Let's Get Real | Getting Paid for Foster Care

I was at a party a few weeks ago where some ignorant man made a comment regarding foster care. He said I had a sweet gig, taking care of foster kids and making a bunch of money.

I've heard of this happening to others before, but I've never experienced it until that day. I was stunned. I still am. And hurt.

Because he's right. It is a sweet gig.
I just got a raise 6 days ago. While McDonald's workers and other minimum wage workers are fighting to get higher wages - from $7.25 to $11.00, I don't have to. I got a raise. I now get $1 per hour.

This rate covers the monthly cost of food, clothing, personal expenses, and transportation for one child in care. Healthcare and the majority of daycare costs are covered by the State.
Do I think it's a fair rate? Yes.
Am I making money from this rate? No.

Do some people get into foster care to make money. Yes. But they are the exception. They are the ones who give us good ones, a bad name. They are the ones you hear on the news who starve these sweet babes and cause much more harm and permanent damage to these kids.

Please don't compare me to these people.

Here's how things work in foster care: A child comes into care, the agency calls around to foster parents who have openings to see if they can take the child (it's a bit more complicated, but let's keep it simple for this). Someone accepts the placement (child) and the agency drives over to the house and drops the child off with whatever the bio parent wants to provide. Sometimes clothes and personal items are delivered, sometimes the child comes in just the clothes they wear (it's happened to us!). They drop the child off and turn around and leave. 10 minute interaction, tops. So that's when the $1 per hour starts. So here's what goes into this payment (aside from the food, clothes, personal expenses, and transportation costs):

Here's what $1 per hour requires:

• Monthly appointments with our Family Service Coordinator.
• Monthly appointments with my kiddos' Case Manager.
• Twice a month appointments with the CASA.
• Coordination/attendance of weekly appointments with therapists (as many as needed).
• Visit coordination with bio parents.
• Communication with bio parent throughout the week (sending pictures or sweet stories of their kids).
• Monthly report of how child is doing to child's "team".
• Application and coordination of daycare through DCF.
• 8 hours of training per year (per person).
• Huge sacrifices by our entire family on activities and time.
• Alienated friendships.
• Stress on marriages.
• Nights of tears and unknown.
• Living by faith.

Here's what the $1 per hour provides:

• A forever growing heart.
• Watching my kids love the broken.
• Being the hands and feet of Jesus in the real world.
• Meeting and loving new people.
• Growing together, as a family, in this adventure.
• Helping a family reintegrate.
• The softening of our hearts towards others.
• Being a small part of the solution to a broken system.
• Watching the growth of children in care.
• Being blessed by these new little people.
• Seeing a glimpse of the world as God sees it.
• Being an advocate for those without a voice.
• Endless hugs and loves.
• A heart that will never be the same again.

If it was easy money, we wouldn't have a shortage in foster families. 

So think it, talk about it behind my back, whatever - but please don't make comments to me about something you know very little to nothing about.