There are many reasons why a person will choose to foster children. A lot of people have the misconception that fostering children is similar to babysitting but they couldn’t be further from the truth. Becoming a foster parent isn’t easy because you’re providing to someone a home and family that they normally wouldn’t have.
If you’re a foster parent, you might be wondering how much you can expect to make.
The answer is: it depends. There are a lot of factors that go into determining your salary, including the type of foster child you have, your location, and whether or not you have other jobs.
Let’s take a look at some examples:
-If you have one child in your care, who is 8 years old and has just been removed from the home (that is, they were removed because their parents are no longer able-bodied or available), then you can expect to earn $13 per hour. This rate will increase over time as the child gets older and more independent.
-If you have two children in your care, both under 8 years old and with special needs, then you can expect to earn $15 per hour. Again, this rate will increase as the children get older and more independent.
-If you have two children in your care who are 4 years old and 10 years old respectively, then you can expect to earn $14 per hour for each child—but this amount will increase based on how many hours worked per week by each child’s family member(s).
Salary for foster parents
Do Foster Parents Get Paid?
If you’re thinking about fostering children for extra money, you’re in it for the wrong reason. Fosters get a non-taxable subsidy from the government to help care for any kids they take in—this is not money you should be using to pay your rent, go on vacation, or buy a new car. And let me tell you, this reimbursement is rarely enough to cover all of a child’s needs (I include average monthly payments in a table below to prove this point). According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, “Even if families receive adoption assistance or a subsidy, adoptive families are still responsible for everyday financial obligations such as child care and extracurricular activities.”
Dr. John DeGarmo, founder and director of the Foster Care Institute and a foster parent himself, says, “[Someone] should become a foster parent if they have a desire to help children in need, a desire to protect children from abuse, a desire to give a child the unconditional love they so very much need. Every child that has come through my home has made me a better person.”
How Much Do Parents Get Paid Monthly Per Child in My State?
| A-H | I-M | N-P | R-W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama: $460-$500 | Idaho: $395-$584 | Nebraska: $818-$1,079 | Rhode Island: $538-$630 |
| Alaska: $726-$901 | Illinois: $418-$511 | Nevada: $682-$773 | South Carolina: $332-$425 |
| Arizona: $669-$867 | Indiana: $616-$672 | New Hampshire: $498-$642 | South Dakota: $518-$622 |
| Arkansas; $410-$500 | Iowa: $503-$581 | New Jersey: $763-$907 | Tennessee: $761-$872 |
| California: $657-$820 | Kansas: $500 | New Mexico: $483-$542 | Texas: $400 |
| Colorado: Varies greatly from county to county | Kentucky: $723-$786 | New York: Each of 58 local districts is allowed to set its own rates. The state only determines the maximum amounts it will reimburse to the local districts; there is no minimum. Maximum state aid rates for Metro/Upstate are $560 (average). | Utah: $468-$528 |
| Connecticut: $779-$856 | Louisiana: $467-$501 | North Carolina: $475-$634 | Vermont: $522-$640 |
| Delaware: $397-$511 | Maine: $797 | North Dakota: $752-$945 | Virginia: $471-$700 |
| D.C.: $950-$1,058 | Maryland: $835-$850 | Ohio: Each county sets its own minimum and maximum per diem (day) rates, which range from $10.00 to $118.00 per day. | Washington: $562-$703 |
| Florida: $458-$550 | Massachusetts: $674-$803 | Oklahoma: $455-$593 | West Virginia: $600 |
| Georgia: $523-$630 | Michigan: $482-$600 | Oregon: $693-$795 | Wisconsin: $394-$511 |
| Hawaii: $576-$676 | Minnesota: $641-$898 | Pennsylvania: Varies by county | Wyoming: $399 |
| Mississippi: $696-$876 | |||
| Missouri: $300-400 | |||
| Montana: $550-$658 |
What Does a Base Rate Cover?
A base rate payment is a payment made to the foster parents for providing the basic needs of children in their home. This includes:
- food
- clothing
- personal expenses
- transportation
Each foster child is covered under the state’s health insurance, their version of Medicaid. This also includes any behavioral or mental health needs.
Fostering Children With Special Needs
Children in the foster care system who are “high needs” garner a higher monthly payment. But a higher-needs foster child will need more time and attention. They require additional expenses and more medical attention. You can’t just collect the monthly payment and take them to their doctor’s visits. You will need to have more patience for them, play with them more, learn what they need from you, create different types of discipline, and basically do everything differently.
Some are broken mentally because of what they have been through while others have physical issues that add to the mental issues, all caused by the neglect or abuse they went through in their home before becoming a foster child.
Remember that when you are thinking of becoming a foster parent, you are dealing with a life—a little person that will depend on you for every need. This little person is not a puppy. You cannot become a foster parent just because you want to do something nice. You need to have certain skills and training. While it is an amazing thing to do, it is not for everyone!
