I am in MD.
1. Do these kids come with clothes and other items? If not, does the county provide vouchers or such?
If they come right from the home, usually not. I have had emergency placements of kids that were in foster care and had to be moved - they all had plenty. I had a brother and sister that only came with the clothes on their back. They had to go to school the next day. I got clothes from parents - very few things -- one pair of socks/ 2 pairs of underwear. I got an extra 30. for each one. I spend double that.
2. What about car seats?
I do not take babies, but I have 2 booster seats.
3. What has been the emotional toll on you and your family?
My true emergency have been fine and no real drama. One of my emergency placement was the one boy in my son's school that he did not get along with. It still was fine. The brother and sister mentioned in #1 were suppose to be here 4 days. They stayed 3 weeks. We had to have them moved.
4. What are things that have arisen that you didn't expect?
The lack of basic clothing that they come with.
5. How do they work compensation
(or as my DH prefers to call it "the pocket change that barely covers formula")? You always hate to put that out there, but lets face it, it's needed.
In MD, it is just the normal daily rate and sometimes a LITTLE extra for clothes.
My suggestion - start collecting clothes in all different sizes. Ask family and friends for hand me downs. Yard sales etc. I look for cheap
nice clothing in all sizes. Sometimes it is not always possible to run to the store for clothes the night they are placed. I also have a few extra tootbrushes, comb brushes ready.