The state of Florida helps cover foster parents' expenses.
The perception that foster parents in the state of Florida receive a paycheck or salary is mistaken. However, the state of Florida compensates and reimburses foster parents in the form of care maintenance payments. Foster parents receive monthly checks from the Florida Department of Children & Families (FDCF) based on the age of the child. These payments offset, to varying degrees, the expense of caring for a foster child in the State of Florida.
Foster Parent Compensation
In 2011 14,000 foster children resided in the state of Florida, according to child advocacy group AdoptUsKids website. The FDCF defines these children as neglected at home and mandates that they must be removed from that setting for their well-being. The state of Florida encourages potential foster parents to take these children into their homes on a temporary basis until the situation is improved. Financial hardships are offset by providing a monthly foster care board payment to foster parents as well as an allowance to the child and in some cases additional monetary benefits to the foster children to cover personal expenses.
Foster Care Board Rate
The FDCF sends monthly payments in the form of a check to approved foster parents. Payment rates are based on the age of the child in foster care. In the fiscal year 2010-2011 Florida's Center for the Advancement of Child Welfare Practice reported that the monthly foster care board rate was $429 for foster children up to five years old. It paid a monthly rate of $440 for foster children ages six to 12 and a rate of $515 in assistance for children age 13 to 17. Youth 18 years and older are not eligible for foster care benefits.
Foster Child Allowance
The FDCF also provides payments intended specifically for the foster children referred to as a "foster care allowance." This payment is included in the monthly check sent to the foster parent. This monthly stipend covers the personal needs expenses for the foster child. According the Center for Child Welfare the dollar amount of the allowance is determined by the monthly foster care board rate although the FDCF provides no specific amount. This allowance is expected to go directly to the foster child and is not to be spent on personal hygiene items, clothing school supplies or any other personal necessities.
Further Compensation
The FDCF provides further payment for the care of foster children in the form of Independent Living benefits program which is designed to instill independent living skills in older foster children. As of 2011, foster children 16 to 18 years old may be eligible to receive a monthly stipend up to $1,014 through this program to help offset living costs. These children may also qualify to receive monthly Social Security benefits from the federal government if they are disabled or their biological parent is disabled or deceased.
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