Rates for Foster Care Inadequate

uscitizen

uscitizen

Villified User
Oct 3, 7:47 AM EDT

Survey: Rates for Foster Care Inadequate

By DAVID CRARY
AP National Writer


NEW YORK (AP) -- Most states reimburse foster parents significantly less than the actual cost of raising a foster child, complicating the task of finding good homes for children who need them, according to a first-of-its-kind survey.

The survey analyzed regional living expenses and calculated on a state-by-state basis the minimum cost of adequately raising a foster child. Only Arizona and the District of Columbia pay foster parents more than this minimum amount, according the survey.

To adequately cover the cost of rearing a foster child, base payments in 28 states would need to be raised at least 50 percent, and five states - Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin - would need to more than double their current base rates, according to report. It was compiled by the University of Maryland School of Social Work, the National Foster Parent Association, and Children's Rights, a New York-based advocacy group, for release Wednesday.

Of the more than 500,000 U.S. children in foster care at any given time, about 75 percent live with foster parents, while most of the others are placed in group homes and institutions.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FOSTER_CARE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US


Everyone seems to want children out of abusive and dangerous situations , but it seems no one wants to pay for it....
 
uscitizen said:
Oct 3, 7:47 AM EDT

Survey: Rates for Foster Care Inadequate

By DAVID CRARY
AP National Writer


NEW YORK (AP) -- Most states reimburse foster parents significantly less than the actual cost of raising a foster child, complicating the task of finding good homes for children who need them, according to a first-of-its-kind survey.

The survey analyzed regional living expenses and calculated on a state-by-state basis the minimum cost of adequately raising a foster child. Only Arizona and the District of Columbia pay foster parents more than this minimum amount, according the survey.

To adequately cover the cost of rearing a foster child, base payments in 28 states would need to be raised at least 50 percent, and five states - Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin - would need to more than double their current base rates, according to report. It was compiled by the University of Maryland School of Social Work, the National Foster Parent Association, and Children's Rights, a New York-based advocacy group, for release Wednesday.

Of the more than 500,000 U.S. children in foster care at any given time, about 75 percent live with foster parents, while most of the others are placed in group homes and institutions.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FOSTER_CARE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US


Everyone seems to want children out of abusive and dangerous situations , but it seems no one wants to pay for it....
Click to expand...

Are you shitting me? I'm in Ohio, which they say needs to double. My ex was a foster child and her foster parents were considered one of the best for Summit County. They would take in 5 children at a time, gladly take the money, then spend it on their own grandchild rather than the foster children. The only reason they had a good record was because I intervened in their situation and made sure I did things with those kids that kept them out of trouble. I was over there every day for two years, they wouldn't allow any of the foster children to even practice driving until they were 18 and on their own. It urked the shit out of me that they would get invited to all these foster award ceremonies and be given plaques for taking money and spending it on children it wasn't intended for. Of course, they told the children that if they gave bad reports they would be locked in their rooms for a week. The foster system needs to be changed somehow so the money only goes to the children it is intended for, and I'm sure you'll see a drop in the amount of money needed for one foster child.
 
I am just the messenger... Personally I think they should be used to offset the loss in illegal immigrant labor.
 
i think they should bring back orphanages. seems like alot of greats came from orphanages. easier to regulate a institution over multiple residences any day of the week.
 
DigitalDave said:
Are you shitting me? I'm in Ohio, which they say needs to double. My ex was a foster child and her foster parents were considered one of the best for Summit County. They would take in 5 children at a time, gladly take the money, then spend it on their own grandchild rather than the foster children. The only reason they had a good record was because I intervened in their situation and made sure I did things with those kids that kept them out of trouble. I was over there every day for two years, they wouldn't allow any of the foster children to even practice driving until they were 18 and on their own. It urked the shit out of me that they would get invited to all these foster award ceremonies and be given plaques for taking money and spending it on children it wasn't intended for. Of course, they told the children that if they gave bad reports they would be locked in their rooms for a week. The foster system needs to be changed somehow so the money only goes to the children it is intended for, and I'm sure you'll see a drop in the amount of money needed for one foster child.
Click to expand...
Well then people might not take the kids as much. It sucks either way, but I think what is current is the best.

My wife's parents took in lots of foster kids over the years, they were decent to them, but they heard stories like yours. I remember one about a foster mom that just fed the kids "mush" (gruel) and the kids complained when they transferred to their place that they weren't getting mush any more.

My grandfather was a foster child when his parents died, the family that took him in made him work like a dog and probably the worst was he was made to sit at a seperate table at mealtimes. But in the end he learned skills and learned how to work hard, while this richer family's kids just expected things to be given to them and he ended up much better than they did.
Karma's a bitch, but hardship can produce very determined people.

I think orphanages are a worse way to go, you have abuse potential either way, but more likely in government institutions.
 
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