I would love to follow my passion with foster care/ adoption, is it financially an option in CA?

I posted a question yesterday about how much you get compensated if you care for foster children and I had a lot of negative feedback. Maybe I should have elaborated, I never realized such bad thoughts could even come in peoples heads! I am currently a Christian preschool teacher who has a passion for children who are in-need of a home and love. I have the home to give, and enough love to help a lot of children. I am going to adopt when I get settled down and become married, however until then I would love to help children in foster care system. I was hoping I could teach them preschool and help them feel they can be loved again. I have a psychology degree that could hopefully help more troubled children how have a more difficult time in other homes. The catch is there is no way to live in California and just not work, especially if you are supporting children. I am not looking to come ahead, and I don't mind working more hours to break even, I just can not come negative.

I know I could provide a loving and stable home, however do finances is this something I should not consider? Does anyone have any constructive advice? I would love to hear all suggestions in hopes there is a way I can make a difference. Maybe care for three children at the same time?? If I am teaching one, I would happily teach more!

Thank You!

Looney Tunes

I answered your first question negatively, but that is because I grew up in the Foster Care System and some people DO FOSTER FOR MONEY and it really hurts the child. I literally had foster parents tell me that "I had to wait for the check" when I was wearing sneakers with heels that were falling off and my feet were sticking through.

So, I will answer this queston now with a better understanding of your position.

I think it is awesome that you want to foster children. But the money that you are paid is NOT ENOUGH to live on, without another income. The money is supposed to cover basics, but extras and sometimes even the basics are not covered by the minimum amount you will get. Assume you get $1000 per child, that is ~$3000 per month if you have three children. Not alot for housing, food, clothes, toys, etc especially in California with no other income.

You would probably be better off fostering children and also working. The foster care system will pay for daycare, etc.

Also, FYI, foster kids have Medicaid, so their medical expenses are covered. They also get Free lunches at school. There are also places that you can apply for small amounts of money for things like Camp or Prom Gowns, etc.

Randy B

Negative answers are quite common around here. People get plenty of exercise jumping to conclusions and leaping before they look.

The best way for you to get the most accurate information on this and all of your questions is to actually call the office that looks after Foster Care in your area. Their intake workers (or what ever your area choose to call them) are the ones best suited to fill you in on all aspects of your local program. What ever they pay however will be for the care of the child and his/her upkeep, not as a form of employment income for you so you will still need to work.

The fact that you are single may present some challenges to you and to the system when it comes to you being able to foster only because it may conflict with you being able to make it to work on time if they child needs transport to school or has different hours then you do but that doesn't mean that there isn't a child out there waiting for someone like you.

Give them a call and see what they say. Good luck and thanks for being concerned enough to explore.

due 2/25 with a gil!

first off i would like to tell you that foster/adopting kids is a wonderful thing. you do receive money for foster children but it's not much. it basically covers the child expenses. i found that when my husband and i were foster parents that we ended up having to use our own money. which of course we did not mind.

cruzgirlz3

In California you can become a foster parent if you are single. I would suggest you start slowly with one child. There are many school aged children in need of homes and their school schedule might fit better with yours right now. I think it is wonderful you are considering this. There are simply not enough good homes for these kids. If you talk to a social worker with children services (just google foster care and your area) you may be able to find a suitable short-term placement. These kids desperately need a stable landing pad before they return to their parents, and the financial costs to you may not be as great for short term. Sorry about the flack you took in the last question. Good Luck.

Kassy

They do give you money, it isn't very much. It's supposed to pay the child's expenses, but it's not enough for you to quit your job and be a full time single parent. Just pick up the phone and call your local foster care office and ask about when they have informational meetings.

Where I live, they seemed to work really hard to weed single people out of our classes. They were as discouraging as possible. They don't want anyone to foster for the money, so they expect that you will keep your full time job. If you have a full time job it's sometimes difficult to arrange for taking the children to family visits, counseling sessions, and things like that. They told us that ideal foster parents would have one person working and one staying home full time with the children.

allchildrenareangels

I share your passion and I completely understand where you are coming from. The reason you probably go such negative feedback is unfortunately some foster parents use children for the money. They don't really care about the children. They see it as another way to get money and don't really take good care of the children.

I didn't see your first post. From you have said though I think what you are doing is a wonderful thing and God Bless. I don't know if they have this where you live or not. Look up Bethany Christian Services. They help find homes foster children. They also have a program I think it is called keeping children safe. If you don't have luck there you can always contact your local Social services. I understand as a single mom you do need this money to help take care of the child. I don't know how much it is though but, either of these places can let you know. Good luck and God Bless.

Love,
Michelle

â™¥â™¥Ritaâ™¥â™¥

I cannot imagine the state not compensating foster parents when they care for foster children. (EDIT: in my state there is a maximum payment per child depending on their age range....and it is not much!!)

Good luck!!

Wagen

I am single too, and I looked into this. Arizona says you have to have a stable income, be healthy, and have a room in your house for each child, and his belonging. But I located a compromise. There are organizations out there that will let you be a mentor to a child in foster care, without taking on the responsibility of raising that child. Because you aren't financially there yet, I would google foster child mentor California, and see what comes up. Children need mentors because they are basically moved around so much in foster care, they need a stable person in their life. Of course, taking the child to the zoo, etc., as a mentor will cost money too!

silly_duck96

If you take in mentally challenged kids, the state gives you money. I think they give you money if you foster any kid..but not much. If you adopt, you get nothing unless they are mentally challenged..or physically I guess. I think they do..my aunt got 600 a month EACH off three girls. But we are in KY.

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