How much do Foster Parents get paid? A repost from Adoption.com

Most likely, you are here for numbers. Maybe you’ve heard foster parents get paid and you are curious how much. You might be considering becoming a foster parent. Perhaps you have heard of a family “doing foster care for the money” and you want to know what they “make.” Okay, let’s talk about the numbers.

The first thing to understand is that foster parents are not actually paid. They do, however, receive reimbursement that is not taxable income. Monthly reimbursement is meant to be given at the beginning of each new month for the previous month. However, it can take longer based on each state’s individual system. In Family Foster Care Reimbursement Rates in the U.S.: A Report from A 2012 National Survey on Family Foster Care Provider Classifications and Rates by Keri DeVooght, Child Trends, and Dennis Blazey (ChildTrends.org), reimbursement rates are listed for 40 states. Between the states, rates vary greatly. Each state classifies different types or levels of care and provides reimbursement rates accordingly. For example, the reimbursement rate for children with special needs will likely be higher than the basic rate in that state to help provide for the child’s extra needs. The rate of daily reimbursement is also based on factors like age. Generally the rate will increase as the child gets older. Some states also provide additional allowances for things like clothing or diapers. However, the report explains that, in general, the reimbursement rates are less than what it costs to care for a child. In fact, several states have basic rates that equal less than half the estimated cost of care.

After a quick glance through the list of reimbursement rates by state, you might estimate that $20-$25 per day (or about $1 an hour) is an average amount. Let’s talk realistically about how far that money goes.

My first placement as a foster parent was with me for two and a half days.

We had to drive a distance to pick up the child because CPS was too short-staffed to bring the child to us. With the child came a couple of too-big outfits from CPS and a special blanket the child was very attached to. Things we had already purchased and had ready include a bed, bedding, extra clothing, towels, toiletries, and a car seat. Also, we had upgraded to a minivan to be able to fit another child in our vehicle. We also figured that we spent about $1000 between gas and paying a babysitter to be with our other children during foster care training classes. That first day, I bought pull-ups, a sippy cup, apple juice (which was the only thing the child was willing to drink), swim diapers, a toothbrush for the child, and a few personal items. The child was very physical. Things in my home and yard were used and broken. Because the child was not in our home three full days, our reimbursement was only for two days. Did I mention that my husband and I were unable to leave during the time this child was with us, other than my quick run to the store? It took both of us constantly engaged to make sure all the children were safe.

Our second placement came with just a diaper bag of baby items. Luckily, we once again were able to provide for a lot of the child’s needs with what we already had on hand. However, formula, diapers, and wipes alone cost more than the daily reimbursement for short-term placements. This second child was with us less than a week. Appearing not to have been held often, the child didn’t know how to be held in a caregiver’s arms. The entire backside—the head, neck, and back—were like one flat plane. I spent as much time as I could holding the child and babywearing in an effort to help provide human connection and bonding as well as helping the child gain mobility. By the end of the week, the child had gone from only knowing how to lie flat on its back to rolling and beginning to crawl.

Maybe you think we are crazy. Maybe I think you are right. On the other hand, let’s look at this one more time without the numbers. What do I, as a foster parent, make? With the help of some fellow foster parents, I’ve compiled a list of what else we make.

Foster parents make:

• Countless appointments,
• Extra carpool stops, laundry, and food,
• A child feel safe, loved, and like they matter,
• Change in their communities as they help to rebuild families and provide stability for those without it,
• Sacrifices in every area of their lives for the sake of the children they care for,
• The best of difficult situations,
• Memories,
• Peace,
• Room in our homes, hearts, and families.

When it comes down to it, our greatest hope as foster parents is to make a difference.

Reposted from:  https://adoption.com/how-much-do-foster-parents-get-paid

scrapbooking

This is so pretty - but takes more time than I have

In a recent post, I told you about one of the ways I like to quickly scrapbook old photos.  Now, I will show you my favorite way to quickly, and beautifully, create a 'life book' or scrapbook for my foster children.



I never know if I will keep kids for a day, a week, a month, or a lifetime.  I prefer the lifetime option, but it's usually not my choice.  So, I choose the quick and easy, get it done, make it look good, option.



Go to Hobby Lobby (or any other craft store - this is just my favorite) and pick up a PRE-MADE scrapbook!

A pre-made scrapbook from Hobby Lobby

My little man picked this out, he loves monkeys.  I just used a few stickers to put his name on the front.  There are 16 pages inside this one.  That was exactly what I needed.  One for each month we had him, then adoption day!

All of the cute decorations were already here!  The ONLY thing I did was add two photos to this spread. Seriously easy.  I could have added more, but you can tell exactly what I wanted to be seen.  

These two months I had a few extra minutes.  In May I added the "May" sticker and a hand print we made with model magic and paint.  Then in June I added the "June" sticker and some birthday stickers.  The buttons and colors were already there!

This may not be an option for everyone, but I love the way it turned out.  It was a great way to chronicle the months he was in foster care.  The book was the same price as a 'regular' blank book, but in the end cost a little more since there are less pages included (and it is smaller).  

Now that we have 2 more kids, I have gone back to Hobby Lobby (hubby hates those receipts!)  and gotten two more books.  I will take thousands of photos like I always do, then pick 1 to print each month.  Then we will add it into their books.  

I use photo corners to put the photos in, just like in my other book.  I do this because most of the writing is on the back of the photo.  One day, my little man may want to know what else was going on in the photo, where we were, why he is making a silly face, etc.  The photo corners allow me to put that on the back of the photo, then pull the photo off at any time without any damage to the photo itself - or the scrapbook page.

The Busy Mama way to Scrapbook

This is a very beautiful page
 - I did not make it

I have previously written abut scrapbooking and how much I do/do not enjoy it.  I love the beautiful, colorful, memorable pages.  The way that memories are captured and preserved in such a creative way.  These are so much more fun to look at than the old photo albums my grandmother has.  It's just a book with a photos.  No words, no real organization, and no story with the photo.

So pretty -
again, not mine

As a mom of 6, I do NOT have a lot of time for scrapbooking.  I barely have time to eat, much less put together a beautiful page like you see above (not my work!).  I have friends who make time to do this.  I admit I am rather envious of their talent - and time.  But, alas, that is not where my time is spent.









I love digital scrapbooking.  It has come a long way in the last few years, but I keep it simple.  Walgreen's is usually my preferred stop, but Walmart also has great options.  Walgreen's is just closer, and there is no construction getting there.  Check out Walgreen's digital scrapbook pages - not just a book.  Disclaimer - I am in no way compensated for telling you about these products, but would happily accept any and all compensation!





In one of those rare moments of purging, I went through some boxes in my bedroom.  They had been there since we moved in (I refuse to tell you how long that has been!) and realized that I have 3 boxes of photos, scrapbook pages that had been started, and miscellaneous items to be put into a scrapbook.  Some of these photos were several years old.  Before I used a digital camera all the time.  Some were even from high school.  Digital cameras weren't even a thing back then!

Digital scrapbook from Walgreens.com
Linen cover, 8.5x11 classic

Digital scrapbooking is great for current photos.  I have made several of these books - usually after a special trip/ mission trip.


They are really easy to do.  All you do is go to walgreens.com  or any other photo shop, upload your photos, then place them into the book.  Walgreens has a feature called autofill.  This was great for my oldest son's graduation book.  I didn't have any particular place/order for the photos, so this made it extra quick.
Then I just filled in captions, and had the book finished in under an hour!

Finished page of my digital book

So what do you do with 10 years of old printed photos?

What do you do when you have CPS workers coming and they want to see the kids life book?

I have 2 great options! I will show you one now - one later :)

For that box of photos from before digital cameras, high school, school photos, band photos, etc, I bought a regular 12x12 scrapbook.

Regular 12x12 scrapbook from Hobby Lobby - about $15

Then I grabbed my stack of photos and wrote as much of a description as I could on the back.  The most important information is NAMES and DATES.  Armed with a stack of cute scrapbooking paper, and photo corners, I put the pages in and called it a day.

These photos were just placed on a plain colored page

What a difference when you use patterned paper!

I got a little fancy here (on the right).  I still finished the page in under 10 minutes

So, you see that it's not super fancy, but the photos are being enjoyed!  That is the most important thing to me.  The kids show the book off to friends, the baby loves to look through it, and I notice people looking through it when they come visit (it sits on the end table in the living room).  I have received many compliments from this book.  No one is criticizing the lack of decorations (if they did, they wouldn't be invited over again!), or even mentioning the embellishments.  The just comment on the main focal point - the photo.  Isn't that what this is all about?

Note:  I use the photo corners instead of glue so that the photos can be removed and the writing on the back read one day (by my grandkids?), or the photos can be hung in frames, etc.  There is nothing glued to the photo or in any other way hindering the photo from being copied or moved to a new location one day.

Adventrues in Adoption - A new Placement

Adventures in Adoption - Series 2 - A short term Placement

The initial text messages - edited for privacy

Just when I thought we had been forgotten again, I got a text message Wednesday at 12:20 asking if I would be interested in a placement of a 2 and 3 yo old sibling group.  My initial response was - and always is - YES!!!  However, after praying for a few minutes I didn't think this would be a good placement for us.

1) Where would I put a 2yo girl?  I do not like babies upstairs, and the boys (1 and 3 yo babies) would have the downstairs room.

2) I could not drive to the visits.  Every Monday.  5 hours of the day.  I could make the sacrifice, but Cynthia has college classes at the same time.  I don't like leaving a 14 yo on a college campus any longer than her class time.  That's a whole different post though.

So, I said no.  This wouldn't work for us.  The messages went on for about half an hour, and in the end - long story short - I am going to pick up two babies just before church.  Yipee.  Oh goodness.  Clean the babies room.  Wash the car seats!  Get the extra seat out of the attic.  Find the pack-n-play.  Find the pack-n-play sheets.  Clean Nikki's room (that's where baby girl has to go....), pack a snack for at church, I don't know if they will be hungry.  Get sippy cups filled and labeled.  Pack an extra diaper bag.

It's a crazy, all-hands-on-deck, put school work aside, kind of afternoon.

Then I get a call at 3:45.  They aren't coming.  Due to the importance of the visits and my inability to get them there (scheduling conflicts and the sheer distance), this is on hold.



What a roller coaster!  Codie gets home from work at 4:30, and I give him an update of our crazy afternoon. Then I get another phone call.

Placement is back on.  Just respite though.  2-3 weeks.  I don't like this at all.  These babies need stability.  I don't want to have them in my house for a few weeks, have them get used to me and I fall in love with them - then they leave!  No way.  But considering the circumstances, there are probably a lot worse places for them to go.  Not that we are anywhere near perfect, but they need love a place to go.

Ok - so we will get the babies tomorrow.

7:45pm Wednesday - I get another text message.  I am at church and don't see it until Thursday morning.  The kids will be at my house by noon for a placement.  Ok.  No problem.  I still don't know if this is respite or a placement.  One caseworker says one thing, the other says another.

11 am - the kids arrive.  Things are going great.  I have no problems with the "screamer."  I can tell that this is a normal 2 yo who wants attention.  And food.  The entire day, and all day Friday the only time we have problems is when she is tired or hungry.  We spent the afternoon at the park, then went to a banjo show (and found a playground!)  Yes, she has temper tantrums, but what 2 yo doesn't?  Again, feed the baby, then put her in bed.  She will cry/scream, but she is in a safe place (the crib) and will fall asleep.

5 pm Friday - CPS meets us at the big kids banjo show (show 2 of 4 this weekend) and picks the kids up.  Not too sure what is going on, but there was something about an angry judge, cps workers who didn't agree, and a family member.  Ok.

I go on into the banjo show.  Codiemichael is about to graduate so he will be graduated from the band as well.  This is his last big show :(  It makes me sad, but life must go on.  I can't keep him a baby forever.

The first act is over and sweet baby Moses and I are having fun playing with his newest friend.  The phone rings - uh oh.  It's another placement.
I say no.  Can't do it.
Ok.

7:30 Friday - another call.  Two sisters, new to the system and just removed from their home.  I said yes.  Before the sheets are changed from the last two, and before this blog entry is finished, I have two more kids.  I get a little info from my caseworker, warn hubby, and enjoy the last 5 minutes of the show.

1:00 am Saturday - the girls arrive.  Sound asleep.  I worry about them waking up in a new house and want them to be together and comfortable.

This is the life God has told us to live right now.  It may not be easy.  It is definitely not predictable.  But it is one, I pray every day, that will glorify God.