Foster parenting in kansas?

Question

Ive been thinking hard about becoming a foster parent here in kansas. I want to help a kid out basicly. Ive learned all the things about how you can do it but the onlt tough part i was wondering if anyone knew is how much money do you recieve for the kids. im not greddy and i have a hard time asking them but money is a factor only because i want to be able to provide for the kids. I live in winfield ks and ill be going through a foster home here called the farm.

Answer 1

I am not sure how much you will receive but its my experience that the stipend barely covers the childs expenses, not to mention extras like dance classes, school pictures, dances, graduations, etc.

Answer 2

I can't answer your question but when I was young I was a foster child and I just want to say BLESS YOU and THANK YOU!

GOOD LUCK

Answer 3

Well, my friend was in foster care and my mom was friends with her foster mom. I had seen some check stubs or whatever on the table once when I was over there and it was for $6,000 (about). The foster mom had 3 kids at the time ages 10-16. So I assume, thinking monthly payments, would be $2,000 for each child. But I really don't know. Try asking some parents that have been a Foster Parent and get some estimates.

By the way, I live in Newton, KS and the parent I knew was in Wichita.

xx

Peace

Answer 4

My experience with foster care children and foster care stipends is that the stipends pretty much cover what it costs to repair the damage they do to your home and the cleaning your car is going to need after they use them. You're not going to get rich, nor are you going to have "extra money."

Answer 5

It's funny I should find a question like that, I was a foster child in Attica Kansas for seven years.  I was 9 years old at the time. I'm now 50 living in Hawaii for the past 27 years.

Back in 1969 my foster parents didn't let me know how much they were getting, as far as money goes, even as I got older.  I do know that the state paid for all my medical needs, all my dental work.  I did get new clothes every year.  My foster dad was working for the Mobil Oil Company though.  I'm pretty sure they pay you enough to compensate for the extra expences the child will cost you.  You don't sound like the money is an issue anyway.

I guess it's normal to wonder though.  If your heart is in the right place, which it sounds like it is, then you got nothing to loose and everything to gain.  GOD BLESS YOU ! !

Answer 6

Mike the per dium paid as a foster parent varies based on the age of the child, any special needs they may have and the agency you use if you are not going directly through your local child family services.

Below are figures from the state of GA 4 years ago.

If I remember correctly I recieved $12.75 per day for each of my foster children (ages 6 & 7). The funny thing though was that the foster parents who fostered them after me complained about my foster sons behaviors so much he was eventually moved up to the federally funded rating as a problem placement and they were paid $24.00 per day for him. That amount is a very high amount and the only reason it was raised was because they did not try to help him (that is my opinion). He was very high maintenance when he was first placed with me at both home and school. After nine months with me we didn't have any problems at home but continued to have issues at school.

In addition to the per dium, they reimburse for day care/before school and after school care up to a certain amount. The remaining balance for day care after school care should come out of the per dium.

The children are on Medicaid so there is no expense for medical treatment or for any of the counseling/therapy that most of them need. Dentist visits are also covered under the Medicaid. Vision exams are covered but eye glasses may not be. My foster daughter required glasses. I found out that our DFCS had a private citizen who "sponsored" foster children who needed eye glasses and they paid for it out of that fund.

The per dium is sufficient to cover any food, clothing and incidentals which should include the gas you burn taking them to all of their appointments and parental visits if any are set up.

Each season change they were given a small clothing allowance (I believe it was less than $100 for summer, a little more for spring, some for fall and the winter was the most because of winter coats etc. You buy the clothes then turn in your recepts for reimbursement. It is expected that anything over the clothing allowance comes out of the per dium.

The per dium they pay is to cover costs of the child. It is not a payment to you for taking care of them. I think that is a big misunderstanding for a lot of people. Truly if you spend the money where it is intended to be spent, it is a break even deal. There is no money to be made in becoming a foster parent but they do not want people to not do it because of the personal expense to the foster parents.

Answer 7

Iv been a foster parent for several years and the subside is about half of what the child needs to live on for the month .You will get semi annual clothing allowance but their small too.You are expected to make up the rest.Along with Dr apt and counseling apt and family visits and court dates.You also have to Handel all the fall out emotionally of these children after family visits and counseling sessions,its h**l!As well you are expected to shut up and not dispute the social workers.Even if it obvious their totally wrong.You have no rights where that child is concerned.They are trying to give us more say in the courts where the children are cons urned but many states are still slagging behind in that dept.I helped many children but it only took one time for me to see a family disservices in my eyes the wrong thing was done.It total broke my heart.We quit after that.I don't want to discourage you but please go into foster care with wide open eyes know all the facts and don't do it for money as you will go broke.