What are the monetary considerations related to keeping a foster child?

Question

My wife and I are considering becoming foster parents for a relative child that the state of Illinois is (rightfully) taking away. We would love to take the child in but are worried that monetary stipends would not be enough to support the child.

Answer 1

The issue we encountered when we had foster children (we did emergency care) was that I had to cut my hours at work very deeply, and my income was reduced over a month before we started seeing any foster care subsidies. We were on a "catch up the mortgage" plan and almost lost our home because of this.

If you do take this child on, make sure any bill attached to something that can be foreclosed on or repossessed is caught up to the point that if you miss a month or two before your subsidies kick in, they won't take your house or car, or whatever. You will be using your "bill money" to care for the kid. I think we would've been ok had we been caught up to start with.

Answer 2

Become a foster parent and the srs will pay you so you can keep this kido or any other kidos that need love and guidance.They would rather place them in a relative home if at all possible .

Answer 3

I have been a foster parent for about 5 years. It has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

The stipend that is received will not fully cover the costs for you, but in comparison to paying for birth children, you will be much further ahead.

Many of the considerations will be what your states stipend is first of all. I live in Alaska where the stipend is much higher than most lower 48 states, but thats only because the cost of living is also higher.

Extra things you will be paying for:

food (again depending on age this could be a lot of food or having to buy formula

clothing (they normally come with only the clothes on theier back)

transportation (therepy, medical, school, extra curricular activities), and not to mention another seat (and maybe a car seat depending on age) in your vehicle.

toys

bedroom or some place to sleep (maybe a crib depending on age).

Diapers- again depending on age

Camps, Sports, Daycare and other activities

I never aticipated ending up with 6 kids in my home all at once and a 15 passenger van to tote them around in, but I don't regret it looking back.

Blessings on you for considering it

Answer 4

Sounds like the child would be better off  NOT WITH YOU. When you have children you find a way to make it and they come first above all else. They need love ,caring and a lot of understanding; not someone who feels like you do in your above statement. I know this sounds harsh but both you and your wife need to do some soul searching before you have any children including your own. No it's not about the reward for you, but it is about the reward for the child; they deserve the best that life can offer the reward is that they were cared for and loved when they needed it  the most.

Answer 5

l'm not sure how much the actual ongoing stipend is, but for set up costs you could try your local churches or charities to help you out with furniture, clothing etc.

Answer 6

Monetary stipends for foster care never cover the cost of a child and it's a hassle to get reimbursement through the state of other services the child will need.  If I recall right the max on stipends in Illinois is $450 per month per child.  If you plan on taking a family members child then you do it because you love them and want them not for the money.  Other options available for family members is guardianship.  The state could grant you guardianship which mean you make all legal decision for them without the process of adoption and the state drops out of the picture.  The could also consider giving you a stipend along with guardianship but this is something you'll probably have to fight for.

Answer 7

You will need to check with your child protective services to find the correct answer. Each county varies greatly. In the state I was a foster parent in, the "family placements" did not come with a per dium. The family was expected to support the child without the state funding. Right or wrong, the feeling is that family should step up and foster the children because they are family and not for the financial funding that goes with it. I believe that if there was a sibling group which would be difficult for most families to take on, they would affer the per dium.

You would need to contact your local child protective services to find out for sure.

Answer 8

It's wonderful of you to think of taking in this child.  I'm not sure exactly how much the relative foster care stipend is, but I think it's somewhere around $250/month.  It may vary by area of Illinois too, and it may have increased since I worked in the child welfare field.

All medical/dental needs will be taken care of by the state through Medicaid, and childcare costs will be covered by DCFS as well.  You'll have to figure out the cost to you considering that the child will probably come to your house with pretty much the clothes on his/her back and not much else.  You'll have to build a wardrobe, get some toys, and factor in the additional costs you'll have in food, toiletries, and other necessities, as well as changes in electric/water/other util. costs.  You will also want to think about if you will be driving more as a result of having this child in your care - such as dropping him/her off at daycare or driving to appointments if the child has special medical needs.

Good luck!  I hope this all works out for you and more importantly, for the child in question.

Answer 9

If you can't afford to pay for the child w/o assisitance you shouldn't have the child.Children are expensive to have and an assistance foster or not will not cover the costs.

Answer 10

I'm sorry, but if you can't afford the child you shouldn't take him/her. I'd love to adopt several more children but know my limits. You should, too. It's not only your future that you are playing with.

Answer 11

depending on how old the child is, are there any issues...etc!  We get a whole whopping 210 a month for our kids....that is to cover food / clothes and extras.  They do have medical insurance, so you don't have to worry about those expenses....if the child is older (out of diapers...etc) you should be fine...but when they get older (teen agers) the rest comes out of your pocket.

Answer 12

This really does vary by state. In FL where we live, you get a monthly stipend and it's more for special needs. You can also get WIC or food stamps. The child gets full medical and dental and that lasts even after you adopt them..if you adopt them they also get full college paid for. As a foster child, they will also qualify for a day care stipend and respite care...meaning if you need a weekend off, someone will take care of him/her. Depending on your agency (in FL, the state has parcelled out foster care to private agencies) they may give you a crib, car seat and stroller and some diapers to begin with. Good Luck!!

Answer 13

There is a thing known as "kinship care" when you become a foster parent to a child that you are related to.  There are funds available to assist with care, and typically the child receives medical assistance also.  I would suggest talking to your state foster care program for additional information.

We adopted from grandparents who had received custody of their grandchild through kinship care.  Because the bio-parents could not care for the child and he had special needs, the state suggested that the grandparents adopt him but due to their own health concerns they knew they could not do it long-term.  Basically they went to family court to "adopt" him from the kinship care program and then "adopted" him to us (the judge knew what was going on and was 100% supportive of everything - AND the bio-parents were there and we had them terminate parental rights for both adoptions just to make sure we were covered).  But I do know that the grandparents did receive special funding for the kinship care program.  

Good luck to you.

Answer 14

They are not.

You must be able to support the child on your own, really.  But every family is different.  If you are resourceful, have time and energy, you will fair better than someone who is not.

The child may qualify for state support and medical care, but that is certainly not all it takes to raise a child properly.

Time!  That's what you will need the most of.  No matter what age the child is, he/she will need to adjust, may need counseling or play therapy, may be behind developmentally for a while, have health./dental issues which have been ignored.  Just think about it realistically.

Then lead with your heart, and go for it!  Good luck to you!!