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HHS officials dispute study on foster care payments

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By staff and wire reports

Wednesday, Oct 03, 2007 - 12:11:44 am CDT

Nebraska families who take in foster children often are paid less than half the amount it takes to care for a child, according to a first-of-its-kind survey.

And the state’s basic foster care rate is the lowest among the states and counties in the survey, 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.

Nebraska’s monthly base rate for children up to age 5 is $236, while the cost to raise a 2-year-old is $629 a month, according to the survey.

Story Photo
(photos.com)
Survey of state foster care reimbursement

The Associated Press

Below is a ranking of states based on the extent to which their base rates for reimbursing foster parents meet the actual cost of raising a foster child.

Compiled by Children’s Rights, the National Foster Parent Association and the University of Maryland School of Social Work, the survey takes into account the regional cost of living and calculates a “minimum adequate rate for children.”

Within the following categories, states are listed alphabetically:

Rates exceed the minimum adequate rate: Arizona, District of Columbia

Rates within 25 percent of minimum adequate rate: Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Wyoming

Rates 26-50 percent below minimum adequate rate: Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania

Rates 51-75 percent below minimum adequate rate: Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia

Rates 76-100 percent below minimum adequate rate: Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Washington

Rates more than 100 percent below minimum adequate rate: Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin

Note: New York, Pennsylvania and Alaska do not have statewide rates; the rankings for those states are based on rates from New York City, Philadelphia and Anchorage.

Nebraska is among five states — including Idaho, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin — that would need to more than double base rates to adequately cover the cost of rearing a foster child, the report said.

But Nebraska foster care officials say the survey, which looked at data from 21 states and five counties, is flawed.

Base foster care rates are defined very differently from state to state, so what Nebraska treats as “add-ons” to the base rate may be part of another state’s base, said Chris Hanus, a child welfare administrator with the Department of Health and Human Services.

Nebraska’s foster care payment rate for a young child can range from $236 to $1,135, depending on an assessment of the child’s behavior, physical and emotional needs, she said

In addition, foster parents can receive money for respite care, for  travel of more than 100 miles a month, for child care if they work or go to school.

In a letter to the study staff, Hanus did note that in August about 68 percent of payments for young children were at the lowest base rate while about 33 percent of payments for children age 12 and older were at the lowest end of the base rate.

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.

In Nebraska less than half the more than 7,000 state wards live in traditional foster care homes, according to HHS data.

The report expressed concern that inadequate reimbursement rates would worsen a shortfall of foster parents, “potentially increasing the likelihood that children will be placed in institutions or shuttled from one foster placement to another.”

“The bottom line is that when these rates don’t reflect the real expenses that foster parents face, it’s the children who suffer,” said Karen Jorgenson, executive director of the Foster Parent Association.

Hanus said she didn’t know whether Nebraska’s foster care payments reflect the cost of raising a child.

Nebraska has never done such a study and agency staff haven’t had a chance to look at the factors that went into the costs determined by the study, Hanus said.

And a Nebraska advocate for children, Kathy Bigsby Moore, says people become foster parents for a variety of reasons, not for the money.  

“The amount of base payment may not deter someone from becoming a foster parent, but then it places them in a much more stressful, difficult situation, and impedes their ability to be successful,” said Moore, executive director of Voices for Children. 

Although child welfare agencies are required by federal law to reimburse foster parents for the cost of raising foster children, there is no national minimum, leaving states and localities free to set their own rates. The result is a huge disparity.

The base rates paid for raising a 2-year-old foster child range from $236 a month in Nebraska to $869 in the District of Columbia.

The “minimum adequate rates” in the report represented the cost of providing basic needs — housing, food, clothing and school supplies — as well as a child’s participation in normal after-school sports and activities.

The monthly rates recommended by the report, averaged out on a national basis, were $629 for 2-year-olds, $721 for 9-year-olds and $790 for 16-year-olds.

The average actual monthly base rates offered by states are $488 for 2-year-olds, $509 for 9-year-olds and $568 for 16-year-olds.

While Arizona and the District of Columbia were the only jurisdictions whose base payments exceeded the recommended minimums, 10 other states fell short by only small amounts: Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Nebraska foster care officials don’t believe the monthly payments are a major factor in a family’s decision to become or continue as a foster parent.

That’s not a complaint they hear very often, Hanus said.

She doesn’t know if money is an issue, said Hanus. “But it is not something we hear about.

“I don’t believe foster parents get into foster parenting for the money and I don’t think they are leaving because of the money,” she said.

Julie Farber, director of policy for Children’s Rights, said she hoped child welfare officials in Nebraska and other states with low rates would use the report to press their legislatures for more funding.

In California, Farber said, the number of foster parents has been dropping, and child welfare officials already have cited inadequate reimbursement as a factor.

“They know it stands in the way of doing their job,” she said.

Journal Star reporter Nancy Hicks contributed to this report. She can be reached at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com. Associated Press writer Oskar Garcia in Omaha also contributed.


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tc wrote on October 3, 2007 3:37 am:
" Already, there are too many foster families in it for the money alone -- raise the rates and see where that gets us. My sincere kudos to those who foster with their heart in it first, we need more of you - and I know you are out there - just not enough of you. "

 FormerFosterParent wrote on October 3, 2007 3:43 am:
" I think the amount Nebraska gives for foster parenting is more then fair. I could care for a 2 year old on less then $236.00 a month. Just have to learn to budget the money better. I only got $222.00 a month back when I did it and taking care of a little one can be cheaper if you watch what you buy and use coupons! Come on people it's not about the money it's about all the love you can give that child and the safe and loving home at that. I got out of fostercare more because of them moving children way too often and too much. Otherwise I'd still be doing it. Money never played a factor in it! It shouldn't either. If your in it for the money your just in it for all the wrong reasons! "

 jb wrote on October 3, 2007 7:39 am:
" The state can sugarcoat it anyway they want but the bottom line is that foster parents end up footing the bill for foster kids. One point to remember is that we don't take in foster care for the money, my wife and I do it because we have seen what can happen to these kids if someone does not step it. We know we can offer these kids a step up in life,(if only for a short time). We also had to stop because we could not financially handle it anymore. It does show Nebraska in a negative way that the state is not willing to take care of their own children "

 Someone who knows wrote on October 3, 2007 10:32 am:
" ...people who are foster parents. They put their stipend into a savings account. Every year they take their own kids on a cruise, a trip to Disney, etc using that money. Guess where the foster kid goes? Any guesses? Well, they don't go on that family vacation. If had a foster child, I guarantee they would be part of my family & go on vacations with the rest of us. Whoever decides on who gets to be a foster family needs to look into how the money is used. "

 Tim Regler wrote on October 3, 2007 10:38 am:
" My wife and I have done foster care in Nebraska since 2001. We have adopted a total of 6 children out of foster care systems in Nebraska and New Mexico. Nebraska's reimbursement program to foster parents is quite adequate. "

 new nebraskan wrote on October 3, 2007 11:17 am:
" Over and over again, it is proven, the NEbraska foster system is flawed, the workers, the supervisors, the directors, etc. Poor kids. How do you expect to get quality caregivers if they cannot even afford to bring the child into their home. THere is no way I could afford to bring another child into my home for 269.00. Do you have any idea how much work the foster parent doees. They would use the 269.00 up in gas alone. The number of appointments these kids go to is unbearable alone. People with good hearts want to help children. Those of us who are caring and want to help and do not need to profit off the back of the child don't get the chance in this state because of the low monthly stipend that the state gives. As for saving accounts and family vacations without the child... if you know this happened, you should have called CPS and turned this person in or you are NO better than the person who did it. Im sorry to sound so harsh, but the reality of it is, if you know there is a crime going on, fraud, and a child is being used as a paycheck, and you sit back and do nothing, there is something very wrong with your value system as well. "

 someone who really knows... wrote on October 3, 2007 12:48 pm:
" This is a direct response to someone who knows, where in the world do you get your information? My parents have done foster care for several years and have adopted three children out of the system. We have never gone on a vacation without the children. We would take mini vacations within the state so the kids would get to see fun places like valentine or the zoo in Omaha. The money that was received would go for items for the kids, new clothes, toys, treats, school supplies, etc. The children in my parent's care were always treated like part of the family. It takes a lot for people to open up their homes and take in children who have come from some of the most horrible situations one can imagine, but to have people like you question their motives without knowing them just sickens me. I am sure that there are people who abuse the system, but it is certainly not all. I know that the stipends are not as large here as in other states, but then again to be a foster parent means to be in it for the right reasons, not the money. "

 to new nebraskan wrote on October 3, 2007 1:06 pm:
" To new nebraskan: I agree that if a person is abusing the system, they should be turned in. But, in "someone who knows" defense, knowing and being able to prove aren't always the same. Perfect example: I know of someone who was receiving food stamps for her kids. She was trading twice the amount of food stamps for cash to buy marijuana and alcohol. I'm not a lawyer, but I think they call that fraud. As my tax dollars being squandered, I would have turned her in (especially knowing that money should have equated to food on the table for her kids), but all my accusations would have fell on deaf ears if I didn't have tangible proof. To this day, it still burns me, but short of hiring Magnum, P.I., what can I do? All she has to do is pick up the grocery list from person A, go buy the groceries, bring the groceries back to person A, get her cash, and be on her way. Good luck proving that. All she would have to do is deny it and the investigation would be dropped. "

 sAB wrote on October 3, 2007 1:18 pm:
" If you had to raise a child with only $269 a month could you do it? Clothing, food, medical care, roof over their head, and the stability of a good parent who is willing to give the time and energy to help a child out...give me a freaking break Nebraska! The fostercare unit here in Ne should really take in what is expected, and what the living cost is around town. People who have thier own kids, single parents, parents with several children or even just one child could not put enough food on the table for one month. Keep dreaming Nebraska. Its about time we put the child first. "

 Not so critical wrote on October 3, 2007 2:43 pm:
" The base payment may seem low per child to someone raising children. But as the article points out, that is just the "base" payment. Factor in daycare, all medical expenses, free school lunch and breakfast, and the amount of money it costs to raise a child goes down considerably. Health care and daycare alone are the bulk of out of pocket expenses most parents face. The several foster parents I know personally are great and caring parents with lots of patience. However, money paid to them by the State of Nebraska is not lacking in my opinion. On average, most get about $1,000 per month, per child. When they are not responsible for breakfast, lunch, daycare or medical expenses, that is more than enough from where I sit. I think we need to give credit where credit is due. The willing foster parents are a special gift to these kids and the State of Nebraska supports the children better a lot of children in their own family homes, with regard to money. "

 Child of NE Foster Care... wrote on October 3, 2007 3:01 pm:
" I was in foster care during my teen years. I was in 4 foster homes in 3 years. Only 1 of those 4 was a good home in my opinion. The other 3 had some serious issues. One set of parents made me share a room with thier daughter, we even had to share a bed. I wasn't allowed to eat certain foods and could only eat my 3 meals per day unless otherwise offered something. One of them, a single foster parent was so mentally ill herself she would play instigator between all of the foster kids and get them to fight, then sit back and watch. Another set of fosters really did use the little bit of money for things other than the kids. There was no heat in our bedrooms because they kept the vents closed and doors shut to save money on the bills. We could only take so many showers per week and only for so long. None of the hygeine products were provided, we were on our own for that. They also would serve us extremely cheap food while the parents had roast, steak, chicken, etc. It was a privilege to get some sort of meat other than spam in that house. Don't let me forget when I first got there I went to the basement only to see a shotgun in the laundry room and the ammunition right next to it. (This was on some sort of farm) The only one that was good was a single parent foster home that I was in, she spent well over what her stipend was and was truly a caring person. I'm not sure if she is still a foster but she really was a good person. I would tell my worker about things but it would always get turned around onto me and it was my fault I had to move again. I would show up at a person's doorstep with my little bit of belongings in a trash bag and would literally be introduced and left there. While there are some truly great foster parents out there, the system is seriously flawed and the workers are so over worked that they don't have the time they need to really help the kids or to take a look at the foster parent. This was such a humiliating and scary experience for me as an older child, I can't imagine what it would be like for a younger kid. I don't have the solution myself but do have some suggestions that have fallen on deaf ears. Something needs to be done about the situation for foster kids. A lot of us wouldn't report a lot of stuff because either it would be ignored or we would get shoved into one of the group homes again where our belongings could be stolen, fights are a daily occurence and there is absolutely no stability. The whole ordeal is embarassing, frustrating, lonely, frightening, maddening and traumatic. The answer is always to put the kid in counseling to deal with what they are going through rather than try to remedy the injustice they face every day. I hope the suggestions and concerns of present and past foster children are finally heard and something is done. "

 Lola wrote on October 3, 2007 4:10 pm:
" $236 a month is a little more than $7 per day. I don't know how anyone could feed and clothe a child on so little money, much less provide an emotionally, intellectually and physically stimulating environment. The first five years of a child's life set the stage for everything that comes later -- whether that person has a happy, productive life or a troubled existence that ends up costing society even more in the indirect cost of lost productivity and direct costs such as welfare, prison, etc. It's a 'pay me now, or pay me later' situation, and Nebraska needs to do better. "

 Another kid of the system wrote on October 3, 2007 4:24 pm:
" It has been 12 years since I have been part of the system. Since I was there and now, everything is getting worst and worst! My situation, I had great loving foster parents that took what money they got plus what they were making to make my life better. I am truely blessed that these folks were there for me. As far as the system. Case workers and their supervisors could care less for these children. I know from expierence. My case worker gave up on me when I was 16 years of age. Unstead of getting me another foster home, I moved out on my own. I just simply slide through the cracks of the system and my caseworker basically threw my case away. My case worker, Mark my words said "I am a lost cause", "I would never make it in life", and there was no hope for me. I took those words and used it as incentive to become a better person. I have been on my own since the age of 16 and have done quite well for myself. As far as my casework, which I should give a name but won't has been fired a few years later. I hope that the system can be fixed!!! I am now a foster parent myself and taking what LITTLE I get to change the life style of my nephew because I know that anyone else couldn't do a better job than myself. Oh I am not getting paid by the state either!!!!! "

 Nina wrote on October 3, 2007 6:09 pm:
" My heart goes out to those whose sad foster care stories we see here. The system is indeed troubled - undoubtedly some are in it for the money only, but most of the caring and sincere people I know who have tried foster care also have soured on trying. Social services is so desperate to place children that they lied about the childrens' background. Therefore, good people who wanted to help and would have made wonderful foster parents, found themselves dealing with youth who constantly ran away; broke furniture, applicances and mementos; tried to set fire to their foster home, and even one youth who sexually assaulted the younger children of his foster family. These backgrounds showed problems no usual family could be expected to know how to handle, and this behavior was hidden or lied about by social services. Such as this is a real detriment to getting quality homes for kids who need and would appreciate them. "

 I know people too... wrote on October 3, 2007 7:13 pm:
" My friends parents are foster parents and have used the system to their advantage. They've got a nice, big house, nice things, and brand new cars. All thanks to our tax dollars and Nebraska's system that pays them for having way too many foster kids without checking on the environment they're in. "

 JEN wrote on October 3, 2007 9:14 pm:
" Wow, I definately don't spend $629 to raise my two year old every month! He's pretty spoiled too! Foster parents have access to the parent's WIC for formula, can get some clothing vouchers for children, there's a foster care closet to help provide clothes, the kids get medicaid, HHS pays for childcare, and HHS will provide some transportation to things like visits, therepy, school, etc. I don't think that $236 is enough, but I think $600 is out there a little too far! "

 Jessica wrote on October 3, 2007 9:29 pm:
" I worked for a company in town that provides supervised visitation between parents and children involved with HHS. This was an interesting experience because I got to know many foster families. It's true that some foster parents do not treat their foster children equally to their own. It saddend me when bio children were involved in after school activities, clubs, dance, etc, and the foster kids didn't get the chance. A lot of times foster kids would be wearing ratty clothes that were over used, and a bio child who was the same size had cute new clothes from the mall. I met some great families as well, who delt with foster children with behavioral problems, treated them fair and equal to their own kids, etc. One family I know recently purchased a $75 car seat because HHS couldn't authorize payment for one. This argument goes both ways folks, and remember the $236 the foster parents do get is supposed to contribute to the kids' care, not go into the foster parent's pocket as easy money. "

 Someone who knows original wrote on October 3, 2007 10:11 pm:
" I am sorry if the 2nd someone who knows was offended by my original post. I personally know these people. I have even been asked to keep the 3 foster kids they have while they go on these vacations. I know personally! I never said all foster homes are that way, I happen to know quite a few who do not abuse it. I also know quite a few who do abuse it. I was a foster kid in my mid teens. At the time I didn't know I was paid for by the state. It was a lousy foster home. The "Mom" would not leave me alone with the "Dad" cause she thought I would accuse him of molesting me. You see I was placed there because my real Dad had molested me for years, she didn't believe it. So rather than trust me, she made me feel guilty because I brought it out what my Dad had done to me. I would turn these foster parents in that are using the money for their blood family, but I can't prove it, so why bother. "

 wow wrote on October 3, 2007 10:19 pm:
" some of our best friend are foster parents for two little girls. These girls didn't have a great life before and now I'd say they have a GREAT life.. Our friends are NOT in it for the money but I can GUARANTEE they use EVERY cent given them on these girls... Both parents have great jobs and they really do love these kids...I can honestly say, these people are in it for love, not money.. "

 Bob wrote on October 3, 2007 10:19 pm:
" NE is cheap and blind to it. "

 I'll say it wrote on October 4, 2007 12:38 am:
" OK, what is wrong with getting a little compensation for your family for opening up your home for a foster child? That somehow makes me a less caring person?! Maybe this would expand the people willing to be foster parents and bring in more qualified people to do this important job. Nurses get paid decent money to be nurses, clergy get paid (often far more than what is necessary to live), does this mean these people will not do as well at their duties because they are paid? I think not! I would be an outstanding foster parent and would be fair and concise but, to be honest, I would not do it because it would cost me to. I would provide the child with the love and structure they needed and would treat them equally to my own but the compensation is just not enough to make it feasable. As the article says, we need more foster families. Let's raise the rate to get more quality parents to pitch in. I know it would be much better that an institution where children are probably pressured or threatened by older or troubled children. "

 Better standards wrote on October 4, 2007 7:13 am:
" I think there would be more and better foster families if we could change the standards a bit. It's hard for people who really do love kids, but don't have a ton of money, to become foster parents. My mother would be an amazing foster parent, she is patient and kind and loves children, but she's a single woman, and so she's automatically rejected. That's not fair. I realize the importance of a male figure in a child's life, but the lack of one doesn't diminish the quality of care, love and attention a child receives. Nebraska needs to reevaluate it's standards, and actually put some time and thought into the fostering guidelines. "

 Child of NE Foster Care... wrote on October 4, 2007 7:50 am:
" People can say they know this family or that family but until you are living there you don't truly know what the real environment is like. There are some absolutely great foster parents out there, but they are the ones who get the kids and keep them for a long period of time and other kids get shuffled in and out of the bad ones. Fortunately I was lucky enough to get at least one good foster parent who was able to help me through some of the situations I had experienced. I'm not sure the money is even really the total motivation behind a foster parent being bad, I think mental illness and other mental issues are at work. Some of the homes I was in, the foster parents were obviously not motivated out of compassion and love, but used the kids as a way to fill some kind of void in thier own lives. This was obvious to me as a teenager, so the workers had to know. My worker only took me out of one foster home and documented the parents were questionable. This is after in a family meeting with my worker one of the foster parents called me a derogatory name. I'm just saying, money isn't the whole issue. Someone might look good on paper, but until they are really and truly evaluated by the kids who live with them you just never know about thier mental state or motives. I would have been able to put up with no heat and spam if I felt like I was treated right on an emotional level but each of the "bad" fosters I had definitely did not treat thier kids right emotionally, making the physical environment seem that much worse. I was not in foster care that long ago, it was only 5 years ago that I aged out. I see some of my foster siblings here and there and they are not doing so well, at least not as well as I am. It saddens me, they were not strong enough to mature correctly and learn responsibility because the lack of support was too great. I consider myself very lucky that I have always been a strong and independent person, if I had not posessed those qualities I would be in the same place as my foster siblings. (By the way, in total I have 11 foster siblings, making myself the only one out of 12 total to become what society would consider a productive and healthy member.) I hope to become a foster parent in the future and I hope that then as a foster parent I will have access and the opportunity to improve the system any way I can. Now as a regular person in the community my voice isn't loud enough. "

 Foster mom for 20 years wrote on October 4, 2007 8:00 am:
" It is about time that the rates were changed. I could not get by with $222 when I was buying formula and diapers. Along with the essentials of sending child home for visits, like clothes you never see again, and/or food, so they have something healthy to eat. Also for activities that the kids want to do like Karate and Dance, or even camps came out of that money. We usually lost $100. a month but our goal was not for the money but at times an advance would have been nice. "

 SH wrote on October 4, 2007 8:57 am:
" How sad that Nebraska pays so little for foster care of children who need special care and more than anything a loving home. Can the HHS officials honestly believe a 6 year old child can raised on $269 per month? What a joke!!!! "

 Someonewhoknowsagain wrote on October 4, 2007 10:02 am:
" I forgot to mention in my last post, that my family has a Foreign Exchange Student from Europe this year. We receive no stipend for this. We pay for his food, the gas to run him all over to different activites etc. His insurance is provided by the Agency. He does have to buy his own personal things. I do this because I enjoy helping & enjoy the learning of different cultures. I have bought him Bday presents & will be buying Xmas presents out of my own pocket. Lets see if some foster parents could do this. "

 John Flaherty wrote on October 4, 2007 10:10 am:
" Would one of you former foster care kids PLEASE start an organization to advocate for foster care issues??? I would be glad to help you launch such an organization. If you need my assistance, write to me at PO Box 664, Grand Island, NE 68802. "

 is DHHS listening... wrote on October 4, 2007 11:23 am:
" i hope DHHS, judges etc will read these comments, nebraska is quick to remove children, but to what? this is crazy, and it's been crazy. we should all be ashamed. to all the people who oppose abortion, u should be the first in line to be foster parents and assist these children. our society cares more for the unborn then the born. so stop being self rightous haters and do something. cause i am sure if you asked some of these tortured kids, they may not want to be born. i have heard this from more than one child who is either in or came from the system. don't forget the children here on earth, in your quest to save the unborn. "

 I wrote on October 4, 2007 1:51 pm:
" Who cares? It shouldn't be about the money. "

 Time wrote on October 4, 2007 2:38 pm:
" If you watch these issues you know that NE has the highest rate of out of home placement per thousand of any state in the US--more kids end up in foster care in NE per capita than any other state in this union. Why doesn't that upset anyone? It is a bit like the story - One day a group of villagers was working in the fields by a river. Suddenly someone noticed a baby floating downstream. A woman rushed out and rescued the baby, brought it to shore and cared for it. During the next several days, more babies floated downstream. At first there were only a few, and the villagers were successful in rescuing them. But before long there was a steady stream of babies floating downstream. Soon the whole village was involved in the tasks of pulling babies out of the stream and ensuring that they were properly fed, clothed, housed and prepared for successful life in the village. While not all the babies, now very numerous, could be saved, the villagers felt they were doing well to save as many as they could each day. And life in the village continued on that basis. One day, as the village was becoming exhausted with all this rescue work, some villagers suggested going upstream to find out how all these babies were getting into the river in the first place. Was someone throwing them in out of malice? Was an unsuccessful village abandoning them further upstream? Had the shoreline been made treacherous by an earthquake? Were they all stricken by a mysterious ailment? Where are those villagers that need to ask those questions about the number of kids in foster care? Why aren't they asking those questions? Who should be asking those questions? "

 Needs Changed wrote on October 4, 2007 4:54 pm:
" Wait, don't other agencies like Visinet, Omni etc, pay more than HHS for foster care. My neighbor has foster kids, and I know for a fact she makes more than $236.00 per month per child, she has several foster kids. My husband and I are unable to have our own children and my neighbor suggested we take in some of these little "cash cows." Her words, not mine. I also know a family (wealthy family) who has 2 foster children and treat them like their biological children, they obviously don't do it for the money!! Bless those people who are truly interested in making a better life for these unfortunate children, shame on those who abuse the foster kids for their own selfish reasons. Why does Nebraska have so many more foster kids than most other states? Shouldn't we try harder to keep the children with their biological family? What ever happened to families taking care of family? "

 momX4 wrote on October 4, 2007 10:12 pm:
" This is tough,if we raise the rate our taxes and everything else will go up.And greedy people will be coming out of the woodwork.My sister would love a child for free,but the system is always to willing to give these poor kids back to losers and my sister said she couldn't bare to give the child back,maybe it is the system we need to look at.Better yet how about if these loser parents get their acts together BEFORE the kids get taken away.Does everybody know that a mom can get her kids taken away and get them back many times before the state even talks about terminating rights.Maybe that is why we are short of good foster parents. "

 ML wrote on October 5, 2007 3:00 pm:
" I am amazed at all the comments to this article. Having been a foster parent for many years, I know that there are good foster parents out there who care about the children living in the system. It's hard when the children cry because they are missing their parents or when parents blame them that "it's all their fault" they broke the family up. These are only two of the issues that, not only children deal with, but foster parents too. Imagine having to clothe a child who comes into your home with only a few things or clothes that are too small because there is no clothing voucher. You need to purchase a new wardrobe for them with the little funding you receive. We have purchased our foster teen's a car so that they could get to school or work, or so they could have some form of reliable transportation when they moved out on their own. We have invited our teens over for Sunday dinners and for all of the holidays, because they had no where else to go. We are the ones who have been there for these kids, long after they move from our home, treating them as if they were our own. I don't see this as greed, but being a person who cares about kids and their outcomes. Nebraska has a shortage of foster homes and rather than complain about what foster parents get (or don't get) please step up to the plate and help out just one child. You can make all the difference in the world and while it's not about the money, this money does go directly to the child, if it's not, shame on you! "

 15 year FP wrote on October 5, 2007 5:02 pm:
" With $3.00/gal gas and $4.00/gal milk, money is going to become an even larger issue as prices increase for everything. Policy dictates what the stipend pays - food housing, living expenses, clothing, etc, not just food, diapers and clothing. Foster parents who track actual expenses know exactly what it takes to provide for an at risk child. It is also based on the age, behavior, and level of supervision a child may need. So families who are receiving higher stipends may have alarms on the doors, have to turn off phones or carry them at all times, and/or have a child under constant supervision to prevent self harm or harm to others - try that with a teenager in your home. Adequate finacial support should go to the individuals who have the daily contact with the children. How many people would work for $7/day?; $15/day?; or even $20/day? Foster care stipends to the foster families is only the tip of the iceberg, perhaps an indepth article about all of the expenses relating to a single case would put costs into perspective and time limits on services provide for families whose children are in out of home care. Expenses may include, but not be limited to: providers within the social service, mental health & legal systems, transporters, visitation specialists, substance abuse treatment, and various specialized program members of the family may need. Taxpayers need to advocate for "the best interest of the children/family" and challenge the system to implement the present policies and regulations effectively finding timely permanency and responsible use of tax dollars. Just as in any profession there is a range of skill level, dedication and knowledge with foster families. There are many successful foster families who are dedicated to the children in their care, it would be nice to hear positive encourgement for a difficult job occassionally. "

 New at it wrote on October 6, 2007 7:02 am:
" I sincerely hope that some of you will take Mr. Flaherty up on his offer. As a new foster parent, I was reading your posts and wishing I could be talking with you and benefiting from you experience. There is no way to imagine what these children must be feeling and what they are going through when moved to a new home. You could all be so beneficial to foster parents and helping us understand how these children our feeling. It would be a wonderful blessing to have your wisdom. "

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