Disheartening news today on the state of being a foster parent these days: it's just not a moneymaker. Not that (ahem) most foster parents are in it for the money, but it seems to me that one of the first steps in revitalizing the foster-care system would be to ensure adequate care for the kids involved.
A new report out indicates that the national average for monthly costs to care for a two-year old is $621, and for a nine-year old, $721, yet only one state out of 50, plus the District of Columbia, inexplicably, pays more than that. Most states pay far less (compare your state here).
And while it's certainly true that the hallmark of a good foster parent shouldn't be their interest in the money received for the job, I would think that covering a family's actual costs would go a long way to ensuring that these kids have a stable and caring home to live in, and possibly would tip the balance toward a resounding "yes" for families considering taking the plunge into offering their homes and hearts. Maybe that extra $600 a month would mean someone could afford a
slightly bigger house and the whatever else it would take to provide a home for a kid who needed one.
