Foster kids and money? Is this the problem?

Freckle Face

Hi LT,

I think whenever money is involved, there will be some nut job who will try to take advantage. Increase the money and you will increase the nut jobs for sure.

Jakenolan2

Yes and no, While there are many people who abuse both the foster and welfare systems and should not be in the same state as a child, there are many more who do it because they love children and they want to try to help them.

1. Some foster parents need more money, but if more money were given it would increase the number of people who apply to be foster parents and thus the bureaucracy to check these new applicants would have to be increased causing an already over-burdened system to work more and maybe allow more unfit foster parents the ability to "slip through the cracks."

2. Yes, someone who takes in 3 emotionally disturbed children should get paid $3000 a month if they have to drive them to counseling and care for them 24-hours a day. A person would not be able to have any other outside work depending on the severity of the emotional distubia. And contrary to the government a family of 4 could not live comfortably on $30,000 a year with healthy "normal" children so a family with 3 disturbed individuals couldn't really make it at all.

Eroy

Believe it or not, most people don't know the information you just gave, and don't consider it when thinking about becoming a foster parent.

Randy B

Based upon the rates we were paid when my now adopted daughter was in the foster program I can't say that foster parents deserve more. At least not in my area. I actually thought the amount was just about right to cover such things as food, clothing, baby equipment and just about anything else needed to care for her. We did have access to a limited amount of funds for recreation each year ($425) like swimming lessons and such and there was also an amount available to cover vacation expenses as well. Other then those two areas, anything else was to be covered by what we received each month, even things like birthday and christmas presents.

Other areas may be worse or other areas may be better, I can't comment.

One thing I can say though is that I'm sure there are parents within my area who do take in children just for the money. The odds of it happening are just too great to ignore. I do know that foster parents have been "fired" for not taking care of the children possible although I'm sure some still slip through the cracks. Fact is though, if they are in it for the money they are not making big bucks for the amount of effort it takes, no matter what the child is like.

Even with 3 emotionally disturbed children and making $3000 a month, that money would be taken up with regular home repairs (holes in walls, broken doors...), equipment replacement (broken DVD players, broken VCRs, broken computers...), regular carpet cleaning from spills and purposeful damage.... I had friends who had three high maintenance children with emotional problems and because they were foster parents their home insurance didn't cover much and the foster association told them to pay for the above things from their monthly money.

I may not be able to make more money at Walmart then fostering but for sure I would be able to keep more of it.

Kazi

What an interesting question:

I honestly don't know what the answer is. It seems like it might be a little from column A and a little from column B.

On the one hand, it's clear that there isn't enough money going to the children to pay for the things they need. Also, personally I think there should be a little extra for the frivolities that are an important part of childhood, which sadly foster children seem to have to forego. So in those cases, it would see that they need to be paid more.

On the flip side, I can see that people who should never be involved with foster kids jumping on board if they thought they would make some great money.

If we take away the money completely, then I shudder to think what would happen to kids then, as from what I understand, it is already hard enough to find enough good foster parents to place children with.

It's a head teaser that needs an answer, I'm just not sure what it is.

Isaiah's Mommy

I had a counsin who got paid 1000 a month per child and she used it to help pay for food and rent. I'm sure there are people who abuse the money however. Perhaps we could give vouchers for food and clothing instead of cash? That might work better.

OMG!YOU KILLED KENNY!

i think foster parents should be paid more

Brown Sugar

it's a disgrace! people should only take in children if they have their best interest at heart

Kattie

i am in the process of becoming a foster carer and the money is a need as we could not afford to do it other wise. i am from Australia and even though we are in the process i don't actually know how much we will get paid?? so its NOT THE REASON that we applied! And also here there seems to be a pretty good assessment process. so ??? i think that it does need to be monitored a lot though. its a hard one ?? Enough money is the ideal!! what ever that is!!!

Carnie C

regardless of the amoutn of money offered, i'd like to think that the screening process will remove bad foster parents or not allow someone who can't handle 3 ED kids to take that many in.

Amy J

I think money has to be part of foster parenting. I think the major failure of the system is screening before they license someone. We have one, ONLY ONE, licensing worker for 4, yep I said FOUR counties. This is ridiculous and I'm sure that is why some foster parents get their license when they shouldn't have ever been allowed to come near a child. I truly beleive more unnanouced home visits would help and with the case with the two adopted foster children in the freezer-THEY WERE NEVER ENROLLED IN SCHOOL! That should have been caught for any child not just one who was adopted through foster care. So, I think money is not the main issue or the most important one that needs the more immediate attention. They need to make sure the child who gets $1000 is also getting the attention, love and nurishment they need!

Shoot4TheMoon

I think it's a really fine line they're toeing there. I don't know what the right solution is. I think that foster parents need to be monitored more closely in some situations though so they can avoid some of these horror stories in the news.

Anonymous

My best friend was a foster parent for over 20 years and she was wonderful with it. She has shared of so many people that just abuse the system and do it only for the money. I know of one woman who fostered a kid, then adopted him and when she had enough of him she put him in a group home because she couldnt handle him. Why put them through all of that? Its heart breaking. I dont think they should give them more money, unless they change the laws/system and watch the foster parents a lot better than they do now. Make it harder to foster. Make the foster parents accountable for what they do-that way, you'll only get ones who are serious.
My friend would dump a lot of her personal money into the kids and take them on vacations and buy them things and treat them as if they were her own biological kids. She even adopted one of them (she would have adopted all of them but her mean husband wouldn't let her).
A lot of the social workers who work with the foster parents are also not that great. She told me of their liberal attitudes and the meanness and the "over looking" of abuse from foster parents to the kids. So I think that the system is a mess and very few are willing to do thier jobs to the best that they can.

secretagent_004

not really cause to be a foster parent you have to go through many in home testings and lots and lots of paper work
and there are many home visits....and such....so really it couldnt happen.

i need help please...search for how to make 1500 by next spring
i need help so bad please!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: