I know what you mean! I have been recently researching adopting (through foster care) from another state. Our state doesn't have a HUGE need, not for kids in the age group that I am able to take (0-10 or so, some flexibility) and I am shocked at how little some states are willing to invest in these children! I thought we had it bad here. Our Foster Board payment is $529/month with DOC payments up to a max of $570. Once we adopt everything stays the same, just with a different name
I had no idea that in many states it changes, goes down, substantially! There was a recent study done, nation wide, that showed that almost all states paid at least $100 less, per month, than what it would cost anyone to raise a bio child! How insane is that?? The FB rate in my state has not increased since 1986!! I live in Hawai'i, where our cost of living has increased exponentially! In the lst couple of years rents alone have increased by 20+%! Not to mention food, gas, etc.!
I would LOVE to be able to adopt a number of kids and I am so grateful that, at least here, I can afford to adopt the two that I am in the process of trying to, knowing that the adoption subsidy will help us until they are 18. It breaks my heart to look at kids in other states and I (realistically) have to consider whether I can afford to adopt that child or not. It is truly shameful.