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What is the $$ involved in foster care?

MayDayGirlMayDayGirl member
in Adoption

We work with an organization that is volunteer, so aside from medical care, everything is OOP.  Sometimes I've heard the foster care stipen is "nothing", sometimes I've heard "it's quite a bit".  Just curious.  Does every state vary?

btw, I'm not asking because we plan to switch to the state, totally out of curiousity sake.

Married on 3.20.2004. It took 30 month, 2 failed adoptions and IVF for our first miracle. We have had 9 foster kids since he was born and started the domestic adoption process when he was 10 month old, we had 4 failed matches in that time. After our daughter was born we brought her home and spent 2 weeks fearing we might lose her because of complications that came up. But Praise God all went through and she is ours forever! Expecting again after IVF Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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Re: What is the $$ involved in foster care?

  • lilmufishlilmufish member

    I'm still going through the process....so take this with what it's worth... I think:

     

    * If both parents work, child would get a daycare stipend (not alot)
    * State health insurance for child (which in our state is impossible to find doctors who are "accepting patients" with it)
    * Free Counseling/therapy services
    * Monthly Stipend - 200-300?  -- I don't know off top of my head, but I do know in Missouri, we are 49th in the amount we are paid...boo.
    * Yearly clothing - which isn't alot, I think 150 for the entire year per child?
    * WIC if the child is an infant

    Our Agency pays for:
    * Home study
    * First Aid certification
    * Finger printing/background checks

    Out of our pocket:
    * Basic living expenses
    * Baby items/gear, beds, etc.
    * Food, Diapers, etc
    * Copays or fees associated with extra curr. activities

     

     

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  • MyColonyNJMyColonyNJ

    The amounts are so across the board.  Some states is is barely anything.  I happen to live in a state that gives a generous stipend.

    I would not normally share any infor regarding our financial situation, but I know you can get our state info from a simple google search.

    That said, Lil J is the lowest stipend amount (becasue of age and no issues) and we receive about $780 a month.  It is different each month because while we get a monthly rate, we get a daily clothing allowance.  So, it is +/- a few bucks each month.

    We also get WIC, state funded Health Insurance, if we both worked, they would pay for daycare (up to a certain amount), and if the child is over 3.5 yrs old, they will pay for pre-school.

    I think NJ is one of the higher stipend states. 

    The stipend increases based on age and if the child has any issues

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  • Temp206787500007404Temp206787500007404

    In Alabama...

    - monthly stipend of around ~$450 per month per child (slightly lower for infants, higher for teens and special needs)
    - medical and dental covered by 100% by medicaid and/or All Kids program
    - daycare paid at 100% using one of their approved providers after age 6 weeks (most providers won't take a baby under 6 weeks)
    - $150 a year in clothing allowance per child
    - children under the age of 5 are eligible for WIC

    Out of pocket expenses would be diapers, food not covered by WIC, and any clothing, extra curriculars, and fun stuff not covered by the $450 stipend.

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  • Temp206787500007404Temp206787500007404
    Oh, and we were told they don't really check if you're holding down a job or not in order to get daycare in our area.  One of the deeply rooted issues with the program in our area -- the stipend is really good for the cost of living, especially if you have more than one child (it's easy to rent an apartment for that amount), and you don't verify employment before paying for daycare -- it just goes straight to the daycare.  IMO, there is rampant abuse in my area, but I think that's due to the way the program is administered.
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  • come*on*babycome*on*baby
    Every state definitely varies. We get $21-something a day for each child. These are basic level children. Moderate and Severe levels are more each day. Its for the needs of the children. We also get $100 quarterly clothing allowance for each child from the county and we could utilize WIC. This time I didn't use WIC, I did before for the 2 infants we had.
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  • Jennifer WebbJennifer Webb
    imageMyColonyNJ:

    The amounts are so across the board.  Some states is is barely anything.  I happen to live in a state that gives a generous stipend.

    I would not normally share any infor regarding our financial situation, but I know you can get our state info from a simple google search.

    That said, Lil J is the lowest stipend amount (becasue of age and no issues) and we receive about $780 a month.  It is different each month because while we get a monthly rate, we get a daily clothing allowance.  So, it is +/- a few bucks each month.

    We also get WIC, state funded Health Insurance, if we both worked, they would pay for daycare (up to a certain amount), and if the child is over 3.5 yrs old, they will pay for pre-school.

    I think NJ is one of the higher stipend states. 

    The stipend increases based on age and if the child has any issues

     

    Same here!

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