the owner of Family Foundations

    • Sign Family Foundations Contractor Agreement and Code of Ethics

    • Sign up for professional pay (direct deposit) including providing their business EIN or Social Security number to receive a 1099

    • Passport Ready if they have interest in positions that require travel

  • If you didn’t see your question here, please feel free to contact us at info@thefamilyfoundationsagency.com and we would be happy to answer it for you directly, and potentially add it to our FAQ’s!