Foster parents provide nurturing environments to children who have been separated from their biological parents.
Becoming a foster parent is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. As a foster parent, you provide care for a child who is a ward of the state in which you live. Foster children are often the victims of neglect and abuse, so they need a loving adult figure to serve in the parenting role. While raising children is expensive, rest assured that your state will provide you with a monthly allowance to help pay for the costs associated with raising a foster child.
Basics
All states offer foster parents financial support while they have foster children in their care, according to Adopting.org. However, this amount -- called a subsidy or board rate -- varies from one state to the next. It is, across the board, a small daily rate per foster child that is paid monthly. In Florida, for instance, this amount is about $400 per month. To qualify for a foster care subsidy and to have a foster child placed in your home, you must be able to prove, through financial documentation, that you don't need the extra income to meet your current family's financial needs.
Use
A foster care subsidy may provide a little extra money in your pocket, but you'll find, by and large, that the money will go to the care of your foster child. A subsidy can be used to buy clothes, diapers and school supplies, pay for extra groceries and cover increases in your utility bills. It's also common to spend well beyond the stipend amount on the care of a foster child, and these expenses are likely not reimbursable. Children often arrive in foster homes with nothing but the clothing on their backs, so the first month may have you spending well beyond the amount of your first check.
Additional Allowances
The check you get each month for the care of your foster child is not the only financial benefit you can receive. States often offer access to used clothing closets, free daycare, and summer or after-school camps for foster children free of charge or at a steep discount. You may also qualify to receive food vouchers to use at your local grocery store through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC. Lastly, states often provide extra checks around the holidays or back-to-school time for the purchase of Christmas gifts or clothing. Foster children can also be claimed as dependents on your tax return, if they were in your home during the tax year for which you are filing. This can result in a significantly lower tax bill or higher tax return.
Becoming a Foster Parent
If you've made the decision to become a foster parent, prepare yourself for a long road of classes and mountains of paperwork. While some states may have slightly different requirements, generally prospective foster parents must be at least 21 years of age, have enough room in their homes for a foster child and his belongings, and be able to meet a child's basic needs. You must also be able to pass thorough background checks. Contact your state's Department of Social Services or Department of Children and Families to enroll in the next foster parenting class.
Considerations
Foster parents can complete additional licensing requirements through their state's DSS or DCF or through private agencies that work with this department to become medical foster parents. Medical foster homes get a much larger subsidy for the care of foster children. However, these children can have very severe impairments or emotional problems, requiring round-the-clock, specialized care.
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