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Well, you need to contact the children's services agency in your area. Usually there is an informational meeting for people interested in foster care where you can ask questions.
Each child will be elgible for a monthly stipend, to help with living expenses. The amount varies, depending on your location, the child's needs, and age. You should also be able to get mileage for doctor's appointments, and appointments related to foster care.
Foster Kids under 5 are automatically elgible for WIC, which pays for baby formula, or milk and eggs for older kids.
And all foster kids should be elgible for Medicaid, if they don't already have it when they arrive.
Some states provide clothing reimbursement, equipment reimbursement. You need to make sure that you find out what is paid for or reimbursable in your area.
However, you will find that you are pretty much spending more than you will get back when you factor in things like toys, trips, and activities.
The length of the process depends on your area, and how fast your worker is. We startedthe process in November of 2002, started our classes in summer of 2003 (we had to wait for saturday classes), and were certified in January this year. We got our first placement in June.
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